Evening star., 1953-09-13
News of Music

In nearby Arlington next
week. another boost will be
given opera and native COM
posers. On September "a and
25, the newly organized Opera
Sponsors Association will pro-
duce its initial effort, the
opera "Whirlwind," in the
Westinghouse Auditorium.
The performance will be a
start toward the realization of
further community enterprises
in the entertainment field to
be made possible by the Asso-
cations sponsorship. 1t is
hoped also with this venture
the Opera Sponsors may be-
come a nucleus of the pro-
posed Co-ordinated Music and
Allied Arts Of Virginia.
Late in June of this year,
the Opera Sponsors invited the
Virginia Federation of Music
Clubs, the National Federation
of Music Clubs. the Suburban
Teachers Association, the Fair
fax Music Guild, civil leaders
and representatives of many
organizations as also individual
artists and professional and
business people to a meeting.
The object was to devise a
means by which all the COM
ponent parts of art activities
could be integrated. These
would include not only con-
certS, chamber and symphonic
performances but art shows,
the drama, ballet and opera as
well. The idea was to attain
a balanced series, the avoid
ance of conflicting dates and
a known audience. The
"Whirlwind" will demonstrate
how it can be done.
Locol Composers
The score is by Alma Grayce
Miller and the libretto by
Robert Earl Hague, both of
Arlington. The cast will in
clude Frances Mohan of Hous-
ton, Texas, formerly of the
New York Civic Opera Co.;
Dianys Frobisher, now appear
ing with the Constance Ben
nett company in the Carter
Barron Theater; Paul Lein,
guest SoloiSt with the Columbia
Light Opera Co.; Stephen
Gray and Robert Northrop
who take the tenor leads;
Shirley Jondreau and Betty
Kirkley, mezzo and soprano
alternates. The musical direc-
tor and conductor is Norman
Lamb, first violist of the Ma
tional Symphony.
Proceeds from the perform
ances will be used to establish
a fellowship fund for deserving
young artists in the various
fields covered by the Co-ordi-
mated Music and Allied Arts
plan. While supervising the
seasons entertainment sched-
ule, native talent will be en-
couraged to develop with this
financial aid. The enthusiasm
over the prospects is wide
spread and puts glow into the
hard work of preparing the
opera for production. The
ballet plays a prominent part
in the unfolding of the action
and the choreography has been
put into the hands of Molly
Wick who is assisted by men,
bers of the National Ballet
Company. Costume designer
is George Morey and the art
direction is supplied by Mar
tine Ries.
Author ond Director
Mr.. Hague, whose libretto, will
be staged by Patsy Coates, was
q special student of drama and
history of the theater at Allie
gheny College, who rounded out
this preliminary knowledge
with a study tour of theaters
in Europe. He has authored
and produced three plays, di-
rected others for the Catholic
University, the Laboratory
Theater for the Blackfriars
Guild in the District, and for
many little theater groups, be-
sides radio production in New
York, Florida and this city.
From composer of sacred
works and those for piano and
ballet, Miss Miller has concen-
trated her talent recently on
"WhirlWind." Her previous
works for the theater were
Days of the Week." chill
dren's operetta commissioned
by the National League Of
American PenWomen and per-
formed at their convention in
1910; Giant Scissors" the