The University of Southern Mississippi College of Arts and Sciences

School of Music

presents the

Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company

production of

TOO MANY SOPRANOS A Comic Opera in Two Acts

music by

Edwin Penhorwood

libretto by

Miki Lynn

October 29 and November 1, 2020 Mannoni Performing Arts Center

Stage Director

Jonathan Yarrington

Musical Director/Conductor

Carlos Manuel Fernández Hernández

Lighting Designer

Caleb S. Garner

Costumer

Tammy Mansfield

Producer

Harlan Mapp

Produced by permission of ECS Publishing Group, St. Louis, MO Sole Agent for E. C. Schirmer Music Company, Publisher and Copyright Owner

CAST

Principals

St. Peter Gabriel

Madame Pompous Miss Titmouse Dame Doleful Just Jeanette

Enrico Carouser Unnamed Bass Nelson Deadly

Sandman Guard (Orson)

O’Neil Jones Cody Nelson Mackenzie Kuykendoll Danielle Watson Katrina Cox Evelyn Coats Ben Nause John Rogers David Walker Amanda Charles Justin Bell

Understudies

St. Peter Miss Titmouse Dame Doleful Just Jeanette

Enrico Carouser

Sandman Guard (Orson)

Cody Nelson Danielle Nash Jaden Hatcher Kassidy Chandler Kathlyn Arcemont Matthew Aiken Caitlyn Smith Patrick Berry

STAFF Music Director/Conductor

Stage Director Asst. Stage Director/Producer

Lighting Designer Puppet Coordinator

Costumer Set Design/Construction/Props Master

Stage Manager Asst. Stage Manager

Subtitles Répétiteurs

Building Manager Livestreaming

Carlos Manuel Fernández Hernández Dr. Jonathan Yarrington Harlan Mapp Caleb S. Garner Harlan Mapp Tammy Mansfield Harlan Mapp Amanda Charles Patrick Berry Kassidy Chandler Alison Post, Watcharit Kerdchuen Robert Corey Robert Corey, Walker Clayton, Andrew Sheets, Aaliyah Chatman

ORCHESTRA

1st Violin

Juan Correa, concertmaster

Alejandro Junco

Adelle Paltin

2nd Violin

Federico Franco

Marcos Aycox

Viola

Ana Sofia Suarez

Diana Lopez

Cello

Patricia Vanuci

Franco Santiago Galetto

Bass

Pedro Areco

Flute

Sarah Rodriguez

Clarinet

Adam Stallings

Horn

Selena Boyda

Oboe

Sarah Turner

Bassoon

Wes Rogers

Trumpet

Caleb Guilbeau

Trombone

Thomas Ly

Percussion

Meliza Reyes Joshua Hale

Synopsis

Time: The Present

ACT I: The parlor of Heaven

Four Divas arrive in heaven to learn there is not enough room for all of them in the Heavenly Chorus. So many tenors and basses are in Hell that there is only room for one new soprano. The sopranos are appalled that they must audition, but submit. After their impressive auditions, St. Peter can’t make a decision. Gabriel therefore mentions the Redemption Clause: If the sopranos go to Hell and do a selfless deed, they can bring as many tenors and basses back to Heaven as needed. To protect them in Hell, St. Peter grants them a special disguise.

ACT II: The caverns of Hades

The Divas, St. Peter, and Gabriel arrive in Hell and listen to the stories of some of the tortured souls there. Just Jeanette meets Nelson Deadly and they fall in love. The Sandman arrives with the stage director, Orson, and presents a task to the couple: If they can listen to Orson without falling asleep, they can take as many tenors and basses as they want. They fail the test, but because of a selfless act on their part, they are granted the release of the men. There is general rejoicing and all promise St. Peter they will never sing opera again.

