‘Three Penny Opera’ opens UNLV season

Kimberley McGee

Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2000 | 9:08 a.m.

What: "Three Penny Opera"

When: 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and October 5-7; 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sunday; 2 p.m. October 8.

Where: Judy Bayley Theatre

Cost: $15.

Information: 895-ARTS.

With a risque opera and professional professors, UNLV gears up for its second season of theater.

The University Theatre's second season opens Friday at 7 p.m. with "Three Penny Opera" at the Judy Bayley Theatre.

The scintillating performance involves a handful of theater professionals with a staff of local university students who pull together a modern rendition of John Gay's 18th-century play, retooled by Bertolt Brecht and again by Kurt Weill, who put a jazzy spin on the production.

For the first time, the university has peppered its season with theater professionals who have hands-on time under their belts -- and time on their hands.

Dr. Paul Kreider, chair of UNLV's Department of Music since 1994, said that by attracting larger names, the students and community benefit.

"We are bringing people in who are outstanding performers and people we would like to help students," Kreider said.

The college intends to meet the community's demand for different types of theater by using its internationally renowned professors and guest performers.

"We want the community to understand that they have a great resource here in Las Vegas for cultural events," Kreider said. "I don't think the community understands what we have here. It's amazing what the community doesn't know about us."

Guest director Elizabeth Craven, from San Francisco, helps weave the twisted tale about traditional views of humanity and the goodness of being bad in contemporary society.

Jim Ballard, a seasoned Los Angeles actor, plays dual roles as notorious criminal Macheath in a corrupt city with a cadre of callous women, as well as a teacher for UNLV theater students who will learn from experiences and by watching him work.

Other performances scheduled for the season that will feature professional actors and directors include Shakespeare's "Hamlet" and "Cabaret," the hit Broadway musical by John Kander.

In total there will be 160 events featuring music, theater and dance that involve students. Of those, 80 will include outside professionals.

In the past UNLV has relied on its students' talents for all of its theater efforts. Over the years it has accumulated enough coin in its coffers and talent in its tenured staff to pull in outside professionals. It is taking the opportunity in its second season to show the community its artistic strength and allow students to gain from the theater-wisened program guests.

Georgia Neu, artistic director for the local Actor's Repertory Theatre, said that UNLV students will benefit from the big names. Fledgling art students can get a flavor for real theater by working with professionals.

"When I think about a university situation, the No. 1 priority is what are the kids going to get out of it," Neu said. "This could work for them."

The mood of the city is ripe for cultural growth, she said, so as Las Vegas blossoms, so does its talent -- and its draw.

"Every year we are attracting more talent as we grow," Neu said. "The talent here is so incredible, and I could not have said that 10 years ago. There are so many great people here now."

Theater is a cultural expression needed by any growing city, especially one as unique and diverse as Las Vegas, she said.

"Theater opens people's eyes to tolerance and it opens their eyes to compassion to other people," Neu said. "We are exposing them to a world the they may have never considered before."

And it's time, according to Kreider.

"We also want to reach out to the people of Las Vegas and we want them to recognize we have a great portion of our faculty as theater professionals," he said.

Among the renowned artists UNLV has hired to teach students in its classrooms is Stefan Karlsson, who has produced six musical albums in the past year.

Tom Warrington, a jazz artist based out of Los Angeles who has performed on tour with Frank Sinatra and Melissa Manchester, has made more than 25 recordings.

Opera singer Mark Thompson is known for playing the title role in "La Clemenza di Tito" for the New York City Opera.

The university has accumulated an international staff in the last few years. Less than a decade ago it didn't carry such an assortment of artists, Kreider said.

"It's exciting to be part of something new and to build something," Kreider said. "It's hard work but it's exciting work."