Fifteen Westminster College students will present an operetta review,"Å“When the Lights Go Down,"? Saturday, April 17, at 7:30 p.m. in Orr Auditorium.

"Å“The production consists of scenes and beloved melodies from The Merry Widow to The Tales of Hoffmann and beyond,"? said Dr. Anne Bentz, assistant professor of music and coordinator of this event at Westminster College.  "Å“Students perform multiple roles and the production is full of dance.  It promises to be a night full of humor and energy for all."?

Dr. Jesse Mann, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college, and Dr. Frederick Horn, professor of English emeritus and director of the Off-Campus Program at Westminster, will also be performing in this event.  In one number, they will perform a duet about corrupt deans.

"Å“I never sang opera before last year,"? Mann said.  "Å“For fun, I took some voice while I was in college, and I"â„¢ve been singing a long time in productions like "Å“Anything Goes."?  I was asked to fill in for a student because tenors are rare here, but now I"â„¢m singing several duets with students.  It"â„¢s fun and a good way to get to know students."?

"Å“I"â„¢ve been singing since I was six-years-old and took voice for many years, but I"â„¢ve never sang opera before except in a 'Robin Hood"â„¢ chorus at Chautauqua,"? Horn said.  "Å“I was asked to join last year, but I couldn"â„¢t so I was drafted this year.  It"â„¢s a challenge "" singing and acting at the same time."?

Mihai Vilcu, an adjunct music faculty member from Romania who has conducted operas in Romania and Germany and has conducted orchestras in Russia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, Yugoslavia, Holland and Luxemburg, will conduct this opera at Westminster.  He was recently chosen as Romania"â„¢s "Å“Artist of the Year."?

Marie Libal-Smith, adjunct music faculty member, will accompany the production on the piano.  Libal-Smith has also served on the faculty of the University of Alabama and at the Depauw University School of Music.  She is currently collaborative pianist at Carnegie Mellon Universit and Duquesne University.

William Turney, Orr stage manager, will manage the lighting for the production.

The event is free and open to the public.  For complimentary tickets or more information, call Bentz at (724) 946-6045 or e-mail bentzah@westminster.edu.