UNIVERSITY PARK - The stars are aligning at Penn State. That's what the team of faculty members organizing the collaborative production of Leonard Bernstein "Mass" say must be happening to mount the massive undertaking. "Mass" - a theater piece for singers, players and dancers that's a collaborative venture among Penn State's School of Music, School of Theatre and Center for the Performing Arts - comes to Eisenhower Auditorium for performances at 7:30 p.m. April 5 and 2 p.m. April 6.
Bernstein's masterpiece, based on the Roman Catholic liturgy, includes passages sung in Latin with additional texts in English by Bernstein, Stephen Schwartz and Paul Simon.
The production includes Penn State's Philharmonic Orchestra, Concert Choir, Essence of Joy, singers and dancers from the schools of Music and Theatre and a community children's choir.
"This piece requires everybody - all elements need to be happily at the table with one another," said Ted Christopher, assistant professor of music at Penn State and director of Mass. "We're all honored the dean (Barbara O. Korner) selected this performance as the capstone event of the 50thanniversary of the College of Arts and Architecture. It really speaks to the nature of this kind of work we're all called to do as artists, which is to work together and be collaborative."
Tickets for Mass are $37 for adults, $10 for University Park students and $18 for those ages 18 and younger. Tickets can be purchased online at www.cpa.psu.edu, by calling 863-0255 or 800-ARTS-TIX or in person at Eisenhower Auditorium, Penn State Downtown Theatre Center, the HUB-Robeson Center Information Desk and the Bryce Jordan Center.
The price of each adult ticket to "Mass" includes a $5 donation to the College of Arts and Architecture Alumni Society Scholarship Endowment.
