Minnesota Fringe Festival

Are you UNSURE about opera... or are you already a HARDCORE fan?

These tabloid-worthy scenes from operatic potboilers are guaranteed to satisfy theatergoers, opera virgins, and fussy opera queens alike.

If you'd like to know more about opera, now is your chance! The scenes are short, packed full of drama and sung in English so you'll know what is going on. The music is beautiful, and beautifully sung by local singers who can also act. Did we mention that the show is also touching, melodramatic and funny?

If you're already a hardcore opera fan you will also like this show. You'll hear seldom-performed scenes written by well-known opera composers. "Gorgeous music from flawed operas," our director has said. This is music rarely programmed by big opera companies.

The music is by Mozart, Donizetti, Puccini and Verdi with a few parodies thrown in by Opera Bob's own resident composer, Dr. Phil Fried.

Director: Will Graham
Music Direction by: Eric McEnaney
Producer: Janet Fried

Singers: Anna Brandsoy, Tricia Van Ee, Chandler Molbert, Tara Laberge, Angie Keeton, Obed Floan, and Maggie Lofboom

The cast

Anna Brandsoy
Role: soprano
A native Minnesotan, soprano Anna Brandsoy's recent operatic roles include Mimi (La Boheme), the Governess (The Turn of the Screw), Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), Elle (La Voix Humaine), and Giulietta (Les Contes d' Hoffmann). She was a member of the Minnesota Opera Chorus for two seasons and often performs with the Rochester Aria Group.

Obed Floan
Role: tenor
Obed Floan includes in his recent roles Florestan (Fidelio), Tito (La Clemenza di Tito), Arturo and Normanno (Lucia di Lammermoor) and Arrigo (La Battaglia di Legnano). Locally, he has performed with The Minnesota Chorale, Voce Magna, and The Dale Warland Singers.

Angela Keeton
Role: mezzo-soprano
Mezzo-soprano Angela Keeton's recent roles include Meg (Little Women), Rosette (Manon), Marthe (Faust), Mercedes (Carmen), Kate Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly), and Second Secretary (Nixon in China). She has performed professionally with The Minnesota Opera, Lake George Opera, and Indianapolis Opera.

Tara Marlena Laberge
Role: soprano
Soprano Tara Marlena Laberge lists among her recent favorite roles Anna (The King and I), Elsa (The Sound of Music), Antonia (Tales of Hoffman), and Nella (Gianni Schicchi). She is also a director, teacher and music director in the Twin Cities.

Maggie Lofboom
Role: mezzo-soprano
Mezzo-soprano Maggie Lofboom is a native Minnesotan who has recently performed in Britten's The Rape of Lucretia, Weill's The Seven Deadly Sins, and Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea. Locally, she has been a member of the Minnesota Opera Chorus, North Star Opera, and the Gilbert and Sullivan Very Light Opera Company. When she's not singing she enjoys gardening and taking care of her family's cows.

Chandler Molbert
Role: baritone
Baritone Chandler Molbert's variety of roles includes Colline (La Boheme), Frank Maurrant (Street Scene), and Masetto (Don Giovanni). His upcoming local performances include the role of James Gates in the world premiere of The Ladysmith Story by Chris Gable.

Tricia Van Ee
Role: soprano
Soprano Tricia Van Ee's recent opera roles include Donna Anna (Don Giovanni), Mimi (La Boheme), Miss Jessel (The Turn of the Screw), and Antonia (Les Contes d' Hoffmann). She has performed professionally with Opera Omaha and locally with the Civic Orchestra of Minneapolis.

Eric McEnaney
Role: music director
Pianist Eric McEnaney's diverse experience includes coaching for Des Moines Metro Opera, Cedar Rapids Opera Theater, Seaside Music Theater, the Martha-Ellen Tye Opera Theater at the University of Iowa, and the University of Minnesota.

Will Graham
Role: stage director
Will Graham served on the faculty of the A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute at the North Carolina School of the Arts since its inception in 2001. Mr. Graham has directed for Minnesota Opera, Opera New England, Opera South, Western Opera Theatre, National Opera Company, Kansas City Lyric Opera and the Lyric Opera of Cleveland. He currently lives in Minneapolis where he divides his time between coaching young singers and opera directing.

Phil Fried
Role: composer
Composer Dr. Phil Fried is a 2008 McKnight Foundation Fellow. Recent commissions include a Centennial Commission from the Minnesota Orchestra for Episodes, and a work for the new music ensemble Zeitgeist in honor of their 30th Anniversary concert and recording. One of his recent piano works, I remember the 60's or was it the 70's?, is featured on the Innova label release Melville's Dozen, with pianist Nikki Melville.

