Simpson Productions presents Trouble in Tahiti & Gallantry: A Soap Opera

Simpson Productions, the theatre, opera and musical theatre collaboration at Simpson College, presents Trouble in Tahiti and Gallantry: A Soap Opera. 

The double bill opera opens on Friday, Oct. 28. in Barnum Studio Theatre within the Blank Performing Arts Center at Simpson College in Indianola, IA. It will run Oct. 28 and 29 at 7:30 p.m. and again on Oct. 30 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20.00 for adults, $17.50 for seniors and non-Simpson students, $16.00 for group (10 or more) tickets, and free for Simpson students with IDs. 

Trouble in Tahiti with music and libretto by Leonard Bernstein will be conducted by Dr. Bernard McDonald and directed by Jennifer Ross Nostrala. Jillian Wells and Dylan McKinley play the lead roles. Gallantry: A Soap Opera with music by Douglas Moore and libretto by Arnold Sundgaard, will also be conducted by Dr. Bernard McDonald and directed by Jennifer Ross Nostrala. Leah Wilson and Micah Zimmerman play the lead roles.

“Produced in our intimate Barnum Studio Theatre, these shows will feel up close and personal!” Nostrala said.

Trouble in Tahiti is Leonard Bernstein’s brilliant examination of suburban life. The opera draws upon popular song styles to deliver an uncompromising critique of post-war American materialism. “This opera features a vocal jazz trio that functions as a “Greek” chorus and an entertaining and over-the-top song about a terrible movie! Meanwhile, acerbically argumentative music depicts a warring couple while lyrically beautiful moments underline the bittersweetness of their failed love,” said Dr. McDonald.

Gallantry: A Soap Opera is a farce centering on a television soap opera set in a hospital. A surgeon has fallen in love with the anesthetist, who in turn loves the patient on the operating table. Critical moments are, to be sure, interrupted by commercials. “Gallantry flits between the ‘realities’ of its TV commercials for hand soap and floor polish with the fully sung, intensely dramatic medical soap opera of a lustful surgeon, his nurse, and her fiancé, the patient. It’s brilliantly clever and hilarious!” said Dr. McDonald.

Seating is limited in our intimate Barnum Studio Theatre, so reserve your tickets early.