Menotti’s
Amahl & the Night Visitors
Saturday, December 3, 2:30pm & 7:30pm
Sunday, December 4, 2:30pm
The Egyptian Theatre
to purchase single tickets to Amahl & the Night Visitors.
Family Pass for Amahl & the Night Visitors available for $60 & $100.
Please call the Egyptian Theatre directly at 387-1273 for a Family Pass.
Synopsis
Amahl, a disabled boy who can walk only with a crutch, has a problem with telling tall tales and, occasionally, lying. He is sitting outside playing his shepherd’s pipe when his mother calls for him (Amahl! Amahl!). After much persuasion, he enters the house but his mother does not believe him when he tells her there is an amazing star “as big as a window” outside over their roof (O Mother You Should Go Outside; Stop Bothering Me!).
Later that night, Amahl’s mother weeps, praying that Amahl not become a beggar (Don’t Cry Mother Dear). After bedtime (From Far Away We Come), there is a knock at the door and the mother tells Amahl to go see who it is (Amahl … Yes Mother!). He is amazed when he sees three splendidly dressed kings (the Magi). They tell the mother and Amahl they are on a long journey to give gifts to a wondrous child and they would like to rest at their house, to which the mother agrees (Good Evening!; Come In!; Have You Seen a Child?). The mother goes to fetch firewood, and Amahl seizes the opportunity to speak with the kings. King Balthazar answers Amahl’s questions about his life as a king and asks what Amahl does. Amahl responds that he was once a shepherd, but his mother had to sell his sheep. Now, he and his mother will have to go begging. Amahl then talks with King Kaspar, who is childlike, eccentric, and a bit deaf. Kaspar shows Amahl his box of magic stones, beads, and licorice, and offers Amahl some of the candy (Are You A Real King?; This is My Box). The mother returns (Amahl, I Told You Not To Be A Nuisance!). Amahl is told to go fetch the neighbors (All These Beautiful Things) so the kings may be fed and entertained properly (Shepherds! Shepherds!; Emily! Emily; Olives and Quinces; Dance of the Shepherds).
After the neighbors have left and the kings are resting, the mother attempts to steal for her son some of the kings’ gold that was meant for the Christ child (All That Gold). She is thwarted by the kings’ page. When Amahl wakes to find the page grabbing his mother, he attacks him. Seeing Amahl’s weak defense of his mother and understanding the motives for the attempted theft, King Melchior says she may keep the gold as the Holy Child will not need earthly power or wealth to build his kingdom. The mother says she has waited all her life for such a king and asks the kings to take back the gold. She wishes to send a gift but has nothing to send. Amahl, too, has nothing to give the Child except his crutch. When he offers it to the kings, his leg is miraculously healed. He leaves with the kings to see the child and give his crutch in thanks for being healed.
Cast
Amahl – Ian Calás & Derek Carson
The Mother – Tiffany Calás
King Kaspar – David Noland
King Melchior – Jason Detwiler
King Balthazar – Nicholas Shelton
The Page – Michal Jarolimek
Dancing Shepherds – Caitlin Stanley & Gonzalo Valdez
Creative Team
Director – Mark Junkert
Conductor – Laura Rushing-Raynes
Chorus Master – Kelly Kaye
Choreographer – Marla Hansen
Stage Manager – Jennifer Wilhelmi
Costume coordinator – Rebecca Hoffman
Hair & Makeup Lead – Chris Maloney
Hair & Makeup technician – Lindsey Bolton
Hair & Makeup technician – Nancy Cobb
Lighting Designer – Matt Curtis
Master electrician – Monae Curtis
Props Master – Heidi Kraay
Supertitle Operator – TBA
Chorus
Sopranos
Heather Ballantyne
Yvonne McCoy
Nancylee Summervill
Melissa Schueler
Mezzos
Tessa Anne Huber
Kelly Kaye
Ellen McKinney
Tenors
Tim Judy
Russell Smith
Kameron White
Basses
Tom McCreedy
Fernando Menéndez
Bob Wallace
Derek Carson [Amahl]
The youngest of seven children, Derek Carson is 11 years old and in the 6th grade in the Meridian School district. Derek, who his making his second appearance for Opera Idaho as Amahl, is the 7th child of 7 children and a wonderful son and brother to his family. Derek loves music and can be heard singing all the time. A voice student of Karen Call, Derek was in Bye Bye Birdie with Boise Music week last spring. Derek loves to perform and sing at church events, talent shows and recitals. Derek is actively involved in his boy scout troop. Derek enjoys going to his Grandparents cabin all year long. He enjoys riding four-wheelers and snowmobiles with his Dad and Grandpa Carson.
