The Ball State University Opera Theatre is pleased to present the world premiere of 53rd Streetby campus composer Dr. Jody Nagel.  This new American opera centers on two homeless men living on the streets of New York City and the responses they receive from various facets of society including the media, church, tourists, businesses, and the academic and art communities.  The BSU Opera Theatre is partnering with Teamwork for Quality Living (www.teamworkql.org) and the Virginia B. Ball Center for Creative Inquiry (http://www.bsu.edu/vbc/) to increase public awareness of homelessness and poverty right here in Delaware County, which is the second poorest county in the state of Indiana.  Information and opportunities will be available following the performances for audience members who wish to personally respond to the challenges set before them through the opera.

Dr. Craig Priebe, baritone, and Associate Professor of Music Performance at BSU, is creating the lead role of Bum I.  Dr. Priebe has a Bachelor of Music degree from St. Cloud State University, Minnesota; an Opera Diploma from Die Hochschle für Musik und Theater in Hannover, Germany; and a Master of Music and D.M.A. degrees in Voice and Opera Directing from the College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati.  Dr. Priebe spent ten years in Germany where he performed leading roles in the opera houses of Hannover, Hildesheim, Karlsruhe, Kaiserslautern, and Bremerhaven. Since returning to the United States, he has appeared with the opera companies of Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Louisville, Opera Illinois in Peoria, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, and Tacoma Opera. He created the role of Johnny in Songplay, a new Kurt Weill revue, for Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and the St. Louis Repertory Theater, and made his New York City debut as the Ferryman in Benjamin Britten's Curlew River.

Mark A. Boyle, tenor, is creating the lead role of Benny.  Originally from Wethersfield, Connecticut, Boyle is in his last year of an extended MM in Choral Conducting, including a great deal of additional study in voice performance. In 2002, he began a continuing association with the Masterworks Chorale of East Central Indiana, serving as their Assistant Artistic Director. He has studied choral conducting with Dr. Jeffrey Pappas, Dr. Jeffrey Carter, Dr. Robert Kvam, and Dr. Douglas Amman. Continually sought after as a tenor soloist, Boyle performs throughout the Midwest and eastern part of the United States.  He spent 5 years in the United States Navy, during which time he was fortunate to hold the post of Leading Petty Officer and Director of the Bluejacket's Memorial Choir. While stationed in Hawaii, he was active as a tenor soloist, winning the 3rd Annual Hawaii Public Radio/Lotte Lehmann Foundation Art Song Contest and placing in the state's NATS competition. He holds a BM in Voice Performance from Ball State University. Boyle is currently the editor of the award winning Indiana Choral Directors Association publication, Notations. In addition, he is the current Director of Music at New Horizons United Methodist Church in Anderson, Indiana.

53rd Streetis directed by Tammie Huntington, BSU Opera Intern, accompanied by live orchestra under conductor Ardis Faber, both Doctor of Arts candidates at Ball State University.  BSU Opera Theatre will present 53rd Street in Sursa Performance Hall on Thursday, April 12, 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 15, 2:00 p.m.  Tickets are $5.00 and may be obtained through any Ticketmaster location or by calling Emens Auditorium Box office at 765-285-1539 or toll-free at 877-93-EMENS.