Act I

Aria: St. Peter Aria: Dame Doleful Aria: Miss Titmouse Aria: Madame Pompous Aria: Just Jeanette Quartet: Divas

“Look at her, isn’t she dreadful” Quintet: Divas and St. Peter “Down to the Depths” Finale: Divas and St. Peter

Act II Prelude Aria: Enrico Carouser Aria: Unnamed Bass Septet: Divas, St. Peter,

E. Carouser, and Unnamed Bass “How do you get a Diva to give?”

Duet: Just Jeanette and Nelson Deadly Aria: Sandman Aria: Orson Finale: Tutti

O’Neil Jones (St. Peter), of Montego Bay, Jamaica, has earned an international reputation as a baritone soloist and

conductor. Having made his debut as a soloist in 2011, he went on to perform the lead role in Jamaica’s first operetta, 1865, a role he reprised 3 years later in the country’s first full scale opera. The production gained national acclaim and was performed at the Walt Whitman Theater in New York City in the winter of 2012. As a student at the University of the West Indies-Mona, Jamaica, Jones was the first student to be appointed Musical Director of a university chorus. As their conductor, he led the University Chorale through its first concert season which spanned a full weekend of shows. Here he continued for five years (2010-2014) under the watchful eye of noted Caribbean musicologist Noel Dexter, which then led to his first experience of formal musical training. An active vocalist, he has been the guest soloist at several productions of masterworks including Dubois’s Seven Last Words of Christ, Bach’s Mass in B Minor and the Magnificat in D. His repertoire ranges from Handel to Mozart, Faure to Strauss, Finzi and 20th century composers. In the spring of 2019, he performed Belcore’s aria from L’elisir d’amore in a masterclass for noted author and vocal pedagogue Clifton Ware. Jones went on to perform the role in Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company’s production of the Donizetti comedy in April. Jones has competed all over the United States at the regional and national levels as a soloist, the most recent being the National Association of Teachers of Singing competition in the spring of 2017. In the fall of 2017, he was awarded the Presser Award by the Presser Foundation. Though his life has always been filled with music, O’Neil completed a B.Sc. in Political Science and a Post Graduate Diploma in

Business Administration at The University of the West Indies-Mona prior to the pursuit of a music degree. He is currently working on a Master of Music degree with emphases in Choral Conducting and Vocal Performance and Pedagogy under the watchful eyes of Dr. Gregory Fuller and Dr. J. Taylor Hightower. When not on-stage, Jones can be found enjoying a concert, listening to a wide array of musical genres from Mozart to Marley, or simply enjoying a day at the beach.

Cody Nelson (Gabriel) is a graduate of Gautier High School and has attended The University of Southern Mississippi since 2016 working

toward a degree in Music Education. While at USM, he has performed in a variety of ensembles and productions both locally and internationally. As a member of USM’s Southern Chorale, Cody has had the privilege to perform choral works in places such as Carnegie Hall, Sweden, Norway, and South Korea. He has also shared his talents with the state of Mississippi as a member of the Mississippi Bicentennial Ensemble which toured Mississippi to celebrate its bicentennial anniversary. Cody has performed in a multitude of shows as a member of The Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company. Some examples include The Phantom of the Opera, Rigoletto, The Mikado, and Mississippi's largest opera production to date, Turandot. After this last semester of performing at Southern Miss, Cody plans to either attend a university to obtain his Master of Music in composition or go out into the teaching field to introduce the beauty of music to young minds.

Mackenzie Kuykendoll (Madame Pompous) is a sophomore at The University of Southern Mississippi, pursuing a degree in Vocal Performance. Kuykendoll studies with Katrina Cox and previously studied with Matthew Hayner at Germantown High School, and with Bradley Allen

Zarr and Leslie Becker as part of the Musical Theatre Intensive at the Orpheum Theatre. She has been involved in many stage productions, including Showbiz! A Century of Showtunes at USM (2020), Sister Act as Deloris Van Cartier (2019), Clue as Mrs. Peacock (2018), Sweeney Todd as Mrs. Lovett (2018), Is He Dead? as Madame Caron (2017), The Mystery of Edwin Drood as Princess Puffer (2017), Urinetown as Soupy Sue (2016), and The Little Mermaid as a Mersister (2016). She was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress for two consecutive years at the regional Orpheum High School Musical Theatre Awards for her role in Sweeney Todd and The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Kuykendoll has performed in many choral ensembles which include two years in the All Southwest Tennessee Honor Choir, and 1st chair in the Tennessee All-State Women’s Chorus for two consecutive years, working with Grammy award winning choral director, Dr. Jeffery Redding and choral director and composer, Dr. Rosephanye Powell. She was also involved in producing and anchoring for the Germantown High School Television. Her roles included Overall Producer for the “47th Annual Live Coverage of the Germantown Festival” (2018), “Wake Up! Germantown” anchor (2017-2019), and the U.S. House producer for the 2018 “Election Night” (2018). Mackenzie has plans to be more involved with shows and performance opportunities around the community, continually seeking to expand her experience to be prepared for a career in professional theatre.

