Jenna Bacon, Campus Carrier arts and living editor
Berry College Opera is set to open its double‑bill production of W.A. Mozart’s “The Impresario” and Giacomo Puccini’s “Suor Angelica” on Jan. 22, inviting audiences to enjoy a three‑day run through Saturday. Each performance will begin at 7 p.m. in the Bell Recital Hall. “The Impresario” delivers a burst of backstage humor as a producer wrangles two competing sopranos, while “Suor Angelica” shifts into tragic territory with the story of a cloistered nun confronted by heartbreaking news.
According to junior music performance major Jackson Pruett, a lead in “The Impresario,” the two operas differ in tone but work together as a cohesive program.
[“The Impresario”] is very happy and very light versus the other show, which is a tragedy,” Pruett said. “We do that so that we can keep the audience’s energy up.”
The two shows had different rehearsal processes due to their contrasting content and genres. “Suor Angelica” contains no spoken dialogue, with every line of the story sung by the performers, while “The Impresario” consists primarily of spoken dialogue, featuring just four musical numbers. Furthermore, “Suor Angelica” will be performed entirely in Italian, adding an extra layer of difficulty to the cast’s preparation.
Junior music education major Anna Leigh Aultman is serving as a teacher’s assistant to the show’s director, Artist Affiliate Scott Willis. According to Aultman, rehearsals began last semester and have primarily taken place during MUS 132 Opera/Musical Theatre Workshop.
“We used class time to learn the music, learn the ensemble harmonies, and learn how to pronounce all of the Italian,” Aultman said. “Then, we put all of that with one of our accompanists, Miss Kyla Zollistch, who plays the piano for us in our rehearsals.”
This semester, the cast established their blocking and worked on running through the show to make any necessary corrections.
Cast members play off of one another as they run through the show.
According to Pruett, much of the preparation process for “The Impresario” has centered on refining line delivery and building off other performers’ reactions to maintain energy onstage.
“As someone getting back into acting, this is the most comfortable I felt with dialogue in a really long time,” Pruett said. “Just memorizing the lines has reminded me of how I felt when I was in theater in high school. So, I have felt way more comfortable, and I’ve been getting really good tips about my character work.”
Cast members are tasked with bringing depth to their roles, showing each character’s emotions and driving forces through their performances. This can be especially challenging for the character Angelica, who can only express her emotions through song and body language. Senior vocal music performance major Iley Barnes is one of the cast members to play Angelica.
“The role of Suor Angelica is incredibly physically and emotionally taxing,” Barnes said. “As a performer, you have to learn how to be vulnerable on stage without being over or under dramatic.”
While the role has been a challenge, Barnes has not shied away from really getting to know her character.
“Each rehearsal has helped me discover the new layers of her grief and her faith and her humanity,” Barnes said.
“The Impresario” includes lighthearted, playful characters, contrasting with the beautiful, yet deeply emotional role of Suor Angelica. Pruett’s character, Mr. Bluff, embodies this humor and levity.
“My character is basically like a PR representative because he’s always trying to make sure everything goes smoothly,” Pruett said. “Even when he’s not actively involved in a scene, he’s doing other stuff because the show has got to go on.”
Berry College Opera’s double-bill promises audiences a full spectrum of theatrical experience, from the comedic chaos of “The Impresario” to the poignant intensity of “Suor Angelica.” With dedicated rehearsals, careful attention to character work and the challenge of performing in Italian, the cast has prepared to deliver both humor and heartbreak onstage. The three-day run offers theatergoers a chance to see the versatility and talent of the performers as they navigate two very different worlds of opera in one evening.