This weekend, more than 100 UF student performers will take over the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.
The UF College of the Arts and UF Opera Theatre will be presenting Luigi Illica and Giacomo Puccini’s “La Bohème” at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Set in Paris during the 1830s, the opera is a timeless tale of a group of artists struggling to survive. The characters’ love for life, their friends and art creates a riveting story that will captivate the audience attention.
“You’ll get very invested into the characters,” said Samone Hicks, a UF vocal performance master’s student. “It’s very upbeat and emotional.”
Hicks plays the role of Musetta, a talented and beautiful singer, who men find irresistible. Her love interest is a painter named Marcello, her on-and-off boyfriend.
“Musetta knows she’s irresistible and can have any guy she wants,” said Hicks. “It’s fun getting into character; I really just try to picture myself as her and what she is saying.”
Perhaps the most popular opera title in the world, the story has been told in countless versions, from Broadway’s “Rent,” by Jonathan Larson, to the soundtrack of the Oscar-winning movie “Moonstruck,” starring Nicolas Cage and Cher.
The opera will be sung in Italian with supertitles, which are translations in English above the stage.
“It would be beneficial if people looked up a little bit about the play,” said Matthew Christoff, a UF vocal performance master’s student who plays Marcello. “It’ll be easier to follow along so people can focus more on the stage, set and music.”
The 60-piece UF Symphony Orchestra accompanies the cast.
The orchestra will bring to life Puccini’s beautiful score to create blend of enchanting music and stunning arias, a long accompanied song for a solo voice.
“Having to sing in Italian can be challenging; I have to really focus on my diction and pronunciation,” said Timeelah Anderson, a UF vocal performance master’s student who plays the role of Mimi. “I’ve been singing in different languages for seven years now so I’ve got a lot of practice with it.”
Anderson’s character, Mimi, is a seamstress who falls in love with Rodolfo. Throughout the play the audience will watch the two characters love story develop as news of Mimi’s health continues to deteriorate.
“It’s an easily relatable story about poor young artists who like to hang out with their friends,” Anderson said. “I think all college kids can relate to that.”
Tickets can be bought online or by calling the Phillips Center Box Office. The running time for the opera is about three hours, including three intermissions. Student tickets are $10.
