![\"bremen](\"https:\/\/www.praeclara.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/bremen-cast-1.jpg\")
<\/a>The Bremen Town Musicians\u00a0—\u00a0Apr. 27 – May 22, 2015<\/a><\/h4>\nArtistic director Bevan Keating served as director for\u00a0the Arts to Go! program at Wildwood Park for the Arts<\/a> during the early summer of 2015. His lighthearted production of\u00a0The Bremen Town Musicians\u00a0<\/em>was a crowd pleaser as it toured schools across the state, entertaining students and introducing them to the melodies of Rossini, Sullivan, Verdi, and more!<\/p>\n A perennial Christmas favorite, Handel’s\u00a0Messiah<\/em> was even more breathtaking in the candlelit sanctuary of Second Presbyterian Church of Little Rock. \u00a0Dramatic processionals and lighting changes played a role in this\u00a0innovative interpretation of this classic masterwork, supported by the vocals of nearly 150 choir members and the solo performances of Shannon Rookey (soprano), Kathryne Overturf\u00a0(mezzo-soprano), Matthew Tatus (tenor), and Tim Tucker (baritone).<\/p>\n We debuted this production at the 2014 ACANSA Arts Festival in collaboration with Arkansas Festival Ballet. \u00a0The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette<\/em> called it “a chilling and suspenseful restaging of the opera\u00a0Peter Grimes<\/em>\u00a0that sublimely blended balletic and operatic performances”; Rebecca Stalcup’s choreography was described as “hauntingly beautiful.”<\/p>\n The production that literally started it all, Carmina Burana<\/em> marked the first large-scale collaboration between artistic director Bevan Keating, producer Bruce Rentz, and choreographer Rebecca Stalcup. The team had seen many interpretations of Carmina Burana<\/em>: some staged as a traditional cantata with choir and soloists, some staged with soloists who acted out their roles, still others staged entirely as a ballet — but none that mixed both choral and dance performance in the way that Carl Orff originally imagined for his work.<\/p>\n In April 2014, nearly 300 singers, dancers, and orchestra players took the stage at the Maumelle Performing Arts Center to bring\u00a0Carmina Burana<\/em> to life\u00a0in a brand\u00a0new way, featuring an original libretto developed by Keating and Rentz and exclusive choreography developed by Stalcup.<\/p>\n Photo credits:<\/strong><\/p>\n The Bremen Town Musicians<\/em> — Caitlin Secrest as Dorabella, Georgeann Yehling as Barcarolle, Luke Angelo as Eddie Pensier, and Todd McNeel as General Boom; photo by Sofia Gonzalez.<\/p>\n Dido and Aeneas<\/em> — Matthew Tatus, Kira Keating, Shay Watson, Satia Spencer, and Shea Williamson as the sorcerer and his coven of witches; photo by Steven Veach.<\/p>\n Messiah by Candlelight<\/em> — Kathryne Overturf, mezzo-soprano; photo by Joe Henry.<\/p>\n Kristin Lewis: An Advent Celebration<\/em> — Kristin Lewis photo courtesy of\u00a0http:\/\/www.kristinlewis.de\/pressphotos; program cover design by Karen Kuralt.<\/p>\n Peter Grimes<\/em> — Matthew Morley as Peter Grimes and Paula Mallory as the sea goddess Calm; photo by Jon Marbaise.<\/p>\n Carmina Burana<\/em> — Anthony Bryant as Richard and Caroline Young as Celeste; photo by Kelly Hicks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Visit the links below to see highlights from our inaugural season: The Bremen Town Musicians\u00a0—\u00a0Apr. 27 – May 22, 2015 Artistic director Bevan Keating served as director for\u00a0the Arts to Go! program at Wildwood Park for the Arts during the early summer of 2015. His lighthearted production of\u00a0The Bremen Town\u2026<\/p>\nDido and Aeneas\u00a0— Feb. 27 & 28, 2015<\/a><\/h4>\n
![\"dido](\"https:\/\/www.praeclara.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/dido-witches-300x196.jpg\")
<\/a>Our most moving production to date told the tragic story of Queen Dido of Carthage and Prince Aeneas of Troy, two star-crossed lovers whose power and nobility cannot protect them from the evil machinations of the gods and a local coven of witches. Praeclara once again collaborated with choreographer Rebecca Stalcup and the dancers of Arkansas Festival Ballet to portray Purcell’s\u00a0characters in both song and dance. Julia Aronson and Matthew Morley returned to dance the roles of Dido and Aeneas, while mezzo-soprano Kathryne Overturf\u00a0and baritone Tim Tucker sang the parts of the ancient royals.<\/p>\n![\"Kathryn](\"https:\/\/www.praeclara.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/katie-messiah-300x270.jpg\")
<\/a><\/em>Messiah by Candlelight\u00a0— Dec. 15, 2014<\/a><\/h4>\nKristin Lewis: An Advent Celebration\u00a0— Dec. 7, 2014<\/a><\/h4>\n
![\"Praeclara](\"https:\/\/www.praeclara.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Kristin-Lewis-Facebook-poster-300x292.jpg\")
<\/a>Praeclara was proud to host international opera star Kristin Lewis<\/a>‘s first benefit concert for her new vocal scholarship foundation<\/a>, which enables young singers between the ages of 18 and 23 to polish their craft through additional training and travel. \u00a0Kristin lit up the sanctuary at Second Presbyterian Church of Little Rock, where she formerly sang as a section leader in the choir before moving to Tennessee and then Vienna, Austria to pursue her studies. \u00a0Her beautiful renditions of a program of Christmas favorites were inspirational, and the donations she received after the performance funded five scholarships for the finalists of her first scholarship competition in the summer of 2015.<\/p>\nPeter Grimes — Aug. 28, Oct. 16 and 17, 2014<\/a>
![\"Peter](\"https:\/\/www.praeclara.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Peter-and-Calm-web-300x253.jpg\")
<\/a><\/h4>\nCarmina Burana — Apr. 29 and 30, 2014<\/a><\/h4>\n
![\"Anthony](\"https:\/\/www.praeclara.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/upcoming-shows-268x300.jpg\")
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