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Jan. 23, 2012 /FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / Photo Attached Media Contact: Chelsea de Jesus, Manager & Press Contact, UNCSA Production Marketing Office, (408) 416-6555, chelsea.dejesus@gmail.com *A.J. FLETCHER OPERA INSTITUTE BRINGS THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR* TO UNCSA**
WINSTON-SALEM – The comedic opera of love, deceit, and revenge is being presented by the A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute’s production of The Merry Wives of Windsor, February 3, 5, and 7 at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA). The Merry Wives of Windsor, with music by Otto von Nicolai and libretto by Hermann Soloman Mosenthal is based on William Shakespeare’s play of the same title. The Merry Wives tells the story of Sir John Falstaff, a foolish drunkard who attempts to simultaneously woo two married women, Alice Ford and Meg Page. To teach Falstaff the error of his ways, and at the same time teach their own husbands a lesson, Alice and Meg turn the tables on Falstaff, and a battle of the sexes ensues. Meanwhile, Meg’s daughter, Anne Page, must also take matters into her own hands as three men, Fenton, Slender, and Dr. Casius, compete for her hand. With a little bit of plotting and seducing, everyone’s fates will be realized.	Photo by G. Allen Aycock Sir John Falstaff (Richard Ollarsaba) attempts to woo the Merry Wives (l-r: Kristin Schwecke, Kate Farrar and Catherine Park).
Sung in English, this comedic opera features musical direction by James Allbritten and stage direction by Steven LaCosse. Both LaCosse and Allbritten first premiered The Merry Wives of Windsor at UNCSA 15 years ago. This is their 51^st collaboration. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 3 and Tuesday, Feb. 7 and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 5. Performances are at UNCSA’s Stevens Center, located at 405 West 4th St. in downtown Winston-Salem. Tickets are $15 for adults and $13 for students and senior citizens. They can be purchased at the UNCSA Box Office at 336-721-1945 or online at www.uncsa.edu/performances. A vehicle for advancing the career potential of exceptional young singers, the A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute offers performance-based training at the graduate and post-graduate levels to several institute fellows each year. For more information about the Fletcher Institute, visit www.fletcheropera.com. The University of North Carolina School of the Arts is the first state-supported, residential school of its kind in the nation. Established as the North Carolina School of the Arts by the N.C. General Assembly in 1963, UNCSA opened in Winston-Salem (/span>“The City of the Arts”) in 1965 and became part of the University of North Carolina system in 1972. More than 1,100 students from high school through graduate school train for careers in the arts in five professional schools: Dance, Design and Production (including a Visual Arts Program), Drama, Filmmaking, and Music. UNCSA is the state’s only public arts conservatory, dedicated entirely to the professional training of talented students in the performing, visual and moving image arts. Internationally renowned conductor John Mauceri has been chancellor of UNCSA since 2006. UNCSA is located at 1533 S. Main St., Winston-Salem. For more information, visit www.uncsa.edu. ###
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Jan. 23, 2012 /FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / Photo Attached
Media Contact: Chelsea de Jesus, Manager & Press Contact, UNCSA Production Marketing Office, (408) 416-6555, chelsea.dejesus@gmail.com

A.J. FLETCHER OPERA INSTITUTE BRINGS THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR TO UNCSA

WINSTON-SALEM – The comedic opera of love, deceit, and revenge is being presented by the A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute’s production of The Merry Wives of Windsor, February 3, 5, and 7 at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA).

The Merry Wives of Windsor, with music by Otto von Nicolai and libretto by Hermann Soloman Mosenthal is based on William Shakespeare’s play of the same title. The Merry Wives tells the story of Sir John Falstaff, a foolish drunkard who attempts to simultaneously woo two married women, Alice Ford and Meg Page. To teach Falstaff the error of his ways, and at the same time teach their own husbands a lesson, Alice and Meg turn the tables on Falstaff, and a battle of the sexes ensues. Meanwhile, Meg’s daughter, Anne Page, must also take matters into her own hands as three men, Fenton, Slender, and Dr. Casius, compete for her hand. With a little bit of plotting and seducing, everyone’s fates will be realized.

Photo by G. Allen Aycock

Sir John Falstaff (Richard Ollarsaba) attempts to woo the Merry Wives (l-r: Kristin Schwecke, Kate Farrar and Catherine Park).

Sung in English, this comedic opera features musical direction by James Allbritten and stage direction by Steven LaCosse. Both LaCosse and Allbritten first premiered The Merry Wives of Windsor at UNCSA 15 years ago. This is their 51^st collaboration.

Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 3 and Tuesday, Feb. 7 and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 5. Performances are at UNCSA’s Stevens Center, located at 405 West 4th St. in downtown Winston-Salem. Tickets are $15 for adults and $13 for students and senior citizens. They can be purchased at the UNCSA Box Office at 336-721-1945 or online at www.uncsa.edu/performances.

A vehicle for advancing the career potential of exceptional young singers, the A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute offers performance-based training at the graduate and post-graduate levels to several institute fellows each year. For more information about the Fletcher Institute, visit www.fletcheropera.com.

The University of North Carolina School of the Arts is the first state-supported, residential school of its kind in the nation. Established as the North Carolina School of the Arts by the N.C. General Assembly in 1963, UNCSA opened in Winston-Salem (/span>“The City of the Arts”) in 1965 and became part of the University of North Carolina system in 1972. More than 1,100 students from high school through graduate school train for careers in the arts in five professional schools: Dance, Design and Production (including a Visual Arts Program), Drama, Filmmaking, and Music. UNCSA is the state’s only public arts conservatory, dedicated entirely to the professional training of talented students in the performing, visual and moving image arts. Internationally renowned conductor John Mauceri has been chancellor of UNCSA since 2006. UNCSA is located at 1533 S. Main St., Winston-Salem. For more information, visit www.uncsa.edu.

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