Danielle Watson (Miss Titmouse) is a Jamaican soprano who is a regular finalist and semi-finalist at voice competitions. Ms. Watson was a first-place winner in the Younger Student Adult Women and Men Division at the Southern Regional National Association of Teachers

of Singing Competition. Danielle has assumed the role of Adina in Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore and Sophie in Richard Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier for the Southern Opera & Musical Theatre Company. She has also appeared in Showboat, Carmen and Faust productions led by the Natchez Festival of Music. Danielle has given solo performances at the Natchez Music League and at Nicholls State University in Houma, Louisiana for “A Celebration of the Negro Spirituals.” She has appeared as a soloist with several Jamaican groups and has been invited to appear in concerts and recitals hosted by notable Jamaican organizations. An avid lover and supporter of the arts, Ms. Watson completed her Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance at Alcorn State University. She completed her Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance and is primed to study for a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at The University of Southern Mississippi, where she studies under Dr. Kimberley Davis.

Katrina L. Cox (Dame Doleful), a native of Laurel, MS earned her BM degree at William Carey University in vocal performance, where she studied with Dr. Connie Roberts, sang with Chorale, traveled with Carpenter’s Wood to South Korea and

played the Maid in The Boor and Cinderella’s Mother in Into the Woods. She was a state and regional finalist at NATS, and served as president of Delta Omicron. As a senior, she won the coveted Jenkins-Chastain Award, the highest honor given to a WCU student. Katrina earned a Master of Music at the State University of New York-Binghamton. In New York, she performed with Tri-Cities Opera and the Big Band Jazz Ensemble, Harpur Jazz. During her studies at Binghamton University, she was also honored to sing in a masterclass with renowned diction and vocal coach, Nico Castel. As a studio artist with Opera North in New Hampshire, she performed Frau Fluth in Die Lustigen Weiber von Windsor, sang in a master class with Metropolitan Opera soprano, Claudia Waite, and appeared in Turandot and Falstaff. Continuing as a professional oratorio and recital singer, Katrina also started a jazz band named “The New Standard”, which performed in various venues throughout New York’s Southern Tier. In 2012, Katrina returned to her native town, Laurel, MS. She has worked for Laurel School district as an elementary and high school music teacher. She was the 2015 Featured Artist at the Delta Omicron International Conference in Chicago, IL. Katrina recently played the role of Muzzy van Hossmere in WCU’s production of Thoroughly Modern Millie and Shug in The Color Purple with Meridian Community College. Katrina is currently a doctoral candidate in vocal performance and pedagogy at The University of Southern Mississippi,

where she studies with Dr. Kimberley Davis. She has appeared as a soloist with the USM orchestra and jazz ensemble as well as in the spring production of Showbiz: A Century of Showtunes. Katrina has performed with Southern Opera and Music Theater as the title role Carmen and Octavian from Der Rosenkavalier in opera scenes program, “The Quest for Love.” Recently, she was the featured jazz vocalist for the Partners for the Arts gala. She is a chorister and Assistant Children’s Choir director at The Church of Saint John in Laurel. She also runs a private voice studio.

Evelyn Coats (Just Jeanette) received her bachelor’s degree in Music and Bible from West Coast

Baptist College. She is currently earning her master’s degree in Vocal Performance under the study of Dr. Taylor Hightower. She enjoys singing with others and teaching music. She has performed as the stepsister, Portia in Cinderella by Rogers and Hammerstein and a chorus member in L'elisir d'amore by Donizetti. She is honored to be part of a fun production!

