By Josie DiCapua, Contributing Writer
Feature Photo by Lauryn Gunn, Photographer

USA Opera Theatre’s fall concert, “Brush Up on Your Shakespeare,” was presented at Laidlaw Performing Arts Center Recital Hall on Friday, Nov. 8, and Sunday, Nov. 10. Directed by Dr. Thomas Rowell and Dr. Megan Zuhowski, this production featured opera and musical theater scenes inspired by the works of William Shakespeare. 

The concert blended beloved pieces from musical comedy to fit the common Shakespearean theme. The comedic elements drew the audience in with plenty of visual gags to accompany the auditory exhibition of talent. The cast of students performed pieces inspired by famous Shakespearean works, including “Julius Caesar,” “Romeo and Juliet,” “Macbeth,” “The Taming of the Shrew,” “Falstaff,” “A Comedy of Errors,” and “Othello.” Songs from “Something Rotten,” a Shakespeare-inspired musical comedy by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell, were also performed. Subtitles were projected above the stage as needed to help the audience in their enjoyment. The collaborative pianist, Dr. Collin Lowry, accompanied the performances alongside a small band, featuring music composed by USA Opera.

Hard work has been dedicated to the “Brush Up on Your Shakespeare” performances since the beginning of the fall semester. The concert boasts 25 students, from freshmen to seniors, who have endlessly practiced vocal training and choreography during rehearsals throughout the weeks leading up to the performance. Each student performer also contributed to the technical elements of the production, from scenery to props to costuming. 

Stay tuned to USA Opera for more information on their spring production entitled “Orpheus in the Underworld” scheduled for March 28 and 30, 2025. Directed by Thomas Rowell, the comic opera features music by Jacques Offenbach, with text by Hector Crémieux and Ludovic Halévy. To keep updated, follow their Instagram and Facebook.