Galway to Broadway Mar. 2, 2013
Edgerton Performing Arts Center Funded in part by the William & Joyce Wartmann Endowment for the Performing Arts Galway to Broadway
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Galway to Broadway March 2, 2013
Tonight’s concert will be announced from the stage. The show’s greatest asset is the glorious tenor of Ciaran Sheehan, who brings a rich understanding and depth to familiar melodies. ... Howard Kissel, NY Daily News The WEpac (Wartmann Endowment for the Performing Arts Center) Board was established in 2003 by former Edgerton School District Superintendent Dr. Norman L. Fjelstad to work in accordance with the Wartmann Endowment to help the arts program in the Edgerton Community grow in perpetuity. Board members are: Jennifer Dail Diane Everson Ellen Knutson Dr. Dennis Pauli Connie Tronnes
Nancy Dickinson Erin Gonzalez Tom Livick Gary Smith Paul M. Tropp
Cathe Engler Amy Horn-Delzer Joan Montgomery Lisa Teubert
Striving to provide a diverse selection of quality, affordable entertainment to the Edgerton Community.
The Wartmann Endowment for the Performing Arts Center also funds opportunities for students to engage with many of our Artists. All school assemblies and music clinics are often included during the week of the public performance. If you would like to learn how you can help these programs continue, please contact Paul at 608-561-6200. *Please turn off cell phones and pagers. No food, gum or beverages in the theatre, and no unauthorized video or photography. Thank You!
Proud members of these organizations
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Edgerton Performing Arts Center
From Galway to Broadway is a musical journey that will take you from the magic of the Emerald Isle to the excitement of the Great White Way. The show features the talents of two of Broadway's bright stars Ciarán Sheehan and Sarah Pfisterer direct from their leading roles in The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. Ciarán Sheehan, born in Dublin, Ireland, grew up on both sides of the Atlantic dividing time between Dublin and New York. After an introduction to The Irish Repertory Theatre in NYC, Ciarán met legendary Broadway director Harold Prince during The Rep’s production of Hal’s award winning play “Grandchild of Kings.” Recognizing Sheehan’s talent, Prince placed him on Broadway six months after meeting him. Ciarán made his Broadway debut in “Les Miserables” (Babet, Marius), and shortly thereafter Prince cast Ciarán as Raoul in “The Phantom of the Opera.” After a year of playing Raoul on Broadway, Ciarán then starred in the coveted role of The Phantom. Sheehan sang the role of the Phantom in over 1,000 performances during the course of two and a half years both on Broadway and in Toronto. Among Ciarán’s most memorable engagements have been four sold out performances at Carnegie Hall, performing the American National Anthem at New York Governor George Pataki’s inauguration, Giants Stadium (Giants), Continental Arena (Nets), and Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (Twins), opening the dedication of the Irish Hunger Memorial in New York City, and as soloist at the internationally televised memorial mass for John and Carolyn Kennedy Jr. Sheehan has the kind of soaring stage voice from which indelible Broadway moments are made…The Best Yet ... Jeremy Gerard, Hollywood Variety
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From Galway to Broadway continued Sarah Pfisterer, has played Christine in The Phantom of the Opera for over 1,000 performances across the country. A native of Greendale, Wisconsin, Sarah received a Bachelors and Masters of Music from Northwestern University. On Broadway, she played Magnolia in Harold Prince's Show Boat and was seen in Children and Art directed by Richard Maltby, celebrating Stephen Sondheim’s 75th birthday. Off Broadway she played Anna Smith in Meet me in St. Louis at the Irish Repertory Theatre directed by Charlotte Moore. A Metropolitan Opera semi-finalist, Sarah has worked with conductors such as Michael Tilson Thomas and John McGlinn and did a recording of Jerome Kern’s Oh Boy in London under the direction of Mr. McGlinn. Sarah lives in beautiful Wilton, Connecticut with her husband, actor Rick Hilsabeck and her two daughters, Hannah and Lily. Heather Martin Bixler a native of Racine, Wisconsin, began her violin studies at the age of eight, earning a Master of Music degree at the Juilliard School. Heather has been heard live on WQXR in New York City and has performed as recitalist and orchestra soloist throughout Canada, Europe, Japan, and the United States. She has played with The New York Philharmonic, New York City Ballet, American Symphony, and Orchestra of St. Lukes, as well as several Broadway shows in New York. Heather became interested in Traditional Irish music and began studying with Irish-American fiddler Brian Conway, and won the third medal for the senior slow airs at All-Ireland fleadh in Donegal, Ireland. Since then she has taught and performed Irish music throughout the United States, Canada, and Ireland. Sue Anderson, Piano, Sue’s career has been full and varied, ranging from Broadway productions to films to recordings. As a conductor and musical director, Ms. Anderson has worked with the Broadway and national touring companies of Pirates of Penzance, Me and My Girl and Cats. Ms. Anderson performed as the featured on-stage pianist in Broadway’s Jerry’s Girls. She also performs regularly at Carnegie Hall with the all-state choirs produced by Field Studies International. Ms. Anderson coached Rex Harrison in the revival of My Fair Lady, taught Peter O’Toole to play the piano, and enjoyed the finest chocolates with Katherine Hepburn. 4
Edgerton Performing Arts Center
Saturday, May 11, 2013 at 7:30 pm $20/advance $25/door Chicago’s Candid Concert Opera presents The Magic Flute by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in concert. Candid Concert Opera is dedicated to the development of emerging opera and instrumental talent. The company is focused on increasing the understanding, appreciation, accessibility, and availability of classical opera to the community. The Candid Concert Opera setting is the perfect way to enjoy the beautiful stories opera has to offer. Musical Director Codrut Birsan, Emmy Award winning composer, pianist, and opera singer, brings a world of experience and passion to Candid Concert Opera.