Tiffany Calás [Mother]
A native of Boise, Tiffany received her Bachelor of Music Degree in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from Brigham Young University. She also studied at The Manhattan School of Music, where she was the Assistant Director of the Preparatory Division. A frequent concert soloist, she has sung several cantatas and oratorios of Handel, Mozart, Bach, Vivaldi and Haydn.
Tiffany is a member of Opera Idaho’ s Resident Company and has been a soloist for Opera Under the Stars, Auction of Arias, Puccini Martini Blast and Opera Idaho Sings Christmas, among others. With Opera Idaho, she has performed Zita (Gianni Schicchi), Mercedes (Carmen), Katisha (The Mikado), a lead role in Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, and Alisa in 2008′s Lucia di Lammermoor. Tiffany performed the role of Mrs. Gibbs in Opera Idaho’ s recent production of Rorem’ s Our Town. She has also been in Tosca, The Merry Widow, Nosferatu, and La Traviata. Directing the choruses for Il Barbiere di Siviglia, La bohème, and L’elisir d’amore has also been a highlight with Opera Idaho. Other opera credits include Le Nozze di Figaro, Romeo et Juliette, Les contes d’Hoffmann, Die Zauberflöte, Don Giovanni, and the title role of Menotti’ s The Medium. Her Musical Theater performances include Into the Woods, The Pirates of Penzance, A Christmas Carol, The Sound of Music, Evita, and Chess, to name a few.
Tiffany is a regular soloist for many local organizations, community events, and for her church. She has toured Australia, New Zealand, and throughout the United States. An educator as well, Ms. Calás was the Director of Opera Idaho’ s three Children’ s Choruses and Outreach Program from 2005 until 2009. She is Co-Founder and Co-Director of MDT Workshop, a summer music theater program for youth. In addition, Tiffany is an Adjunct Voice Professor at Boise State University and maintains a large private voice studio in Meridian, where she lives with her extremely supportive husband, Luis, and her adorable little boys, Ian, Luke, and Gabe.
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David Noland [Kaspar]
David Noland eagerly returns to the Boise stage after a long hiatus. A native of Boise, Mr. Noland enjoys opera, oratorio, and musical theatre. He received his music education in Denver and Chicago where he was the tenor soloist in Handel’ s Messiah, Mendelssohn’ s Elijah, Bach’ s B Minor Mass, Hayden’ s Creation, and Dubois’ Seven Last Words of Christ. He has appeared as featured soloist with Boise Philharmonic and Boise Master Chorale and has performed with community theatre. A veteran of many performances over the years, he has a special penchant for character roles as is evident in his portrayal of the witch in two separate productions of Hansel and Gretel.
Among other productions with Opera Idaho, Mr. Noland has appeared in The Pirates of Penzance (Major General Stanley), HMS Pinafore (Captain Corcorain), The Mikado (Ko-Ko), The Magic Flute (Monostatos), Madama Butterfly (Goro), The Marriage of Figaro (Don Basilio), South Pacific (Luther Billis), Carousel (Jigger). His favorite role of King Kaspar is reprised in Amahl and the Night Visitors.
