Two Puccini operas!

USM's Department of Theatre and School of Music are thrilled to present a co-production of two, one-act operas by Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924) — "Suor Angelica" and "Gianni Schicchi."

Sarah Mawn of Lakeville, MA plays the title role of the tragic nun in Puccini's "Suor Angelica" and Jazmin DeRice of Windham plays the part of the unlikeable Zia Principessa.

WHEN: March 13, 14, 19, 20 and 21 at 7:30 p.m., March 15 at 2 p.m.
and a high school matinee with piano on March 17 at 10 a.m.
WHERE: Russell Hall on the University of Southern Maine’s Gorham Campus
TICKETS: Students $10, Seniors/Faculty/Staff/Alumni $14, General public $20
BOX OFFICE: (207) 780-5151

Directed by Dr. Assunta Kent, with musical direction by Ellen Chickering , both operas tell stories of "adjusted" wills and wealthy relatives. "Suor Angelica" is a tragic tale of a young woman, condemned for bearing an illigitamate child, who seeks relief only through death. "Gianni Schicchi" relates a comic tale of a rehabilitated rogue who helps love triumph over greed.

Both operas will be sing in English with Puccini's original score, allowing opera enthusiasts, and those new to the art form, a chance to enjoy the exciting music.

Hopeful parties gather as the will is read during a rehearsal of "Gianni Schicchi." From left they are Joe Murphy of Lee, NH, David Delano of Belfast, Michelle Rawding of St. Albans, ME, Brian Tingdahl of Saco, Alexandra Dietrich of Freeport, Daniel Pendergast of Portland, Mary Bastoni of Fryeburg and John Coons of Corrina.

The curtain comes up Thursday...

Well, not really. There's actually no curtain. But there IS a really wonderful set, killer costumes and moving performances. Be there or you'll miss it.

WHEN: February 12, 13, 14, at 7:30 p.m. and February 15 at 2 p.m.
WHERE: Russell Hall on the University of Southern Maine’s Gorham Campus
TICKETS: Students $7, Seniors/Faculty/Staff/Alumni $10, General public $14
BOX OFFICE: (207) 780-5151

Moonchildren opens Thursday: Riley Doiron, a Farmington native, puts on her makeup before a dress rehearsal Tuesday night.

The more things change, the more they stay the same: Moonchildren, set in the turbulent 1960s, features characters who march in anti-war protests. Before the first dress rehearsal Tuesday night. Jordan Handren-Seavey, who plays Cootie in the show, prepares a display for the lobby that will include the names of every soldier from Maine to die in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Final touches: Costume shop supervisor Kris Hall works with student costume designer Travis Grant on a hemline before the first dress rehearsal Tuesday night.

Moonchildren opens in two days... many good seats still available.

WHEN: February 12, 13, 14, at 7:30 p.m. and February 15 at 2 p.m.
WHERE: Russell Hall on the University of Southern Maine’s Gorham Campus
TICKETS: Students $7, Seniors/Faculty/Staff/Alumni $10, General public $14
BOX OFFICE: (207) 780-5151

MOONCHILDREN, written by Michael Weller and directed by Professor Wil Kilroy, is the passionately funny, and emotionally earnest story of five college roommates teetering on the edge of real life in the late 1960s. Projected onto a backdrop of war protests and graduate school draft deferments, the characters (which range from serious, to kooky to downright nerdy) must confront love, betrayal, death, invisible felines and their exceedingly strange landlord.

The New York Times writes, "Ever since it appeared on Broadway in 1972 to enthusiastic reviews... Michael Weller's ''Moonchildren'' has enjoyed a reputation as the definitive play about college students of the 1960's. That's a tough burden for any work to bear. The kids of the 60's seemed homogeneous only to those adults who failed to understand them."

Though the play is 37-years-old, it still rings with a clear tone of relevance today. American wars still rage in far off lands, and college students still seek clear paths through the quick sands of sex and politics, toward their true selves — be it 1965 or 2009. The language is sharp, witty and definitely suitable for mature playgoers only. USM's student actors infuse the roommates' banter with the true emotional energy only fellow students can muster.

"'Moonchildren' is still timely," says director Wil Kilroy. "It made sense and was funny, in 1970-something, and it still does."