Opera Bob

Secrets Revealed: Opera Bob Opens His Drawers

Sat., Aug. 1 @ 8:30 p.m.
Sun., Aug. 2 @ 10:00 p.m.
Mon., Aug. 3 @ 7:00 p.m.
Wed., Aug. 5 @ 7:00 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 8 @ 1:00 p.m.

Venue U of M Rarig Center Thrust
For ages 13+
Created by Will Graham
Web site operabob.org
genres Musical theater, Drama
subjects Relationships
features First-time Minnesota Fringe Festival producer

Overall rating

User reviews

Good
by Kassie Church Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
Fun. Good voices and nice choices of scenes.

Exquisite Opera Sampler
by Justin Alexander Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
Four tasty morsels of operatic delight with some cleverly rewritten hors d'œuvre inbetween. A thoroughly pleasant, funny, and dramatic way to spend an hour.

i still hate opera
by Karen Cooper Follow this reviewer
Rating 3 kitties
I went because this was supposed to be highly accessible to the opera-unschooled. And maybe it was. Someone gave me some Anna Russell .mp3s and that is the last chance for opera and me.

Changed MY attitude
by Rebecca Loeding Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
Who knew Opera could be so fun! Enjoyed their beautiful voices, understood the words, and laughed! "Next time text me" was a killer. Going again on Saturday.

I love excerpts...
by Nancy Vernon Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
My mother made the best egg-cerpts! It's an old joke from that ungloomy Dane, Victor Borge, who would have adored this show.

Beautiful voices, singing lyrics we could understand, with wonderful acting. And, to top it all, two great original numbers by Phil Fried!

(Why are there so many Frieds around here? It's Minnesota's great good luck to have attracted them!)

Bravo!
by David Trudeau Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
Lovely moving vignettes well sung and performed with comic relief along the way. Opera lovers love it and non opera fans get introduced. I would like to see the set changes done in the background as the narrative intros are given. Too much time spent in blackouts.

Great Entertainment!!
by Beth Brill Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
Wow....how entertaining and delightful! This group of talented, professional and delightful young people make this a "must-see"!!

The combination of serious and "fun" opera appeals to a wide audience! Please see it Saturday!!

Thanks, Opera Bob!!

Mad-cap inspiration!
by Janis Hardy Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
This was exactly what the doctor ordered for anyone worried about the future of opera: talented young singer/actors with well-honed vocal skills and excellent diction approaching some of the genre's most beautiful music with exuberance and commitment. It was a delightful, inspiring evening! The troupe was led with great care and skill by their talented stage/artistic director, Will Graham, music director/pianist, Eric McEnaney and producer, Janet Fried. Congratulations to all!

Loved It!
by Kathleen Malloy Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
A sparkling, fresh performance. The spare scenery allowed me to concentrate on the wonderful performances, which were sung and acted with heart and obvious love for the genre. In particular, performances by Trica Van E and Chandler Molbert were solid and beautifully executed. More, more, more!! Bravo!

Give it some grit!
by Crummy Reviewer Follow this reviewer
Rating 2 kitties
This was very detailed set of scene studies--detailed, but still generic. It was very well sung, especially by the women. For me, there was passion without honesty or theatrical electricity. Everything was staged to look like a scene from Chekhov, no theatrical magic or sparkle... and I've a good feeling these performers are capable of turning this into a satisfying theatrical event, instead it was rather dry... The scene selections were great, but there was no hint of scandal, except when a pair of women almost kissed... It's the fringe, can't we get a little dirty with our epic singing! (next year please)

Rare Gems
by Gary Briggle Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
A classy, sophisticated yet totally accessible and engaging performance by very talented, skilled singer-actors. The production has such integrity-from stylish design to flawless execution of challenging, thrilling scenes from "lost" operatic masterpieces. The enthusiasm and committment of the highly capable cast (with brilliant music director at the piano)to highly expressive singing is amplified by director Will Graham's expertly clear storytelling in beautifully nuanced, subtle detail as well as marvellous masterstrokes of operatic melodrama at its finest. BRAVI tutti!
[Next time, perhaps a different approach, without narration? And might one request some Contemporary selections?]

Top notch
by Scott Phillips Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
This was a great show. The singing was absolutely professional caliber. If you love opera or would like a painless introduction to it, I'd absolutely recommend you check out Opera Bob!

