SpearheadNews.com
Super News
2006
Casting News
Events
Rehearsal Schedules
Interviews
Photos
Reviews
More Fun Stuff!
The
Super Handbook
San
Francisco Opera
Links
Classifieds
Contacts
Archives
Members Only
Spearheadnews.com is not officially affiliated with any
performing arts organization.
All photographs remain the property of their copyright holders.
©2006 SpearheadNews
All Rights Reserved
Super Humans by Ulrica PAGE FOURTEEN
Down, Girl!
After Ulrica's rather scandalous previous column she has decided to tone things down a bit and not mention hunky bare-chested sailors or anything of that ilk. We are still �between seasons� but there has been some activity on the Super Richter scale, though not quite a 10.5.
Garage Sale
The Annual Super Garage Sale on Saturday, April 24th was a resounding
success and a lot of fun for those involved. Once again it was held at
Charlie Lichtman's
house in Noe Valley. A total of $718 was raised and we have enough items
left over for another sale. Many thanks to the Supers who came over to
help � including Carrie Murphy, David Ransom,
Walt Thorpe, Elaine Adamson, Rob
Wonder, Larry Severino and Super Committee
members Irene Bechtel, Sally Warren,
Susan Anderson, Mike Harvey and Mimi
Timberlake � and to those who donated. Special
thanks to Charlie for once again hosting the event. The money raised will
help produce this year's Annual Party.
If you couldn't help or forgot to donate don't throw your stuff away. We hope to plan another garage sale, possibly in late June, so watch out for further announcements.
Out-of-House Productions
Super David Ransom was also spotted at the Palace of the Legion of Honor's Florence Gould Theater on April 9th when the San Francisco Lyric Opera performed Don Giovanni to a full house. David was in charge of the production's lighting design, and skillfully managed to capture the changing light of opera's longest day. Remember that Don G begins his flirtations before breakfast, organizes a wedding brunch, and sits down to supper with a stony Commendatore. During this short period of time the hard-working artisans of Seville have banged out a life-size marble memorial to Il Commendatore and set it in the graveyard. Fast work, chaps!
The Lyric Opera put together a substantial production so check out their future offerings, including Rigoletto in September and October.
Gilbert Martinez's appearances notwithstanding, the Super action at the SF Opera Center production of The Seagull (above) was out in the lobby. Suffering Opera withdrawal and attending the Thomas Pasatieri opus were (on the women's side) Kimberly Thompson, Priscilla Lore, Irene Bechtel, Anna Stulz, and Lisa Lorea. On the men's side were Charlie Lichtman, Mike Harvey, Andrew Korniej with partner Chuck Yenson, Michael Schoenig, and the beloved Milko Encinas. Photo below.
Also there was the redoubtable Opera Mom Pat Beresford, who has suffered some setbacks with her vision and fears she may not be able to super or lightwalk anymore. Nevertheless she seems characteristically active and still following the careers of her many Opera Kids. She advises us all to watch out for tenor Rolando Villazon in this fall's Traviata, having just sung the role of Alfredo to Renée Fleming's Violetta at the Met.
Gilbert
did a great job as the long-suffering servant to Karen Slack's
overbearing Madame Arkadinia (not to be confused with Blithe
Spirit's
Madame Arcati), and appearing in every scene: magical words to any Super's
ears. Says Gilbert �I play a servant in five scenes. I'm either
carrying a tray, luggage or a bottle of vodka � those Russians
like to drink a lot. 
Gilbert Martinez, center, with Seagull principal
singers
The
young artists performing in this production have been so gracious
and friendly � it has been a wonderful experience.�
Based on the Chekhov play, The Seagull itself was very enjoyable and occasionally hit the heights, but everyone's reaction seems to be that the voices made the evening. They were universally excellent and filled the opera with vocal color. Dramatic soprano Karen Slack's voice reminded this correspondent, at times, of Leontyne Price in her ability to soar and then to sink to a mournful chest sound. This semi-comic role didn't give her many dramatic opportunities but Ulrica hopes to live long enough to see Karen sing one of the Verdi Leonoras.
Of the production itself, Mike Harvey wonders if he was the only person who thought it odd that the character Nina �sits on a couch next to a dead seagull and doesn't seem to notice.� And Charlie Lichtman offers bonus points to anyone who can explain the context of the line �Something must have exploded in my valise.�
Summer Season
On the summer season front, things seem to be moving ahead. There were a few drop- outs in the La Bohème cast. Stephanie Salter gave up her part to attend an annual reunion of friends in Indiana and Renee DeJarnatt and Marc Huelsmann found themselves too short on time � so welcome new cast members Nancy Huie, Katerina Rubin and Dick Johnson, who will be commuting from Stockton for the show. Plan on attending the Bohème Bake Sale being held on Sunday, June 13th during a matinée performance. More details to follow.
Of the other two summer operas: There was an audition for the role of Gretchen in Doktor Faust (watch for an upcoming report by Spearhead Investigative Reporter Lynn Meinhardt) and the part went to newcomer Stephanie Rishell. There will be an alternate but that is TBA. Meanwhile Junior Supers Alec Page and Alexander Roe will be appearing in The Cunning Little Vixen; the only Super roles. Production Super Captains for the Summer will be Andrew Korniej (Bohème), Charlie Lichtman (Dr. Faust) and Bruce McNaughton (Vixen)..
If you've read the interview with Joe Harris, you'll know that this summer season will be his last before retiring. Be sure to stop by Room 11 and wish Joe all the best. We will all miss his presence backstage but look forward to seeing him front of house (he was taking a busman's holiday at SF Ballet's Sylvia this past week).
Ulrica has been asked to mention that Marcel Delgado, Charlie Lichtman, and Andrew Korniej will soon be appearing in the world premiere of The Mission Movie, �a passionate, soulful urban drama.� It is an independent, community-supported movie of interlocking stories set in the Mission District. The premiere will be an outdoor event on Friday, June 4th at Mission Village, 2949 18th Street, San Francisco, starting at 7:30 pm. The event is free, and should be a very San Francisco event! More info at their site. In true Super fashion, Marcel, Charlie and Andrew can be spotted in the crowd holding up the largest prop, a ten foot high bright blue puppet!
Watch the Spearhead for updates to the War and Peace project. We've received lots of photos, clippings and reminiscences and will be posting them in a few weeks.
And finally, it is almost election time again. Hopefully, everyone received an invitation to run for the Super Committee. There will be at least three vacant seats on the Committee as members Mimi Timberlake, Paul Newman and Andrew Korniej won't be running this year, due to term limits. If you plan on running you'll need to get your form in before May 15th.