Jacksonville, AL – As originally reported by Brett Buckner with JSU’s media department, the David L. Walters Department of Music at Jacksonville State University will present a pair of one-act operas by American composers later this month, offering audiences an accessible introduction to the art form while commemorating a milestone in U.S. history.
Performances of Douglas Moore’s Gallantry and Stanley Hollingsworth’s The Mother are scheduled for Feb. 19–22 in Ward Theatre at the Ernest Stone Performing Arts Center. The productions are funded in part by a $7,500 grant awarded by the Alabama State Council of the Arts.
Dr. Jeff Kensmoe, director of operatic activities at JSU and co-principal investigator alongside Dr. Renee Baptiste, said the selections were chosen with accessibility in mind.
“We wanted something people would be curious to see,” Dr. Kensmoe said. “I think these will both serve as good introductions to opera.”
The performances are being staged in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States’ signing of the Declaration of Independence. According to Kensmoe, featuring American composers and approachable storylines was a deliberate decision.
“I thought it was a good opportunity to offer some American operas, especially for the kids,” he said. “I like giving them as many unique opportunities as possible. With these one-act operas, there’s no chorus, but there are some good roles for each student. It’s pretty exciting.”
The two productions present contrasting perspectives on love. Moore’s Gallantry explores romantic relationships through humor and satire, while Hollingsworth’s The Mother examines a mother’s devotion to her child in a dramatic and dreamlike narrative.
Gallantry is structured as a parody of mid-century soap operas and includes commercial breaks within the performance.
“It’s a ‘soap opera’ opera,” Dr. Kensmoe said. “It’s a rather silly, over-the-top, tongue-in-cheek performance that pokes fun at the genre of soap operas and the commercials of the era. It’s got a lot of humor, complete with a crazy love triangle.”
Despite its comedic tone, Kensmoe noted that the musical and theatrical demands on the student performers remain high.
“The actors have to be willing to take some chances in the silliness of the opera,” he said. “We have to be serious when it comes to the work. They’re putting it all out there to hit those specific notes, pitches, and rhythms we want.”
In contrast, The Mother, based on a Hans Christian Andersen story, unfolds in a dreamlike setting where a mother searches for her sick child and encounters allegorical figures, including Death.
“The mother goes on a journey to find her child and along the way runs into various allegorical characters,” Dr. Kensmoe said. “Death is a very empathetic character, just doing the work of God. It’s a beautiful little piece.”
The production also provides performance opportunities for a wide range of vocal types.
“It covers a spectrum of the different voice types,” he said. “So, it gives those students of different voice types an opportunity to do some work on stage in an important role. That’s what’s exciting about casting these types of shows, getting the students in the right spot for their personality and voice type to really shine.”
Mounting operatic productions often comes with significant expenses, particularly in securing professional musicians. Kensmoe said much of the grant funding will be used to hire additional string players to enhance the performances.
“There’s a high degree of difficulty with these two pieces,” he said, “so, hiring a few extra string players will help make this a special performance.”
Tickets for the Feb. 19–22 performances are available for purchase online.
