February 20, 2004 Feature
Collaboration
With A Twist On The Utah State Theatre Stage
 Combine
the talents of actors, musicians, dancers and artists with a
surprise guest appearance, and the result is a collaboration
between the theatre arts, music and art departments at Utah
State University. This creative team has combined forces for
the production of The Soldier's Tale and Eight
Songs for a Mad King. This unique performance partnership
takes center stage Feb. 25, 26 and 28 in the Morgan Theatre
of the Chase Fine Arts Center at Utah State University. The
curtain rises at 7:30 p.m. each night.
Tickets are available at the Utah State ticket office in the
Smith Spectrum. Public admission is $5 and Utah State students
with current ID are admitted free.
Heading the piece are theatre arts professor Artemis Preeshl
and music department maestro Sergio Bernal.
"Artemis Preeshl's input is truly a unique asset to the
production, since she is not only a skilled actor, but also
an accomplished dancer," said Bernal. "It is not surprising,
then, that the show will have not only acting on stage, but
also a good amount of dancing. I have been rehearsing with the
musicians in the ensemble, and as we get closer to the performance
we begin to integrate the elements."
"Both departments are handling a great deal of detail,"
added Preeshl. "Because this project lacks precedent, the
music and theatre departments must have a fluid relationship
to work out the flow of information and responsibilities."
Setting the mood for the evening is The Soldier's Tale,
with music by Igor Stravinsky and text from C.F. Ramuz. According
to Preeshl, the work is a Faustian tale of the devil winning
over a soldier by promises of wealth and a good life.
"The story deals with the power of choice and its consequences,"
Bernal said. "The message is presented in a light and humorous
manner, but is actually quite deep and serious."
The project's second piece is Eight Songs for a Mad King,
with music by Peter Maxwell Davies and text by Randolph Stowe
and George III.
"This gripping work depicts the madness of King George
III, as recorded in texts by King George III himself,"
Bernal said. "In the midst of his delirium, George tries
to teach his birds in a cage, represented by musicians, how
to sing."
"King George is at the end of his disease," said
Preeshl. "Through song, he reminisces and eulogizes."
 According
to the theatre arts department, there are also two special guest
appearances in Eight Songs for a Mad King — Utah
State University President Kermit Hall is performing in the
opening night production (Feb. 25) and Robert Osborne, a New
York bass-baritone, reprises the role of the Mad King.
"President Hall is one of King George's Keepers, guarding
the King from himself," Preeshl revealed. "The Keeper
is the only character the King directly addresses in the libretto.
The president will dance, interact and more. We are delighted
and honored to have him in the show."
Osborne has previously played the role of the Mad King in Minnesota
and New York. Osborne is also giving a recital and a master
class on Charles Ives in the music department Friday, Feb. 20.
More details on these events will be available soon.
Completing the School of the Arts collaboration is the art
department from Utah State. An exhibit of student art will be
on display for the duration of the performances of the The
Soldier's Tale and Eight Songs for a Mad King.
In addition, students from the art department are creating an
installation piece correlating to the multi-disciplinary project.
Art department professor Chris Terry serves as the visual arts
liaison for the project.
"Collaboration is central to the disciplines of music
and theater but in the visual arts it hasn't been a common way
for artists to express themselves," Terry said. "Recently
there has been increasing interest in interdisciplinary collaboration
and the art department welcomes this opportunity to take on
a project that requires not only cooperation between a group
of art students from many different disciplines, but also collaboration
with our colleagues in other departments. We want the structure
to act as an entryway to the performance and to foreshadow its
content. To be successful, the artists who cooperate on the
piece will need to subordinate their own egos to the group identity,
in much the same way that a musical ensemble functions."
Preeshl said The Soldier's Tale and Eight Songs
for a Mad King require extensive cooperation and communication
between everyone involved.
"Each department is using exceptionally talented individuals
for every aspect of the piece," she said. "Students
from the theatre, music and art departments are all on display
here, and their work will be evident throughout the entire production."
For ticket information and general inquiries, call (435) 797-1500
or email Jeremy Gordon at gordonj@hass.usu.edu.
More details will be available in upcoming advertisements and
at the Utah State Theatre Web site at www.usu.edu/theatre.
Writer: Jeremy Gordon (435) 797-1500, gordonj@hass.usu.edu
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