2008 Year in Review

Ashford Will Present Spring Musical April 18 and 19

Ashford University will present “Gilbert and Sullivan in Space: An Operetta-Trek” on Friday and Saturday, April 18 and 19, at 7:30 p.m. in the Mullany Theater on Ashford’s campus.

The first half of the performance will be a concert version of highlights from Gilbert and Sullivan’s popular operetta “H.M.S. Pinafore, or The Lass That Loved a Sailor.” The plot deals with the complications that class distinctions can have on love. In the story, Ralph Rackstraw, a sailor aboard the Pinafore, is in love with Josephine, the daughter of the Pinafore captain, and at least one social level above Ralph. The captain is busy arranging the marriage of his daughter and Admiral Sir Joseph Porter, head of the British Navy and one social rank above them. In addition, Little Buttercup, a peddler woman, has fallen in love with the captain. An unexpected plot twist at the end leads to all the relationship problems being solved.

The second half of the musical will be a fully staged performance of “H.M.S. Trek-A-Star,” a “space operetta” written by Dorothy Jones Heydt and Karen Anderson. The setting for the story is the bridge of the original U.S.S. Enterprise from the 1960s television series, “Star Trek.” The plot centers on the arrival of an alien named Stackstraw, who becomes infatuated with Yeoman Rand, one of the crew members. Rand, however, is in love with Captain Kirk, who tries constantly to avoid her. Ensign Chekov is also infatuated with Rand, but she won’t give him the time of day. With the help of Mr. Spock and Lt. Uhura, the situation is, as in Pinafore, straightened out in the end.

The Stage Director and Music Director for the performance is Dr. Rob Engelson, professor of music at AU. Christine Holmer is the accompanist for the performances. Cast members include: Brad Delhotal as Ralph Rackstraw/Stackstraw, Kelly Swanton as Josephine/Yeoman Rand, Geoff Leu as Admiral Porter/Captain Kirk, Eddie Keiller as Captain Corcoran/Mr. Spock, Allie Segura as Little Buttercup/Lt. Uhura, and Ben Jansen as Dick Deadeye/Ensign Chekov. Members of the AU choir make up the rest of the crew.

For more information, please contact Engelson at 563.242.4023, ext. 1284.

Founded in 1918, Ashford University® is a coeducational institution regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, with programs in education, business, accounting, criminal and social justice, computer animation and graphic design, and other areas. The University offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as a range of student activities and athletics, at its Clinton campus. Online degree programs are available in education, organizational management, business administration, psychology, health care administration, criminal justice and social science. The University is known for its high quality yet highly affordable on-campus and online programs, with tuition fees among the lowest in the U.S. compared to other private institutions. Its tagline is: “Higher Education Made Affordable”SM. For more information, please visit Ashford University.

by  Editor, theCity1.com
April 4, 2008