Ben Nause (Enrico Carouser) is ecstatic to be performing the character Enrico Carouser in his first USM Opera production with such a creative cast and crew. Originally from Pennsylvania, Ben has always had a passion for performing and giving his

talents to the art of theatre. Before arriving at USM, Ben was living on the island of Kauai in Hawaii working as the piano accompanist for Island School, a K-12 college-prep school. While there he accompanied daily, taught sectionals, and collaborated with the choir director to achieve the highest level of music for the students. In 2019, Ben graduated from Susquehanna University where he received a BM in Music Education. At university, Ben performed as a soloist, with the jazz band, and the touring choir. In 2017, Ben and several other musicians collaborated with Niigata University in Japan to perform a chamber music concert which provided him his first chance to perform in another country. Some of Ben’s past roles have included Joe Hardy (Damn Yankees), Horton (Seussical), The Baker (Into the Woods), and Laurie (Little Women). Ben wants to send his deepest thanks to all those involved in this current production and future theatre events at USM. Enjoy the opera and thank you for the support!

John Rogers (Unnamed Bass) is a recent graduate of The University of Alabama, where he was a graduate assistant in voice/opera and member of The UA Opera Theatre. As a member of The UA Opera Theatre, he performed the roles of Carl-Magnus Malcolm in

A Little Night Music, Frank Maurrant in Street Scene, President Garland/General Croxton in the world premiere of Freedom and Fire! A Civil War Story, King Melchior in Amahl and the Night Visitors, and Herr Fluth in Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor. In 2016, John performed the title role in Tchaikovsky's Mazepa with Russian Opera Workshop at The Academy of Vocal Arts. A native of Phenix City, he attended Troy University (Troy, AL) where he performed in productions of Les Arts Florissants and Amahl and the Night Visitors, as well as the roles of Usher in Trial By Jury and Peter in Hansel and Gretel (in English).

David Walker (Nelson Deadly) is from Laurel, MS, and has performed in numerous musicals, operettas and operas throughout Mississippi over the past several years including roles as Nicely-Nicely

Johnson (Guys and Dolls), Adolpho (The Drowsy Chaperone), Nemorino (L’elisir d’amore), and Eddie Souther (Sister Act). Other shows include Beauty & the Beast, Annie, The Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance, Rigoletto, Faust and Turandot, along with many other concert/cabaret performances with the Natchez Festival of Music, FestivalSouth, and Mississippi Opera.

Amanda Charles (Sandman), first year Doctor of Musical Arts student, is originally from Houston, TX. In 2015, she helped jumpstart the Northwestern State University Opera Theatre Ensemble

by making her opera debut as Casilda in The Gondoliers. Charles' previous roles include Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, Lucy in The Telephone, Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, Adele in Die Fledermaus, Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro, and Yum Yum in The Mikado. Her most recent role is The Queen of The Night from Die Zauberflöte. Charles has placed first in the older advanced women category at the National Association of Teachers of Singing competition along with receiving choral leadership awards. She has a background in choral conducting and has assisted in stage directing in past operas at Northwestern State University. Charles has traveled internationally with the Northwestern Chamber Choir to compete in international choral competitions. Amanda currently receives vocal instruction from Dr. Jonathan Yarrington. She would like to thank her daughter, Mila, along with her friends and family for always supporting her in her dreams.

Justin E. Bell (Orson) is a determined junior pursuing degrees in both Music Education and Vocal Performance at The University of Southern Mississippi where he is a Luckyday Scholar and a member of The Southern Chorale. Justin attended

Murrah High School and Power Academic and Performing Arts Complex (APAC) School in Jackson, Mississippi. As a member of the Murrah Concert Singers, Bell performed across the United States, ranging from Los Angeles to NYC, and a concert tour in Italy. At Power APAC, Justin was seen in productions of The Piano Lesson, The Colored Museum, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Romeo and Juliet, and The Bottle Tree. He has also been in numerous productions at New Stage Theatre in Jackson, such as A Christmas Carol and Peter Pan, and various projects with Mississippi Public Broadcasting (MPB). While studying at USM, Justin has performed in both musical theatre and opera productions like The Drowsy Chaperone, Showbiz: A Century of Showtunes, L'elisir d'amore, and as Papageno in the quintet from The Magic Flute. With the Southern Chorale, Justin has had the opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall and in South Korea as part of the 2020 Jeju International Choir Festival. He worked as a Vocal Instructor at the Salvation Army's Carolina Music and Arts Conservatory in the summer of 2019, and he was slated to work at the 2020 Interlochen Summer Arts Camp, prior to the pandemic. He would like to thank his family, Mr. Pierrdro Gallion, Dr. Jonathan Yarrington, Dr. Gregory Fuller, and Dr. Susan Ruggiero for new opportunities, support, and exposure! Bell's motto is The Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi: "Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is sadness, let there be joy."

