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MSU Opera Theatre presents Massenet's very French take on Cinderella

Poster design courtesy Missouri State University Opera Theatre

Operatic singing, dancing, comedy, romance — Jules Massenet’s 1899 version of the Cinderella story, “Cendrillon,” has it all.

“Cinderella” is a French fairy tale, and Massenet's operatic version is set to a French-language text. But Missouri State University Opera Theatre's production will be sung in English.

There will be two performances: Friday, March 31 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, April 2 at 2 p.m., in the C Minor Recital Hall inside Ellis Hall on the Missouri State campus.

This year MSU Opera has been sharing fairy-tale operas, and "Cinderella" will be a lively, humorous and romantic confection that is ideal for all ages, according to MSU Opera Theatre director Dr. Ann Marie Daehn.

A talented cast of student singers will bring the opera to life, and Dr. Daehn has edited the score down to a kid-friendly length of under two hours.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $5 for children and students. They are available at missouristate.edu/music/opera.htm, or by calling Dr. Daehn at 417-836-6011. Tickets will also be available at the door.

Dr. Daehn joined me on KSMU’s “Arts News” to talk about the production.

Randy Stewart joined the full-time KSMU staff in June 1978 after working part-time as a student announcer/producer for two years. His job has evolved from Music Director in the early days to encompassing production of a wide range of arts-related programming and features for KSMU, including the online and Friday morning Arts News. Stewart assists volunteer producers John Darkhorse (Route 66 Blues Express), Lee Worman (The Gold Ring), and Emily Higgins (The Mulberry Tree) with the production of their programs. He's also become the de facto "Voice of KSMU" in recent years due to the many hours per day he’s heard doing local station breaks. Stewart’s record of service on behalf of the Springfield arts community earned him the Springfield Regional Arts Council's Ozzie Award in 2006.