Press release

398 Pomfret Street, P.O. Box 128, Pomfret CT 06258-0128 860-963-6100
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Contact: John
Director of Communications & Public Relations All Invited to Pomfret School’s “La Serva Padrona”
Pomfret, CT - Guests are invited to attend Pomfret School’s spring operatic production of Giovanni Battista Pergolesi’s “La Serva Padrona” on Friday, May 16th at 6:30 pm in the Jahn Reading Room, located on the second floor of the School Building. This version of “La Serva Padrona” should be called “The Servant Mistress,” as this Italian opera will be performed in English. Viewers will be able to understand what’s going on, which is important, because this happens to be a comic opera. This 45 minute performance unveils the silly story of Uberto, an elderly bachelor, and Serpina, his arrogant maidservant who tries to get Uberto to marry her so she can become mistress of the house. “We’re trying to breathe new life into this eighteenth century piece,” says Theatre Director Chip Lamb “and look at it through a twentieth century lens.” “If you’ve never seen an opera, this is the one to start with, because it’s not intimidating, there are a lot of fun visuals to watch, and beautiful, beautiful music to top that,” says Pomfret School’s Director of Music Charles Houmard. The event, coordinated by Houmard and Lamb, feature several additional Pomfret faculty who are working together to make sure the audience is laughing. Math faculty member Paul Lilley is lending his vocal talents, while Kathi Yokum, who teaches pottery and sculpture, is creating a fully designed stage set and all- out costumes. “Big wigs, full dresses, silly servants, disguises – what’s not to like?” says Lamb. All are welcome to attend this event, free of charge, and following the performance are invited to head downstairs to Hard Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. for a production of Chekhov’s Shorts, a series of short classic comedies. Pomfret School is a co-educational, college-preparatory boarding and day school for students in grades 9-12, and post graduates. Pomfret School strives to cultivate a healthy interdependence of mind, body, and spirit in its students as it prepares them for college and for lives of productivity, service, and fulfillment. Its 2006-2007 enrollment is 350 students. The School is located in Pomfret, CT, less than one hour from Hartford, CT; Providence, RI; Worcester, MA; and New London, CT. Pomfret School admits students of any race, color, creed, handicap, sexual orientation or national origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. The School does not discriminate on the basis of color, creed, handicap, gender, sexual orientation, age or national origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid, or other programs administered by the School.

Source: http://www.pomfretschool.org/ftpimages/14/download/download_group6637_id321849.pdf