Danielle Nash (Miss Titmouse understudy) is delighted to be making her opera debut at Southern Miss as the understudy for "Madame Titmouse" in Too Many Sopranos. She has previously performed with The Dance

Company for 12 years as well as being involved in four ensembles in the Long Beach High School Choir during her time there. She made her musical theatre debut as "Young Tarzan" in the LBHS Choir’s 2016 production of Tarzan the Musical. Danielle is a Junior at USM pursuing her Bachelor of Music Education. She is a third-year member of the Southern Chorale as well as the Southern Belletones, the female a cappella group. Besides her musical involvement, she is also the Director of Chapter Development for her sorority, Delta Gamma, and a Golden Eagle Welcome Week Crew Leader for the class of 2020. Outside of school she has been a scholarship singer in the Main Street United Methodist Church Chancel Choir for 3 years.

Jaden Hatcher (Dame Doleful understudy) is a native of Hurley, MS. Hatcher is a senior Choral Music Education Major at the University of Southern Mississippi, under the vocal instruction of Dr. Jonathan Yarrington. During her time at Southern Miss, Jaden has been a part of productions with the Southern Opera and Musical Theater Company including L’elisir

d’amore (chorus member), Opera Scenes “The Quest for Love” (Fiordiligi of Così fan tutte), and Showbiz: A Century of Showtunes (pit singer). Before coming to Southern Miss, Jaden graduated from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College-Perk with an Associate of Arts in Pre-Music. After Jaden graduates with her BME, she hopes to obtain a MM in Vocal Performance.

Kassidy Chandler (Just Jeanette understudy) is a native of Laurel, MS in her second year at the University of Southern Mississippi. She is very excited to be a part of her first opera here at Southern Miss! Kassidy comes to USM from Jones College and is pursuing a degree in Music Education.

At USM, she has been a member of the Concert Choir and the Southern Belletones. Kassidy recently appeared in the USM School of Music’s production of Showbiz: A Century of Showtunes. Some of her other credits include Minnie Faye in Hello, Dolly! at Laurel Little Theatre and Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray at Jones College. Kassidy hopes to become a successful school choir director in the future.

Kathlyn Arcemont (Just Jeanette understudy) is delighted to be a part of her first opera at USM! She is

a Junior music education student from Madison, MS. As a music major, she is involved with the Southern Chorale and the Southern Belletones. Some of her past theatrical credits include Madame de la Grande Bouche in Beauty and the Beast, Sister Mary Patrick in Sister Act, and Margot Crawford in Bright Star at New Stage Theatre in Jackson, MS. Kathlyn is grateful to the staff at USM for all the opportunities they have given her.

Matthew Aiken (Enrico Carouser understudy) is pursuing the Master of Science in Biology. Aiken has studied voice for two and a half years at USM. He has been involved in past productions including The Elixir of Love and “The Quest for Love”.

Caitlyn Smith (Sandman understudy) is a performer from Hernando, Mississippi. She is currently a senior at The University of Southern Mississippi pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a

concentration in voice. She is studying Voice with Kerrin Hightower and has formerly been under the teachings of the co-founders of CoroRio, Reese and Joelle Norris, and Julie Freeman. Smith has recently received the award for “Outstanding Leading Actress in a Musical” at the Northwest Mississippi Theatre Alliance Awards. Smith has performed in numerous productions within the musical theatre concentration, with some notable roles being Éponine in Les Misérables, Belle in Beauty and the Beast, and Sophie in Mamma Mia!. Smith’s aspiration is to pursue a career in professional theatre.