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Jason Detwiler [Melchior]
With over thirty lead roles to his credit, Jason Detwiler is becoming well-known for his magnetic and energizing performances on the opera stage. His voice and acting have been described as “emotionally fervid”, “richly expressive” and “commanding”, with a diverse repertoire ranging from the comedic Papageno (Die Zauberflöte) and Guglielmo (Cosi fan tutte) to the dramatic Germont (La Traviata) and Escamillo (Carmen). Among his most widely acclaimed roles are Figaro (Il Barbiere di Siviglia), the title role in Eugene Onegin, Malatesta (Don Pasquale), Zurga (Les Pechêurs de Perles), and John Proctor (The Crucible). His concert credits include: Bach’s St. John’s Passion, Mozart’s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Saint-Säens’ Christmas Oratorio, Einhorn’s Voices of Light, and Faure’s Requiem.
Jason began the 2010-2011 season by debuting with Sonoma City Opera as Silvio (I Pagliacci). He then returned to Opera Idaho to debut Mr. Webb in Ned Rorem’s Our Town and made his company debut with Opéra Louisiane as the The Barber of Seville. Following a reprise of Melchior (Amahl & the Night Visitors) with Opera Idaho, Mr. Detwiler sang with the Boise Philharmonic in Handel’s Messiah. In addition to debuting Sharpless (Madama Butterfly), he will be singing in a number of concerts throughout the spring and summer: Mollicone’s Beatitude Mass with Cadenza, Ahab in Herrmann’s Moby Dick with the American Philharmonic Sonoma County, Haydn’s Creation with the Idaho State-Civic Symphony, and Billy Bigelow in Opera Idaho’s summer production of Carousel.
A student of heldentenor, Claude Heater, Jason has performed with San Diego Opera, Virginia Opera, Syracuse Opera, Sacramento Opera, Spokane Opera, Shreveport Opera, Festival Opera of Walnut Creek, Opera Coeur d’Alene, Rimrock Opera, Sonoma City Opera, West Bay Opera, Trinity Lyric Opera, Vallejo Symphony Orchestra, the Boise Philharmonic, the Boise Master Chorale, and the Auburn Symphony. From 2002-2006, he was part of Irene Dalis’ Opera San Jose as a Principal Resident Artist. While there, he sang Dandini (La Cenerentola), Falke (Die Fledermaus), Papageno, Valentin (Faust), Silvio, Escamillo, Marcello (La Boheme), John Proctor, and the title roles of Mozart’s Don Giovanni and Figaro among others. In 2009-2010, Mr. Detwiler became Opera Idaho’s first Artist-in-Residence, singing lead roles, giving concerts, and leading master classes for the Resident Company. Other major roles include: Yeletsky (Pikovaya Dama), Mr. Gobineau (The Medium), Harlekin (Ariadne auf Naxos), and the title role in Vaughan Williams’ Pilgrim’s Progress.
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Nicholas Shelton [Balthazar]
Rising American Bass Nicholas Shelton has garnered unanimous accolades for his dark, piercing voice, refined musicianship, and commanding stage presence. In the 2011-2012 season, Nicholas’s busy schedule featured a diverse variety of roles, including Sciarrone (Tosca) with Opera Las Vegas under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter of the Metropolitan Opera, Frere Laurent (Roméo et Juliette) – Livermore Valley Opera, The Storyteller (A Flowering Tree – Adams) – Riverside Lyric Opera (CA), King Balthazar (Amahl and the Night Visitors) – Nevada Opera, Jose Tripaldi (Ainadamar – Golijov) – Long Beach Opera, and Achilla (Giulio Cesare in Egitto) with Riverside Lyric Opera (CA).
