Opera Association Fundraiser Set

Fueled by enthusiastic response to productions of Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance and HMS Pinafore (pictured), Rob Engelhart (Music) recently formed the Superior Light Opera Association.

An SLOA dinner and concert fundraising event will be held on Saturday, Nov. 13, in the Great Lakes Rooms of the University Center. "Here's a How De-Do! An Evening with Gilbert and Sullivan" will feature a cash bar at 5:45 p.m., dinner at 6:15 and a concert at 7:30. NMU and Marquette singers will perform comedic songs from the Gilbert and Sullivan repertory.

Tickets for dinner and the concert must be purchased in advance by Nov. 10. They are available at all EZ ticket outlets for $25. Concert-only tickets are available for $15.

In collaboration with the NMU music department, the SLOA will help produce a light opera each year, complete with a full orchestra. For the next three to five years the group plans on presenting Gilbert and Sullivan operas, starting with The Mikado in April.

SLOA members will also provide scholarships for vocal studies at NMU and support for educational travel. Many members will volunteer to assist with costuming, lighting, publicity and set construction. A future goal for the group is to develop or sponsor opera education activities for local public schools.

An NMU graphic design class became involved with the organization by designing posters and logos. Engelhart chose one of the designs to use for advertising, and the rest will be displayed during the social hour before “Here’s a How De-Do!”