Goodbye, Gary

Lyric Opera of Kansas City House Manager Gary Blashill retired from his duties with the Company when the final curtain for HMS Pinafore fell on November 15. Before the production ended, Gary shared with us the answers to 10 questions most often posed to him.

When did you begin house managing for the Lyric Opera?
Around 1997.

What is your favorite part of the job?
Meeting the patrons for each opera. I have many friends that I look forward to seeing at each opera.

What do the ushers do on performance nights? 
We start by stuffing all of the programs and place them at the head of each aisle. All volunteer ushers are briefed on that evening’s opera and assigned their aisle or ticket place.

Are all of the ushers volunteer?
No. We have six paid ushers the rest are volunteers.

Are you planning to take up shuffleboard during your retirement in Florida?
There will be no shuffleboard at any time, however I will be relaxing and enjoying the good life.

What is your most commonly asked question as a house manager?
“Can I go back stage after the show?”  The answer is No. 

Have you ever met someone famous at the Lyric Opera?
Garrison Keiller and John de Lancie (played Q on Star Trek).

What is your favorite opera?
Die Fledermaus

There are rumors of the Lyric Theatre being haunted, can you confirm or deny the allegations?
I have not had a personal encounter, however there have been a few times that could be questionable? Cold air spots, dimes laying where there was nothing there earlier, moving shadows when no body else was in the house, all occur in the upper balcony.

If you could tell our patrons one thing about their attendance at the Opera what would it be?
Don’t wait to hear if the Opera gets a good review, it always does and come early for parking.

From an apprentice’s point of view

Stephen Fish

Stephen Fish, baritone apprentice to the Lyric Opera of Kansas City from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, recently checked in with us about his experiences this season. Read his impressions of the season so far below.

 

This season is off to a great start!  Tosca was a huge success, and a great learning experience for me personally.  I got to be on stage with some of the best singers I have heard so far in my short time in the busines.   I witnessed first hand how Greer Grimsley negotiates the demanding  role of Scarpia, and how he communicates the character so effectively.  Needless to say, I feel very fortunate to have had that experience!

Stephen Fish (center) in HMS Pinafore

This is my first encounter with Gilbert and Sullivan, and what a great experience it has been.  As a young singer, my charge is to work everyday on all aspects of my performance in hopes that one day I can have a career in this business.   It is incredibly valuable to work with the professional opera artists at the Lyric Opera, in terms of realizing what aspects of my craft I need to improve upon.  The HMS Pinafore cast is so great to work with, and very considerate of us younger artists.  They are all as adept in acting as they are in voice.  The best part is we get to watch them in rehearsals and see how they approach their roles, both dramatically and vocally.  Equally beneficial was the opportunity to work with Bill Theisen, who shaped a hilarious show, and communicates so well in rehearsals.  Also, The extended rehearsal period for this production gave us time to get to know one another and develop a rapport both on and off the stage.  All in all, HMS Pinafore has been an excellent educational experience, and a whole lot of fun from an apprentice point of view!

Pinafore is “a great escape”

Sarah Tyrrell, writing for the online publication KCMetropolis.org, called HMS Pinafore “a great escape” and “stunning.” You can read her full review here.

Have you seen HMS Pinafore? Do you agree with the critics? Post your review here!

Pinafore called “difficult to resist”

The reviews are in, and HMS Pinafore is a success!

Robert Trussell, writing in The Kansas City Star, says “The Kansas City Star says “the inspired, loony sensibility of the Lyric Opera’s production of HMS Pinafoer is difficult to resist!” Read his full review here.

Paul Horsley, writing for The Indpendent, exclaimed the production is “highly accomplished.” You can read Paul’s review here.

Have you seen HMS Pinafore? Do you agree with the critics? Post your review here!

Post your Pinafore review

Sure, it’s great to get critical acclaim from folks at The Kansas City Star and The Independent. What’s even better is hearing what our audience members thought of a production. Here’s your chance — click “leave a comment” below to post your review!

HMS Pinafore – the commerical!

done

We sail the ocean blue

A scene from the piano dress rehearsal tonight of Gilbert and Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore. Enjoy!

10 questions with Jon-Michael Ball

Jon-Michael Ball has busily been rehearsing the role of Ralph (pronounced Raif) Rackstraw in the Lyric Opera production of HMS Pinafore. Mr. Ball recently answered a few questions posed by our readers.

1.  How did your initial interest in the art form of opera begin?

Jon-Michael: My high school choir teacher was an opera singer.  She took me to see my first opera, and she was in it as well!!  She sang Fresquita in Carmen.  I have loved opera ever since.

2.  Where did you grow up?

Jon-Michael: I grew up in a small town in north Mississippi, Olive Branch.  It’s a suburb of Memphis, TN.

3.  Do you have a significant other? Children? Pets?

Jon-Michael: It’s just me.  I’m always open to suggestions!!!  No kids yet and no pets, but I love dogs!!!

4.  What is an average day like for you? Do you have a set routine?

Jon-Michael: No set routine really, I workout and try to practice at least 2 hours a day.  

5.  What is your favorite opera to watch/experience?

Jon-Michael: This one is tough.  I loved watching Cinderella with Joyce DiDonato when I was an apprentice at Santa Fe Opera back in 2006.  However, I wish I could have been in it!!!