That's entertainment!
by KrisAnne Weiss Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
A thoroughly entertaining show by a bunch of performers who know that opera is a little bit ridiculous, but can't help loving it anyway. Some excellent singing and acting, and the enthusiastic narration keeps the audience informed and engaged between scenes. A few powerhouse voices in the ensemble ensure that the loud, high passages are really really loud and high--at these moments, the venue is decidedly wrong for the show (read: too small, acoustically inappropriate), but otherwise it's fun to be so close to the performers. Phil Fried's parody arias are a bonus.

Gorgeous Music Drama
by William Beeman Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
This program of operatic rarities is sung with superb vocalism and a fine dramatic sense by some very talented singers. Opera Bob proves that opera can be tremendously entertaining, and vocally thrilling. The program is lightened by several bits of opera parody that everyone will enjoy, but singers especially will find amusing.

wonderful
by Erika Hoogeveen Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
What an entertaining show! All of the singing was fantastic, the costumes beautiful and the staging well done. It was a treat to hear and see.

Can't We All Just Be Impresarios
by Bernadette Christiansen Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
This is a great show. I went expecting amazing singing and was not disappointed. More surprising was the great staging and high fun factor. My daughter and her fashion focused friend were both coveting a couple of costumes. I loved all of the performers and Anna Brandsoy stood out as a rising talent.

Still Singing
by Jason Byers Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
Loved the show! My wife and I are still singing our way through household chores... who knew opera could be so fun?!

Fantastic!
by Sue Van Ee Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
OperaBob is fantastic! All of the performances were excellent. This should not be missed! It is for opera lovers and those not-so-sure, alike. What excellent talent in the Twin Cities!

Enjoy Opera
by Dale Brandsoy Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
Don't miss an opportunity to try a taste of opera! You'll experience real drama as well as several humorous arias by composer Phil Fried that will certainly entertain you. Kudos to Opera Bob for sharing your love of opera music!

No Clever Title: Just Bravo
by Marvin Joel Rubin Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
Every year for me, there is one show that stands out. It is more than just clever or entertaining. It's a show that brings out real emotion.

Most who think of soul music think R&B. The other kind is opera.

The cast shined not only as singers, but as actors. Anna Brandsoy as Gemma di Vergy was so evil towards The Count's new wife, I felt sorry for the new bride.

The show presents scenes from lesser operas from great composers, with vignettes and speeches for transitions.

The applause the show received was more than a usual Fringe event. The Fringe doesn't have a history of standing ovations. I think there was a desire to.

Take a Little Time for Opera
by Kay Jackson Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
Despite their knowledge, talent and obvious love of the genre, the folks involved in Opera Bob don't take themselves too seriously. As a result they are able to share their passion for opera with a broad audience in a truly delightful show. As special added bonus, this play features what may be the best 2009 Fringe performance by a very young child.

Classical opera for the rest of us
by Ben Krywosz Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
This is a wonderful introduction to Fringe-goers who are new to opera, as well as a treat for long-time opera fans. The program consists of four little-known excerpts from well-known composers (Mozart, Donizetti, Verdi, Puccini) performed by up-and-coming young singer-actors -- well directed, with a conviction that opera is both music and theater. A couple of tongue-in-cheek musical commentaries by local composer Phil Fried demonstrate that all these artists have a sense of humor about what Samuel Johnson called this "exotic and irrational entertainment." It's easy to revel in the sumptuousness of the ensemble singing, but get there early enough to read the synopses printed in the program -- although the presentation honors the composer's preference for performing in the language of the audience (bravo!), operatic vocal production can sometimes blur diction a bit. Still, this is a refreshing alternative if you need a break from more conventional Fringe offerings.

I'm not an opera fan
by Nanette Stearns Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
but I loved this! Very talented musicians/actors presenting little-heard material. It was a lot of fun and very entertaining.

Awesome!
by Megan Wagner Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
Not only does this group have great singing skills, but they also are great actors! I loved the four scenes and the two arias that were composed by Phil Fried! This is a must see by everyone! Job well done! Congrats on a great opening night! This is something that shouldn't be missed!

Real people's opera
by Nicole Warner Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
This is a wonderful adventure into the world of opera--filled with humor, murder & mayhem, fantastic singing, real characters--it's a wonderful show and well-deserving of your time & attention and your review!

Wow
by Shiela Freeport Follow this reviewer
Rating 3 kitties
I was hoping for an evening filled with beautiful singing but was a bit dissapointed. It seemed like a soprano scream-fest in sections and I couldn't understand the words when everyone was singing by themselves or in a group, sans the tenor. The tenor saved the production. It's worth seeing just for him. He has major career potential! I did like the two original songs, I just wish I could have understood what the ladies were singing.

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