Loper Opera presenting ‘Beauty and the Beast’ reimagined

KEARNEY – UNK Loper Opera is presenting two performances of “Zémire and Azor” this weekend.

Originally written in 1771 by André Grétry and Jean-François Marmontel, the comic opera is a light retelling of the “Beauty and the Beast” fairytale. The UNK production was condensed, adapted and translated to English by Anne Foradori and Mirim Kim. It features singing, dialogue and ballet and is appropriate for all ages.

Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday in the Miriam Drake Theatre on campus.

General admission tickets are $5 for adults; $2 for youths ages 5 to 11; and free for UNK students with a valid ID. The UNK Theatre Box Office is open noon to 5 p.m. weekdays and one hour prior to each performance. All ticket purchases are payable by cash or check only. For reservations, call 308-865-8417 or email boxoffice@unk.edu.

Cast (listed by hometown)
Chadron – Morgan Rutledge (Genie)
Columbus – Cassie Kouma (Genie)
Hastings – Tyler Clay (Sander)
Henderson – Maddie Miller (Lisbé)
Imperial – Sophie Fiedler (Sprite)
Kearney – Richard Harbols (Ali)
Kearney – Emma Jahn (Genie)
Kearney – Isabelle Kathol (Sprite)
Lincoln – Chloe Bohaty (Genie)
Nara, Japan – Sayo Kajiyama (Zémire)
North Platte – Makenna Koehn (Genie)
Omaha – Mary Frink (Genie)
Omaha – Victoria Nimneh (Fatmé)
Tokyo, Japan – Tetsuhito Tsutsumi (Azor)

Student Staff
Kearney – Aspen (A.J.) Girard, stage manager

Faculty/Professional/Guest Staff
Anne Foradori, director
Mirim Kim, musical director
Noelle Bohaty, choreographer
Matt Benes, lighting designer
Bridget Klein, costume designer
Janice Fronczak, properties/acting coach

PHOTOS BY ERIKA PRITCHARD, UNK COMMUNICATIONS