Patrick Berry (Orson) is a candidate for the Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting under the direction of Dr. Gregory Fuller. Past opera and musical theatre credits include Joseph (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat), Pierre Lafitte (Cabildo), Top (The Tender Land),

and Dr. Gregg (Gallantry). Patrick also participated in the Southern Miss Opera and Musical Theatre Company's opera scenes program “The Quest for Love” and the musical theatre cabaret Showbiz: A Century of Showtunes. Patrick received his undergraduate degree in vocal performance from the University of New Hampshire and studies voice at USM with Dr. Jonathan Yarrington.

Carlos Manuel Fernández Hernández (music director/conductor) is a multifaceted conductor from Colombia, with experience in Europe, North, and South America that provide him with a wide vision of world music. During his studies and professional

upbringing in Vienna, he conducted premieres of modern pieces for new ensembles and the standard orchestral and opera repertoires of the 18th to 20th centuries. In 2010 he premiered Lepanto by Alexander Kaisser, followed by a collaboration with composer Nancy Van de Vate as principal accompanist and assistant for the recording of her opera, Hamlet, in Olomuc, Czech Republic. In 2012 Carlos had various projects in Vienna: assistant conductor for the premiere of the operas Edenarabeske by Wolfgang Liebhart and Azrael by Dirk D'Ase, assistant to Guido Mancusi at the Volksoper Wien, and assistant fellow Korrepetitor under David Aronson at the Staatsoper Wien. Further engagements during the 2013-2014 season included his debut with the Bratislava Symphony Orchestra in Bratislava and Vienna, guest performances with the AOV orchestra in Vienna, the premiere of Unlimited Imaginations, by Julian Gamisch, and Beethoven's 9th Symphony in Ibagué, Colombia, in a live open-air concert offered for more than 5,000 attendees. Carlos' universe, besides conducting, embraces piano chamber music, choir conducting, singing and instrumental accompanying, and arranging and composing for different ensembles. He was the conductor of the MGV Choir in Breitenfurt, Austria, and founder of "Enchoir", the choir of the English Studies Department at the University of Vienna from 2011 to 2014. In 2014, he founded the choir and orchestra of the University of Ibagué, Colombia, co-founded the independent choir, Coro Polifónico

Nuevo Tolima, and was named Artistic Director of the Ibagué Conservatory and Principal Conductor of its Symphony Orchestra. All these groups collaborated during the 2014-2019 seasons in opera, sacred music festivals, and choral-symphonic programs. During his tenure in Colombia, his work made possible a decentralized approach to the music offered in different cities, touring with opera, sacred music, and choir and orchestra productions throughout different regions, choir conferences and concerts in Panama-ELAMCO and Cancún, Mexico-CoralCun, staging concerts in vulnerable zones, and providing choral, orchestral, and conducting workshops for free. In addition to his love for music and music projects for the communities where he serves, he enjoys cooking with his wife and daughters, traveling around the world, and discovering all kinds of music. Carlos holds a technical degree in Bassoon studies from the Tolima Conservatory, studied orchestral, choral, and opera conducting as well as opera piano collaboration with Dr. Georg Mark, Guido Mancusi and David Aronson at the Konservatorium Wien, and is currently pursuing his Master in Conducting at the University of Southern Mississippi, where he is also the Graduate Assistant for opera productions and orchestra. He currently studies with Dr. Michael Miles and plans to gain his doctoral degree in conducting at USM. He has received master classes in opera and orchestral conducting under Felipe Aguirre, Sir Simon Rattle, Bertrand de Billy, and Apo Hsu, and for choral conducting with Virginia Bono. Carlos has performed and conducted in venues such as the Wien Konservatorium Auditorium, Konzerthaus Wien, and Stephansdom in Vienna, throughout Austria, Panama, Mexico, and in various concert halls in his home country.

