Pittsburg High School Theatre: previous shows, what’s to come

PITTSBURG, Kan. – The Pittsburg High School Theatre department stops by the studio to talk about their previous shows and what they have left in their season. They closed recently on their Mama Mia! show that was held earlier in February. Other shows they did this year includes Little Women the Musical, Macbeth, and Breakfast with Santa.

You can still support the theatre department to help kids get to the International Theatre Competition. PHS’s theatre department is holding a donation event called the Spring Cabaret. It will be on April 29th at 7 pm. They also are holding an event that lets their drama club perform for fun called the Spring Repertory on April 21st through the 23rd at 7 pm.

For more information, you can contact Caitie Almond at the high school at 620-235-3200 or by email at calmond@usd250.org.

You can find more on the USD250 website here.

 

JHS Theater Department returns to the stage with ‘The Drowsy Chaperone

JOPLIN, Mo. – Theater students at Joplin High School are preparing for their next performance. They’ll perform the musical “the drowsy chaperone.” The Drowsy Chaperone is an homage to American musicals of the Jazz Age, and the effect they have on fans.

“We’re so grateful that we finally get to do this again,” said Joplin High School Junior Carly Cascone. “As much as we don’t necessarily love wearing masks, we’re so grateful we can do this and wearing the masks is only a small obstacle for a huge opportunity.”

The performances will be this Friday and Saturday. You can buy tickets online for $10. Masks are required.

Tulsa Opera fires composer of Greenwood massacre piece

TULSA, Okla. (AP) – The Tulsa Opera has canceled a piece written for a concert on the city’s 1921 race massacre after the composer of one of four pieces for the event refused a request to remove a curse on America from the piece.

In social media postings, New York composer Daniel Roumain said Sunday he was commissioned to write for mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves one of four libretti for a “Greenwood Overcomes” concert scheduled for a May 1 performance by the Tulsa Opera.

Roumain balked, however, when Graves, who is Black, objected to the final line after the line “God Bless America” – “God Damn America” – in his “They Still Want To Kill Us” libretto and Opera officials wanted it changed.

“As a Black woman, I am a huge supporter of all Black Lives, Black expression and creativity.” Graves said in a statement issued by the Opera. “I don’t have trouble with strong lyrics, but I felt that they did not line up with my personal values. I could not find an honest place to express the lyrics as they were presented.”

Tobias Picker, the Opera’s creative director, “suggested I omit the word ‘Damn.’ I refused, explaining that is how I felt about this county,” Roumains said of Tulsa County in a Facebook posting. “So, they fired me.”

In a statement issued by an Opera spokeswoman, Picker said: “It is extremely disappointing that Mr. Roumain has turned an artistic disagreement into a racial debate.

The Opera, “Denyce Graves and all of the other 22 Black composers and eight Black artists, as well as our concert co-presenter, the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission, are committed to the spirit of the ‘Greenwood Overcomes’ concert,” Picker said.

Kelli Bruer, the Opera spokeswoman, said Roumain would be paid his $1,500 fee, but the Opera will not perform his piece. Roumain still owns the piece and can have it performed elsewhere, she said.