'Midsummer Night's Dream' earns national award

The Western Washington University Opera’s April 2014 production of Benjamin Britten’s “A Midsummer Night's Dream” was awarded First Prize in Division 3 of the 2014 Opera Production Competition sponsored by the National Opera Association.

The awards will be presented at the Gala Banquet of the association’s National Convention on Jan. 10.

The Western production was directed by Amber Bone and conducted by Roger Briggs with assistance from senior instructor Jay Rozendaal. Dipu Gupta, then in his first year as assistant professor of Set Design for the Department of Theatre and Dance, designed the scenery. KateLynn Walker, a senior in Theatre/Dance from Longview, designed the costumes, and the performance featured choreography by Dance Professor Penny Hutchinson.

The National Opera Association was founded in 1955 to promote a greater appreciation of opera and music theatre, to enhance pedagogy and performing activities and to increase performance opportunities by supporting projects that improve the scope and quality of opera. Members in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia and Australia participate in a wide array of activities in support of this mission. The Association has primarily served education and performance activities in academic institutions and small regional opera companies.

Western seniors Rachel Brown from Longview and Danielle Bayne from Everett portrayed “Helena” and “Hermia.” The role of “Oberon,” written for a rare vocal type (countertenor) was sung by Western composition alum Brendan Littlefield from Moscow, Idaho.

For more information, contact Chris Casquilho, Western Washington University’s College of Fine and Performing Arts manager of Marketing and Special Events at (360) 650-2829, or chris.casquilho@wwu.edu.