Jonathan Yarrington (stage director), a native of Idaho Falls, ID, is Assistant Professor of Voice at the University of Southern Mississippi. Prior to joining the faculty at USM, Dr. Yarrington was a member of The Dallas Opera Studio from 2011-2014, singing nearly one hundred performances in the title

roles of their education and outreach productions of Doctor Miracle and Jack and the Beanstalk. In 2012, he made his mainstage debut with The Dallas Opera as The Messenger in Aida. Mr. Yarrington has sung more than fifteen leading roles with UNT Opera, UNL Opera, and BYU Opera, including Jeník (Zápisník zmizelého), Edgardo (Lucia di Lammermoor), William Marshall (Regina), Jeník (Prodana nevĕsta) Stage Manager (Our Town), Ferrando (Così fan tutte), Herman (The Most Happy Fella), Don Ramiro (Cinderella), Tamino (Die Zauberflöte), Marco Palmieri (The Gondoliers), Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly), Nanki Pooh (The Mikado), and Rinuccio (Gianni Schicchi). He has appeared in concert with The Bluefire Chamber Players, Blue Lake Opera, The Blacksburg Master Chorale, Crescent Chamber Artists, The Choral Pickup, The Rapides Symphony Orchestra, The Plano Civic Chorus, The Dallas Chamber Orchestra, The Fort Worth Baroque Society, The Texas Camerata, The South Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, and The Utah Festival Opera Company. An active recitalist and concert performer, he has commissioned and performed new music for tenor and oboe, and he specializes in German and Czech art song. Dr. Yarrington holds the Doctor of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance from The University of North Texas, where he studied with Dr. Stephen F. Austin. He is a former student of retired Metropolitan Opera mezzo-soprano Ariel Bybee, and he won the Nebraska District of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in 2005.

Caleb S. Garner (lighting designer) is proud to return to the University of Southern Mississippi as a Lighting Designer for the School of Music. Caleb’s designs, ranging from concerts, to ballets, to musicals, to straight plays, have earned him eight design awards, including first place in lighting design at the

National Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. Caleb has been a featured designer from New York to Louisiana, designing in the Northeast, Midwest, Southeast, and Deep South. Caleb proudly holds a BFA in Theatre Design and Production from Catawba College and an MFA in Lighting and Sound Design and Technology from The University of Southern Mississippi. www.calebsgarner.com

Tammy Mansfield (costumer) holds a degree in Music Theory and Composition and a master’s degree in Conducting from The University of Southern Mississippi. Tammy divides her time as a

music director & arranger, accompanist, and costumer. She is a prolific music arranger for local choirs, original productions, and private individuals. Tammy has served as music director for over 50 musical theatre productions in south Mississippi and the New Orleans area with groups ranging from children’s camps, high school and collegiate programs to community theatre and regional productions. Her favorite onstage credits include Grizabella in Cats, Paulette in Legally Blonde, Aunt Sponge in James and the Giant Peach, and M’Lynn in Steel Magnolias. She was twice nominated for New Orleans Big Easy Awards: Best Supporting Actress in Legally Blonde and Best Music Director for Peter and the Starcatcher. Tammy is a co-founding member of the Hub City Players professional theatre company and shares her life in Hattiesburg with her supportive hubby Steve and four stinky grown-up sons.

Harlan Mapp (Asst. Director, Producer, Set Design & Construction, Props Master, Puppet Coordinator), Hattiesburg native and lyric baritone, is

pursuing a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Southern Mississippi studying Conducting. Harlan’s musical theatre experiences include Captain Tempest (Return to the Forbidden Planet), the Phantom (Phantom of the Opera), Nathan Detroit (Guys & Dolls), and Ebenezer Scrooge (A Christmas Carol) and a member of the Songs for a New World cast. Harlan’s operatic roles include Ping (Turandot), the Mandarin (Turandot), Count Monterone (Rigoletto), Ko-Ko (The Mikado), Le Dancaïre (Carmen), and the Father (Hansel and Gretel). Harlan has been a part of the Natchez Festival of Music as set and props master for A Little Night Music, Faust, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and La Bohème. Other builds include The Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company’s performances of The Drowsy Chaperone and L’elisir d’amore as well as The Hub City Players production of Sister Act. He assisted with Romeo & Juliet set for Mississippi Opera. Recently, Harlan took over the production and direction of the educational outreach with the Natchez Festival of Music with the performance of Pinocchio across the state of Mississippi. Harlan attended the University of Southern Mississippi for his undergraduate studies in Music Education.