All performances are funded in part by the William & Joyce Wartmann Endowment for the Performing Arts Galway to Broadway
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The Magic Flute by Candid Concert Opera Prince Tamino, pursued by a monster, is saved by the Three Ladies in the service of the Queen of the Night. When they leave to report the news to the Queen, the bird catcher Papageno appears. He boasts to Tamino that it was he who killed the creature. The Ladies return to give Tamino a portrait of Pamina, the Queen's daughter, kidnapped by the evil Sarastro. They also padlock Papageno's mouth for lying. The magic of the portrait makes Tamino fall in love with Pamina. The Queen appears grieving over the loss of her daughter; she charges Tamino with Pamina's rescue. The Ladies give a magic flute to Tamino and silver bells to Papageno to ensure their safety, appointing Three Boys to guide them. Hearing that Pamina is alive, Tamino plays his magic flute and rushes to follow the sound of Papageno's pipes. Monostatos is about to capture Papageno and Pamina on the run but is left helpless by Papageno's magic bells. Sarastro arrives to promise Pamina eventual freedom and to punish Monostatos. Pamina is enchanted by a glimpse of Tamino, who is led to face his trials inside the temple. Monostatos tries to rape the sleeping Pamina again. He is discovered by the raging Queen of the Night. She gives her daughter a dagger with an ultimatum to murder Sarastro for stealing the magic legacy left over by Pamina's deceased father. The weeping Pamina, who refuses to perceive Sarastro as a thief and a monster, is consoled by Sarastro who advises her to renounce all feelings of vengeance and aggression. Tamino and Papageno's first trial is to remain silent and refrain from eating, a vow that Papageno immediately breaks when he takes a glass of water from a flirtatious Old Lady. The Old Lady vanishes when he asks her name. The Three Boys appear to guide Tamino through the rest of his journey. Tamino remains silent even when Pamina appears; inadvertently he breaks her heart since she cannot understand his silent rejection. The priests inform Tamino that he has only two more trials to complete his initiation. Papageno longs for a young wife but, out of general exhaustion and frustration, settles for the Old Lady. When he promises to be faithful she turns into a young Papagena but soon disappears. Pamina contemplates suicide in despair but is given new hope by the Three Boys. She and Tamino are reunited and face the ordeals of water and fire protected by the magic flute. Next the Three Boys save Papageno from an attempted suicide and remind him that the use of his magic bells will help him find true happiness. When he does so, young Papagena appears and the two reunite. The Queen of the Night, her Three Ladies, and Monostatos attack the temple but are defeated and perish. Sarastro joins Pamina and Tamino to hail the triumph of courage, virtue, and wisdom.
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Edgerton Performing Arts Center
The Magic Flute continued Codrut Birsan, Artistic Director of
Candid Concert Opera. Born in Brasov, Romania, Codrut Birsan began piano lessons at age 6. By age 17, he was one of the accompanists for Opera Brasov. Birsan began voice lessons at Brasov Conservatory as a teenager, then transferred to Bucharest University of Music where he studied with distinguished professor Georgeta Stoleriu.
While a voice student at the Academy of Music in Bucharest, Birsan was also a piano accompanist for the Academy’s opera class. He obtained a Master of Music degree in Voice at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Birsan has worked as a piano accompanist/opera coach with the San Francisco Lyric Opera, the Livermoore Opera, BASOTI, and for the Opera Academy of California. Birsan moved to Madison while his wife, soprano Emily Birsan, pursued her master’s degree in voice. In Madison, Birsan played for voice students at the University of Wisconsin and founded Candid Concert Opera (CCO). For the past few years, Birsan has focused on composition as well as performance. He was honored in 2010 with an International Emmy Award for his role in composing the score for The World According to Ion B., a documentary that originally aired on Romanian HBO. Birsan is a regular collaborator with the Chicago Lyric Opera. He has been the Music Director for the Lyric’s program “Opera in the Neighborhood” program, and most recently was the accompanist for Lyric Creative Consultant and world-renowned soprano Renee Fleming’s master class. Birsan also wears a number of hats as a musical instructor, ranging from “opera coach” to “piano teacher”
EPAC Production Personnel WEpac Board Members EPAC Coordinator, Marketing & Publicity, Lighting, Master Electrician, Concert Program, Artist Relations: Paul M. Tropp Technician: Josiah B. Tropp
Ticket Manager: Donna Skau Box Office Clerk: Sharon Wright
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Concert & Series Sponsors: PRODUCER
William and Joyce Wartmann Endowment for the Performing Arts Center William J. Wartmann Lawrence & Julie Midtbo
BENEFACTOR Thomas & Joyce Eastman Warren & Judith Kukla
DIRECTOR
Edgerton Gear Edgerton Pharmacy Steponkus Tax Service In Honor of Paul, Karen & Josiah Tropp
ASSOCIATE John & Shelby Fahlgren PATRON Donald & Barbara Brown Helen Rae Clawson
Mimmi Fulmer Judith Hubbell David & Jane Nelson Jean & Ronald Theis VFW Ladies Auxiliary Post 2708 James Cullen, Prairie Craftsmen, Inc.
Special Thanks To: William & Joyce Wartmann Dr. Dennis Pauli WEpac Board Members Edgerton Pharmacy Knapton Musik Knotes Voigt Music Centers, Inc. Piggly Wiggly C&M Printing The Edgerton Reporter Edgerton School District Board of Education and Staff
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Edgerton Performing Arts Center