During the 2010-2011 season, Nicholas appeared as Andrew (solo feature) in The Difficulty of Crossing a Field in his company debut with Long Beach Opera, Simone (Gianni Schicchi) – The Celestial Opera Company, Marchese d’Obigny (La traviata) – Riverside Lyric Opera (CA), Dottore Grenvil (La traviata) – Center Stage Opera (CA), and King Balthazar (Amahl and the Night Visitors) with Intimate Opera of Pasadena on the mainstage of the historic Pasadena Playhouse.
Professional engagements for the 2009-2010 season included the roles of Newt Lee and Riley (Parade) – Actor’s Contemporary Theatre, Zuniga (Carmen) – Repertory Opera Company, Sergeant of Police (The Pirates of Penzance) – Inland Valley Opera, and Sciarrone and A Jailer (Tosca) – Intimate Opera of Pasadena.
A Philadelphia native, Nicholas began his singing career at the urging of a vocal professor who overheard his speaking voice while a sophomore Biology major at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, CA. After a brief foray into operatic performance, Nicholas immediately recognized his passion for the genre and went on to complete his undergraduate studies in vocal performance. In further training, Nicholas became a proud alum of the prestigious OperaWorks Advanced Artist Program under the direction of Ann Baltz and is currently a second-year Resident Artist with Riverside Lyric Opera (CA).
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Michal Jarolimek, Bass
Michal Jarolimek grew up in Rupert, Idaho, and holds a B.A. in Vocal Performance and Music Theory from the College of Idaho and an M.A. in Vocal Performance from the University of Arizona. Favorite roles performed include Tevye in Bock, Harnick & Stein’s Fiddler on the Roof, Duke of Plaza Toro in Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Gondoliers, and Bridegroom in Stravinsky’s Les Noces. Mr. Jarolimek enjoys ensemble singing and is a member of Boise’s Critical Mass vocal ensemble and Opera Idaho’s Resident Company. Recently, Mr. Jarolimek appeared as Frank in Opera Idaho’s production of Ned Rorem’s Our Town and Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel. He currently works at Dunkley Music in Boise as the Music Manager.
Caitlin Stanley, Dancer
Caitlin is ecstatic to return to the company for her fifth year. Beginning dance at the age of four Caitlin has experienced many wonderful opportunities in dance along the years. She began training at Mauldin’s Dance Academy in Twin Falls, Idaho with Kelli Turner where she developed her passion and drive for dance particularly in tap and jazz. While dancing with Turner until her senior year, Caitlin attended workshops, master classes, summer camps, and served as the choreography captain of her high school dance team. After graduation Caitlin trained with Carol Roderick as a Ballet Idaho trainee, studied at Eagle Performing Arts Center, and then began comprehensive training with Marla Hansen at Boise State. While not dancing or working at Shu’s Idaho Running Co., you can catch Caitlin riding her bike through Downtown and the North End. After graduating from Boise State University, Caitlin rode her bike from Portland, Maine to Santa Barbara, California in order to raise awareness and funds for affordable housing. Along with riding her bike, Caitlin loves to laugh, watch and later quote movies, read great books, and play in the great outdoors. Above all she enjoys spending time with her friends and family.
Gonzalo Valdez, Dancer
Gonzalo is very excited to return to another thrilling season of Idaho Dance Theatre. He began his dance training as a senior in high school after the persuasion of a classmate to take a swing class. After that one recital he discovered his new found passion for dance and began to dance with the local studios in his hometown of Wendell, Idaho. Gonzalo’s early training was with Shari Mauldin and Cindy Jones of the Magic Valley, which included local and national competitions in jazz, tap and hip hop. He then focused his training in classical ballet and studied under the direction of Marla Hansen. In his six seasons with the company, Gonzalo has not only been featured in new and original works, but has also been nurtured as a choreographer. He has set four pieces on the company, two of which were selected to take on two of the company’s tours. His choreography has also been featured in IDT’s “Dancing Through the Decades” Gala and IDT’s Outreach Program. He has also performed in the community with Boise State University and Opera Idaho in the productions of “Pippin” and “Amahl and The Night Visitors”. Most recently, Gonzalo is very excited to be the director of IDT’s newest endeavor, its youth company, Focus Dance Ensemble. He looks forward to see this pre-professional dance company take flight and work with this new company of young dancers that are eager, dedicated and very talented.
