Issue date: 10/22/09 Section: News

From left to right, junior Charity Hickox as Leila, and seniors Emily Miller as Rose, and Ashley McHugh as Analeigh, practice a scene during dress rehearsal Monday night for "The Apprentices," an original musical comedy. All three students are music education majors for voice and members of Eastern's Music Theatre and Opera ensemble this semester. The show performs at 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday in Doudna Fine Arts Center's Recital Hall.(Chelsea Grady/The Daily Eastern News)

In "The Apprentices," 10 interns are waiting backstage in a prop room before a performance.

Eastern's Music Theatre and Opera Ensemble will perform the original comedy with well-known music at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the Doudna Fine Arts Center's Recital Hall.

Throughout the course of the comedic action, the audience learns about the characters' shortcomings and relationships while listening to singing portions of their favorite songs.

The performance showcases music by Mozart, Rodgers and Hammerstein and others, with original dialogue written by Adam Stich, director of the Music Theatre and Opera Ensemble.

Stich is also in charge of production design and stage direction, along with voice instructor Jay Ivey, who serves as musical director.

Stich and Ivey began working on this performance the second week of this semester.

The performance will be split into two short, 30-minute acts with an intermission in between.

"This performance is more approachable than full operas," Ivey said. "If people wonder what opera is about, they might want to come."

Stich said the play is all about the music, but the dialogue makes it more cohesive and natural.

Because of the new Doudna building, there is no budget for a lavish performance, but that does not diminish the value, according to Stich and Ivey.

Josh Farmer, a senior music education major, is among the nine cast members in his fourth performance at Eastern.

"This experience has been really fun," Farmer said. "It's nice because it's divided up well so no one is bogged down and everyone can show their strengths."

"The Apprentices" offers a little bit of everything from romance to comedy. The cast members explain the scenes before they happen so the audience knows what is going on, Farmer said.

"It's all about having fun and enjoying it," Farmer said.

Charity Hickox, a junior vocal education major, said the performance gives students something better to do than going to a movie or bowling.

Hickox describes her experience as a "fun break away from everyday classes and studying."

"I think it's a great idea for a date," she said.

Seating is reserved and tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and Eastern employees and $5 for students.

Tickets may be purchased in the Doudna Fine Arts Center box office from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, one hour before to each performance, or by calling 581-3110 or e-mailing doudnatix@eiu.edu.

Nicole Mangiaracina can be reached at 581-7942 or DENnewsdesk@gmail.com.

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