News and Events

featured events

Flora L. Thornton Opera Program Stages Production of Die Fledermaus

The Flora L. Thornton Opera Program will present four performances of Johann Strauss, Jr.'s comic operetta, Die Fledermaus, at 7:30 p.m. from Wednesday through Saturday, Feb. 22 to 25, at Smothers Theatre, Malibu. 

Directed by Grammy Award-winning Pepperdine opera director Henry Price, two alternating student casts will perform, one on February 22 and 24 and the other on February 23 and 25, accompanied by the Pepperdine University Orchestra under the baton of Tony Cason.

"The show features a brilliant overture, dreamy waltzes, show-stopping solo numbers, high comedy, and even a ballet," Price continues. "I can not imagine a more entertaining evening in the theatre."

Revenge might be "a dish best served cold," but in Die Fledermaus ("The Bat") it takes the guise of a sumptuous masquerade ball, where revelers are intoxicated not only by bubbling beverages, but also by Strauss' glorious music. Mistaken identities and hilarious sight gags add to the merriment, making this one of the most popular operettas of all time.

"Never before had the boundary lines between high culture and popular entertainment been so successfully crossed," raves Price. "In fact with this operetta, one could say a whole new genre was created–one that would eventually spawn the Broadway musical."

Price often appeared in this show opposite the legendary Beverly Sills in the famous New York City Opera production of the 1970s.

A generous gift from the late Flora L. Thornton has enabled the University to enhance considerably the quality of its opera productions, its summer European opera studies workshops in Heidelberg, and its arts outreach programs. Recent productions include Little Women, The Bartered Bride, The Marriage of Figaro, Così fan tutte, and La bohème.

For more information, including ticket prices, contact the Center for the Arts Box Office at (310) 506-4522 or visit the Center for the Arts Web site.