Heather Ballantyne, Soprano
Heather Ballantyne has been a member of the Opera Idaho Resident Company for several years and has had the opportunity to perform in Opera Under the Stars, Opera Idaho Christmas programs, and Puccini’s Suor Angelica. When not performing with the OI, Ms. Ballantyne involves herself with several community theatre groups. Her greatest loves are her family and performing. Most recently, she was able to share the stage with two of her children in Spotlight Theatre’s production of Bye Bye Birdie.
Ms. Ballantyne studied Music Education at BSU and was in the studio of Karma Ellsworth. She currently resides in Nampa with her husband and five children.
Yvonne McCoy, Soprano
Yvonne McCoy has been smitten by opera since, as a child, she saw her first performance of Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors. She feels strongly that there is nothing that beats a live performance, so she has seen live productions of opera at every chance all over the world and was a long-time subscriber to L’Opéra de Montréal, the Metropolitan Opera, and the Washington National Opera.
Ms. McCoy has sung with the Howard University Choir and the National Cathedral Choir. Currently, she sings with the Boise Philharmonic Master Chorale and Opera Idaho’s Resident Company. Last year she returned to her first opera love and sang in Opera Idaho’s production of Amahl and the Night Visitors.
Melissa Schueler, Soprano
Melissa Schueler studied vocal performance at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. She is delighted to make her Opera Idaho chorus debut after moving from Southern California to Boise in December 2009. The friendly folks and slower pace of Idaho agree with her quite nicely. Working as a principal trainer at St. Luke’s Health Systems, Ms. Schueler enjoys indie music shows, cooking, and playing with her teacup Chihuahua when she finds any free time.
Nancylee Summervill, Soprano
Nancylee Summervill recently relocated from Denver and is delighted to be singing for the first time with the Opera Idaho Resident Company in this year’s production of Amahl and the Night Visitors. Ms. Summervill is known for her work as an oratorio soloist and for lead roles performed as a member of the Colorado Opera Workshop.
Ms. Summervill’s solo performance credits include Colorado Chorale, Colorado Women’s Chorale, and featured soloist with the Evergreen Symphony. Ms. Summervill’s most recent directing credits include The Mystery of Edwin Drood, the first musical theatre production produced by Boise Little Theatre. She currently teaches children’s classes in language, movement and music, and also enjoys directing liturgical dance ensembles.
Ms. Summervill taught music education courses for Metro State College and Colorado Christian University and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education, Language Arts, and a Master of Arts in Music Education from the University of Denver. Nancylee has been awarded a master’s level certificate in vocal performance by The Voice Care Network, St Cloud University.
Ms.Summervill currently teaches vocal music education classes for Riverstone International School.
Kelly Kaye, Mezzo
Kelly Kaye earned her Bachelor of Music in Piano Accompanying and her Master of Music in Piano Accompanying from Arizona State University. Following graduation, she was awarded a scholarship to the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria. She lived for the next two years in Vienna where she continued piano studies, performed as both soloist and accompanist, and worked as a vocal coach. After returning to the United States, she moved to Seattle and spent the next six years as vocal coach, accompanist, music theater director, and teacher. She performed in many chamber music groups and was a member of the Seattle Opera Chorus and Seattle Pro Musica. Currently, Ms. Kaye teaches choir and piano at South Junior High School in Boise. She also sings with the Boise Philharmonic Master Chorale and is the Chorus Master for Opera Idaho.
