Q & A with Penny Speedie, director of “The Merry Widow”

Jordan Leigh Haiduk / The Bulletin

Justin Peterson and Amanda Meyer rehearse for Emporia State’s production of “The Merry Widow.” The peformance is scheduled for Saturday in Albert Taylor Hall.

Penny Speedie is an associate professor in music here at Emporia State. She teaches voice and is the musical director for theater musicals. Saturday Speedie will be directing the upcoming production of the Austro-Hungarian composer Franz Lehar’s operetta “The Merry Widow.”

What is the Merry Widow about?

The Merry Widow is about a girl, Anna, who marries a very old man who conveniently dies leaving her more than half the country’s wealth. If she were to marry a foreigner the country would go bankrupt. Unfortunately they ask Danilo to help but he and Anna were romantically involved before her marriage. He refuses to marry her now that she is rich. In the end Anna and Danilo get together and the country is saved from bankruptcy.

What is your opinion of the production?

I believe the production is excellent. It has a very good cast and they have worked extremely hard. Come and make the judgement for yourself.

How did you go about choosing this work to perform?

The works are chosen by what voices are available and who is at the level to perform a role successfully. This year we have a young cast. The widow and the secondary leading lady are both sophomore and Danilo is a junior.

Who will be performing in it?

Amanda Mayer, Cassy Huff, Charlie Roemer, Christina Devine, Da’Kneisha Blount, Dion Johnson, Dong-Joon Lee, Emilia Chiroy, Ian Knodel, Jacque Howe, Jake Narverud, Jennifer Brady, Jeremy Devine, Joshua East, Julie Soroko, Justin Petersen, Justin Richmond, Miles Shrik and Molli Chitwood.

What do you enjoy most about opera in general?

I enjoy giving my students the opportunity to explore a new art form and a chance to develop their performance skills and to experience into creating an opera.

What would you say to the average student to get them to come to the opera?

This is an operetta which is closer to musical theater in that there is dialogue with set numbers. We are doing an updated English translation by Donald Pippin, which has many funny moments. There are waltzes and a cancan, fine singing cast of twenty-two, beautiful costumes and sets, and a thirty-one piece orchestra. At $4 for students and $5 for non-students, it is a bargain date.

The ESU music department’s production of “The Merry Widow” is scheduled for Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in Albert Taylor Hall.