by Enedina Perez
Staff Writer
“Giving birth to our baby” is how Skip Sams, senior music major, describes the premiere of his senior recital: “Awake!,” A Modern Irish Folk Opera, which will be performed on March 15-16 at 7:30 p.m. and March 17 at 2 p.m. in Dailey Theatre.
For eight years, Sams and Mary Anne Sellers, librettist and director of the opera, have been working on “Awake!,” a three-act opera which is based on a dream that Sams’ sister had. According to Sams, her dream was in such detail that it could not possibly be ignored. The basis of her dream is seen in the first and third acts. It is a tale about overcoming fear.
“We [Sellers and I] would always talk about it and wanted to do it,” said Sams. It was not until last summer in Ohio, when he was thinking about his senior project, that the two of them actually sat down to write it.
Their next step was deciding how to present their story. Sams had been inspired to listen to opera through Dr. Kathleen Lamkin, professor of music, and this contributed to their decision to make it a modern opera—a story told through song. Sams also thought the University of La Verne would be a great venue.
Through the years, they had been collecting information that would help them write the opera. In March 1989, Sams and Sellers flew to Ireland for books and music research.
Sellers added that they even went camping to get the right motivation to write the second act, which consists of a forest-type setting.
During the process of planning “Awake!” both Sams and Sellers overcame many obstacles, including raising $8,000. They both began fund raising at Sams parents’ farm in Ohio this summer, where they charged $10 for an Irish meal while he played the piano, and Sellers narrated the story. They raised $1,000.
Dr. David Flaten, professor of theatre arts, helped set up an account to help with the fund raising. They have also been selling ads in the program.
The Associated Student Federation (ASF) Forum helped them as well, buying 60 tickets for each show, totaling 180 tickets, which were available to all ULV students.
Besides financial problems, Sams and Sellers also experienced fear of the opera’s success. According to Sellers, “this other life” kept them going.
“It has traits of both of us, and it has taken a life of its own,” said Sams.
Sams and Sellers are very grateful for the support they received, especially from the Theatre Department, which donated the location and costumes for the opera.
“The Theatre Department has been so supportive, disregarding the fact that I am not even a theater major,” said Sams. “They welcomed me in.”
He also mentioned that the casting process took a long time, but he is happy with the results.
“It is a perfect cast,” he said. “Everybody fits their characters.”
The entire cast has grown close to one another. “Everybody comes from different backgrounds,” said Sellers. “It is an interesting process how we all warmed up to each other.”
The nine performers include Ray Garza, junior; Angela Blakely, junior; Ryan Harrison, sophomore; Melissa Dillon, from Ohio; Joseph Martinez, junior; C.J. Robertson, junor; Gina Marie Spiotto, Citrus College freshman; Mary Todhunter, an opera singer; and Sams, who not only is serving as music director, but is also playing the lead role.
Sams describes the process as having “had the most fun and been through the worst hell.”
Admission is $5 for ULV students, $8 for faculty and a $10 for guests.
Both Sams and Sellers hope for the best outcome.
“I hope our baby is born with 10 fingers and 10 toes,” said Sams. “It is coming to life.”
They both feel sure this will not be the only time the opera will be performed. After its premiere, Sams plans to revise it and hopefully get it produced in Chicago, where he plans to attend graduate school. As for Sellers, she will be going back to Ohio, to “get back to life.”
Enedina Perez
