FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTHEAST MUSIC THEATRE WORKSHOP TO PRESENT THREE ONE-ACT OPERAS

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., Feb. 22, 2002 – Southeast Music Theatre Workshop will present "Passion in the Principal's Office," "The Ruined Maid" and "I Can't Stand Wagner," three humorous one-act operas by Seymour Barab, on Feb. 28 and March 1.

The operas will be performed at 8 p.m. in Academic Auditorium. Tickets are available at the door and are $6 for general admission, $5 for faculty and staff, and $4 for students and senior citizens. The operas are in English and will be performed with piano and orchestra accompaniments.

The first one-act opera, "Passion in the Principal's Office," tells the story of a seven-year-old girl and an eight-year-old boy staying after school for discipline problems. They wind up discussing how marriage would be the solution to all their problems.

In "The Ruined Maid," a former scullery maid, dismissed from service for problems she did not cause, accidentally meets her former mistress. As it turns out, the maid is now a wealthy courtesan, while her former employer is divorced and penniless. Each envies the other.

In "I Can't Stand Wagner," a composer, Rudy, is commissioned to write a work for a concert in Greece entitled the "Zeus Symphony." At its premiere, it is acclaimed by all except Zeus himself, who detests it and believes it to be a blasphemy upon his sacred name. He revenges himself upon Rudy by causing him to be pursued by the Three Furies.

For more information, call (573) 651-2141.