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Furman Students, Alums Join Musical Theatre for Summer Productions

|Furman students and alums will be featured in GLOW’s summer productions.

Last updated July 13, 2016

By News administrator

Greenville’s GLOW Lyric Theatre, South Carolina’s only professional opera, operetta and musical theatre company, is gearing up for a Furman-filled July.

The 2016 season of Gounod’s deeply romantic opera, “Romeo et Juliette” and the fiery classic musical “West Side Story,” will be presented at Furman’s McAlister Auditorium from July 27-31. A special one night only performance called Summer Stars Cabaret will be at the intimate Furman Playhouse Theatre on July 28.

Furman students and alums will be featured in GLOW's summer productions.

Furman students and alums are featured in GLOW’s summer productions.

Not only is GLOW performing on Furman’s campus, but the company has also established an official relationship with the university’s Department of Music, wherein GLOW provides professional opportunities for Furman student musicians during the summer months.

Music students selected for this opportunity include Jessie Barnett (B.M. ’16), who will perform the role of Stephano in Romeo et Juliette, and James Douglas (B.M. ’17), who will serve as Assistant Director for both productions. Additionally, GLOW has hired seven current and former Furman students to be a part of the season, both onstage and off.

“This is the largest group we have ever hired from a single university” says Jenna Tamisiea, GLOW’s Artistic Director.  “With our recent move to McAlister, we want to involve past and present FU students, and for GLOW to start becoming a part of the Furman family.”

Furman alum Katherine Sandoval Taylor (B.M. ’04) will take to the stage as Maria in West Side Story. Alum Ben Moore (B.M. ’08) and current theatre major Anne Morgan perform the roles of Big Deal and Velma in West Side Story, with Moore also singing Mercutio in Romeo et Juliette.  Morgan will also be featured in the Summer Stars Cabaret on July 28. Furman alum Hailey Darnell ’11 serves as season accompanist, and plays piano in the pit for both shows.

Furman students are prominent in the off-stage roles as well. Maranda Debusk (B.A. Theatre ’13) is Lighting Designer for both of the productions. Dakota Adams (Theatre ‘17) and Courtney Dorn (Theatre ‘18) are serving as Stage Manager and Assistant Stage Manager, respectively.  Sophomore theatre major Derek Leonard joins GLOW as a carpenter.

Many of the students have a long history with GLOW.  Adams and Dorn began as volunteer production assistants and worked their way up to management positions. Debusk was an assistant lighting designer for three seasons before now taking over as the season lighting designer.

“We pride ourselves on being a company where pre-professionals can learn, and eventually become the type of professionals who change the world of theatre.” Tamisiea says.  “Furman University obviously provides a fabulous arts education, and we at GLOW are certainly reaping the rewards!”

GLOW Lyric Theatre is a professional vocal arts company producing opera, operetta and musical theatre. Founded in 2009 by Christian Elser and Jenna Tamisiea, GLOW’s Summer Festival Season runs each July and August and features two productions that attempt to promote community understanding.

For ticket information about the GLOW 2016 Season, contact Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 or visit the GLOW Lyric Theatre website.

You Can Go:

What/When:

July 27 Romeo et Juliette 8 pm

July 29 West Side Story 8 pm

July 30 West Side Story 2 pm & 8 pm

July 31 Romeo et Juliette 2 pm

Where: Furman’s McAlister Auditorium

Special Event

July 28 Summer Stars Cabaret at Furman’s Playhouse Theatre

News release provided by GLOW Lyric Theatre

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