Ellen McKinney, Mezzo
Ellen McKinney is a local engineer, technical writer, and educator who uses the rewards of these daily pursuits to support the activity from which she derives her greatest pleasure: singing fine music with respected organizations. To that end, she is currently an active member of the Opera Idaho Resident Company and the Boise Philharmonic Master Chorale and has sung with Boise State’s University Singers, the Boise Choristers, and various local musical theater performing organizations. It has been a particular pleasure for Ms. McKinney to collaborate with the talented staff, performers, and crew of this production. She would like to thank the members of the audience for supporting this annual production of Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors.
Tim Judy, Tenor
Tim Judy originally hails from Nebraska. His first exposure to opera was at age 12 when he was cast as Amahl in Gian Carlo Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors. After attending Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, he married and continued to sing in choirs while raising a family. His interest in opera was rekindled a few years ago when he enrolled in an opera workshop and performed in scene selections from Mozart’s Don Giovanni and The Marriage of Figaro, Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, and Bizet’s Carmen. Mr. Judy has also performed in Opera Idaho productions of Donizetti’s La Fille du Régiment, Gilbert & Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance, and Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel. He looks forward to performing in future shows.
Russell Smith, Tenor
Russell Smith is a student at the College of Idaho working on an independent study course toward his Bachelor’s degree in music. He has been singing for six years, trained under Dr. Mari Jo Tynon, and has appeared in Knock ‘Em Dead’s Bye Bye Birdie and Opera Idaho’s Amahl and the Night Visitors by Gian Carlo Menotti. His noted achievements include marching in the Pasadena Rose Bowl parade with the Idaho All Star Marching Band and being a part of a Carnegie Hall performance of Durufle’s Requiem.
Kameron White, Tenor
Kameron White is 18 years old. He auditioned for Opera Idaho in September 2011 and is performing in his first opera, Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors. He has sung in school and church choirs since the 7th grade and has sung in the 2011 MENC All Northwest Choir, placed third in the IMEA State Solo Contest, and lettered in choir in his senior year. At present, Mr. White is taking general studies in college. After he returns from his full-time mission, he plans to complete his college studies with a major in music.
Tom McCreedy, Bass
Tom McCreedy is a retired construction executive whose avocation is vocal music. He began singing in choirs as a kid. In college, he sang in the glee club and was lead in a men’s quartet. Along the way, he directed choirs in Helena, Arkansas; Monroe, Connecticut; and Eagle, Idaho. He has sung in almost all of the major choral masterpieces and performed solos in Mendelssohn’s Elijah and Handel’s Messiah. His opera chorus credits include Mozart’s The Magic Flute, Don Giovanni, The Marriage of Figaro, and Cosi Fan Tutte; Bizet’s Carmen; Puccini’s La Bohème; Gounod’s Faust; and Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors.
Mr. McCreedy has also performed in musical theater, including the roles of Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha, Joe Hardy in Damn Yankees, and Cook in The Most Happy Fella.
Fernando Menéndez, Bass
Born in Guatemala, Fernando Menéndez began studying voice there as a student of Dr. Angélica Rosa Sepúlveda. After moving to Idaho, his love for the art form led him to continue his training and is currently a student of Jason and Michele Detwiler. Since August 2009, Mr. Menéndez has performed with the Opera Idaho chorus in Gounod’s Faust, Rossini’s La Cenerentola, Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific, Rorem’s Our Town, Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, Donizetti’s La Fille du Régiment, and Gilbert & Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance.
Bob Wallace, Bass
In his youth, Bob Wallace played jazz, folk, country/rock guitar, saxophone, and upright bass. Singing began in middle age with his first gig in the 1988-89 season of the Boise Master Chorale. During the 1990’s, Opera Idaho recruited chorus members from the B.M.C., putting Mr. Wallace in the right place at the right time. He was delighted to experience the important role stage choruses have in many complex, emotionally-rich performances. Through opera, he rediscovered his childhood love of the Broadway musical and met its antecedents bel canto and beyond. Singing and performing compliment Mr. Wallace’s law practice, most of whose 35 years have been and remain in the courtroom.
