OPERA Iowa to Perform at CCPA, 3/28

As part of its 2014 tour, OPERA Iowa Educational Touring Troupe, a program of Des Moines Metro Opera, Inc., will perform a reduced version for five singers of Gaetano Donizetti's romantic comedy The Elixir of Love on Friday, March 28 at 7:30pm at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts, 1301 5th Street in Coralville.

Donizetti's The Elixir of Love mixes love, jealousy and mysterious libations in a romantic comedy. Young Nemorino is in love with the wealthy but fickle Adina. When Sergeant Belcore also sets his sights on Adina, Nemorino turns to visiting "doctor" Dulcamara for an "elixir of love," guaranteed to turn Adina's head and win her heart. Heads turn, but who wins her heart? The Elixir of Love lasts approximately 2 hours with an intermission, and is sung in English with piano accompaniment.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for students and seniors, and $8 for youth ages 12 and under. Tickets may be purchased by phone at 319.248.9370, online at coralvillearts.org, and in person at the CCPA box office and the Coralville Recreation Center at 1506 8th Street.

OPERA Iowa Educational Touring Troupe members are handpicked from nationwide auditions of more than 800 singers to share their love of opera with audiences of all ages. The talented young performers of the 2014 OPERA Iowa troupe are: soprano Bevin Hill of New York, NY; mezzo-soprano Stephanie Schoenhofer of Lima, OH; baritone Zachary Ballard of Roslindale, MA; tenor Joshua Weeker of Kettering, OH; and bass Alex Soare of Schaumburg, IL. The music director is Scott Arens of Ann Arbor, MI and the technical director is Thomas Plummer of Crown Point, IN.

Des Moines Metro Opera, founded in 1973, is an independent, non-profit, professional opera company dedicated to bringing world-class opera productions and vital performing arts education to central Iowa. In addition to providing mainstage productions, Des Moines Metro Opera is responsible for OPERA Iowa Educational Touring Troupe, which brings opera to classrooms across Iowa and to nearly 24,000 students, OPERAtion Opera Community Outreach Program, which works with more than 30 human service agencies to provide opera to underserved and at-risk audiences, the Apprentice Artist Program, one of the largest singer-training programs in the country, and two new programs: The Design and Production Internship Program, a training program for students within the theater arts who wish to expand experience and gain the skills necessary for a successful professional career; and Raising Voices -Rising Stars program which gives high school musicians the opportunity to explore career opportunities from the rare vantage point within a professional opera company.

Owned and operated by the City of Coralville, the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts is dedicated to enriching the community and contributing to the vitality of Coralville by offering an accessible, affordable venue for a variety of performances, presentations, and public and private events. The 472 seat theater opened August 26, 2011 and has hosted performances from City Circle Acting Company, Orchestra Iowa, Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre, Dan Knight, Lola Astanova, Lorie Line, Judy Carmichael, Jim McDonough, Nolte Academy of Dance, and many others. Coralville schools are also able to use the Center free of charge up to three times per year; 16 school events took place at the Center in the 2012-2013 school year. The Center was named 2012 Member of the Year by the Iowa City/Coralville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.