6.  Have you performed your role in H.M.S. Pinafore before?

Jon-Michael: This is my first time singing Ralph in H.M.S. Pinafore.   

7.  What language(s) do you speak fluently?

Jon-Michael: English.  I did study in Austria, so I can fake my way through a German conversation.  But, I’m really rusty!! 

8.  What facts about you would our audiences be surprised to learn?

Jon-Michael: Most people would never guess that I’m a southerner.  My accent went out the window after studying so many languages.

9.  The opera role you haven’t performed, but would like to perform the most in your career?

Jon-Michael: Wow, another tough one.  I love singing Lensky in Eugene Onegin, but I also love singing Tamino in The Magic Flute, but I also love sing Rodolfo in La bohème, but I also love singing Ottavio in Don Giovanni…I like sitting at the buffet of repertoire, and constantly filling my plate!!!   A dream role for me would be Chevalier des Grieux in Manon Lescaut.

10. If you bumped into me at a coffee shop and learned that I had never been to an opera before, what would you say to entice me to give it a try?

Jon-Michael: Well first of all, I would apologize.  I hate bumping into people, and I hope you didn’t spill your coffee.  If you did happen to spill, I’d offer you free tickets to the show that I was currently doing, H.M.S. Pinafore of course!!  I’d tell you, if you have never seen an opera, that this would be the perfect one for you.  First, you’d get used to people randomly bursting into song and second, you’d love the dancing and the costumes and the orchestra and the amazing sets and all that wonderfully witty British humor!!!! And of course….me as Ralph!

Dick Deadeye!

“Dick Deadeye!” This name, emphasized with sharp diction and a hint of evil is the character Matthew Treviño portrays in this season’s production of HMS Pinafore.

At a recent afternoon rehearsal Treviño, along with Daniel Belcher (Captain Corcoran), Jon-Michael Ball (Ralph Rackstraw), Stephen Fish (Bob Beckett), Robert McNichols, Jr. (Bill Bobstay), Ava Pine (Josephine) and Deborah Fields (Little Buttercup) were gathered in the Lyric Opera rehearsal space to block several scenes for the upcoming Gilbert and Sullivan comedy.

Treviño, dressed in his everyday attire, gave a taste of his character and the strong presence Dick Deadeye has on stage. As stage director William Theisen blocked a scene involving Ralph Rackstraw, Little Buttercup and Bill Bobstay, Treviño’s character leapt on stage calling attention to himself as he called out his own name “DICK DEADEYE!” in a way that caused the other characters to tremble in fear. With his hunched back and wicked facial features, this character is going to be quite entertaining to watch from the audience.

The rehearsal continued with a scene involving the male characters Captain Corcoran, Ralph Rackstraw, Bob Beckett, Bill Bobstay, and of course Dick Deadeye. When in character, the quintette fed off each other’s energies and were each fully involved in their individual characters. When out of character, it seemed like five good friends sharing laughs and enjoying one another’s company. There is no doubt about it that there is chemistry across the board in the HMS Pinafore cast and you can witness it yourself on opening night!

Ball, Fish, Treviño and McNichols

Treviño accosts Fields, while Fish looks on

10 questions with Ava Pine

Ava Pine

1. How did your initial interest in opera begin?

Ava: I actually came to opera quite late — within the last five years.  Before that, I did a lot of singing with choirs, solo oratorio works, and some early baroque opera.  It was one particularly fun baroque piece that led me to pursue the more theatrical side of my singing.

2. Where did you grow up?

Ava:  I am a born and bred Texan, and grew up in Fredericksburg, Texas, in the Texas Hill Country.  My home sat on 50 acres, and we basically had the run of the place.  It was so much fun!

3. Do you have a significant other? Children? Pets?

Ava: None of the above, but I do have a beautiful niece, age 2.5, and a nephew, who is almost 1 year old.

4.  What is an average day like for you? Do you have a set routine?

Ava: My average day varies, depending on the project I am working on.  One of the things that I love about my job is the fact that there is no set routine.  Every day is a new challenge.

5.  What is your favorite opera to watch/experience?

Ava: La bohème is one of my very favorites.  The music is so poignant and lush, and the stories and people are so real.  There is a reason it is so popular!   

6. Have you performed your role in H.M.S. Pinafore before?

Ava: This is my first time to perform Josephine, and actually my first time to perform any Gilbert and Sullivan.  I’m very excited!   

7. What language(s) do you speak fluently?

 Ava: Just English! 

8. Tell us something unique about you?

 Ava: Well, my name is pronounced AH-vuh…it rhymes with ‘brava.’  And there’s a fun story that goes with it — I was actually given that pronunciation in part because my mother craved avocados when she was pregnant with me.  No joke!  

9.  What facts about you would our audiences be surprised to learn?

Ava: One of my first professional singing gigs was performing the National Anthem at Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic — for a crowd of several thousand country music lovers.  Willie introduced me.  My dad writes and performs country music, and always pushed me in that direction.  Opera was my rebellion!  

10.  If you bumped into me at a coffee shop and learned that I had never been to an opera before, what would you say to entice me to give it a try?

Ava: I’d say “Have you ever felt something so strongly that you didn’t know whether to cry, or laugh, or scream?  Singing is the ultimate form of expression.  It’s emotion, distilled down to its essence.”  Now that might not be as applicable to a more frothy piece like HMS Pinafore…but that’s what I love the most about opera!