FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 10 July 2013

CONTACT: Steven Stull, Jeanne Goddard
        607.257.2043
        crsbarn@lightlink.com
        http://www.operacowpokes.com


OPERA COWPOKES ALIVE!
Opera Stars Sing Classic Western and Country Western Songs


Triphammer Arts Inc. proudly presents Opera Cowpokes Alive!, Saturday through Monday, August 3, 4, and 5 at 7:30pm at the CRS Barn Studio, 2622 North Triphammer Road, Ithaca. Last presented in the summer of 2007, this family and cult favorite returns to its beautiful home setting, on the CRS Growers organic vegetable farm overlooking Cayuga Lake, 1.5 miles north of The Shops at Ithaca Mall. Tickets are $20 general admission, $15 for seniors and $10 for students and will be available at the door. In case of rain, the performance will be held indoors at the same location.
 
Based on the hit compact disc recording, Opera Cowpokes Alive! features opera stars performing western and country/western songs, favorite opera choruses with newly crafted lyrics, and traditional folk tunes with a timely twist. Producers Steven Stull and Jeanne Goddard break down the barriers between "classical" and "popular" performance and bring together an impressive collection of musicians and dancers from both worlds in Opera Cowpokes Alive!. The nationally and internationally known cast of soloists includes Steven Stull, Carl Johengen, John Rozzoni, George Cordes, Todd Thomas, and Rich Crawley. The Opera Cowpokes Orchestra is led by Peter Chwazik on bass, with John White on piano, Joe Davoli and Max Buckholtz on fiddle, and Dana Paul on guitar. Jeanne Goddard creates the cowgirl choreography and leads the ensemble of dancers.

You'll enjoy melodies from Grand Opera to Grand Ol' Opry, with an ensemble of dancers, to boot. Here’s what past audiences have said about Opera Cowpokes Alive!:
    "You blew my socks off - boots and all!" 
    "We had a rip-roarin', dirt-kickin' time!"
    "I've never considered myself either a country or a western fan, but was mighty     taken by [your] renditions....  It's a fun change from lust, vengeance,
    dying consumptives and so on."
So, grab your boots and hang on to your hat, Lucia di Lammermoor meets Lucille in Opera Cowpokes Alive!

Artistic directors Jeanne Goddard and Steven Stull opened the CRS Barn Studio in 1990 and established Triphammer Arts Inc. in May, 2013. They have consistently brought together dancers and musicians from Ithaca, Elmira, Cortland, Binghamton, Geneva, Syracuse, and beyond, to present high quality, audience-friendly music and dance productions both outdoors and indoors at the CRS Growers organic vegetable farm on Triphammer Road. Audiences return again and again for the relaxed atmosphere, the quality of the performances, and the sensational sunset views of Cayuga Lake.

Stull and Goddard have over 30 years' experience performing, writing, directing, and producing music and dance events in traditional and non-traditional venues. Stull holds degrees in vocal performance from Oberlin College Conservatory and the Eastman School of Music, and has performed with opera companies and symphony orchestras across the U.S. Goddard came of age in the avant-garde dance world of the 1970's, trained and performed with Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane and many other choreographers, and has run the dance program at Wells College since 1987.



WHAT:      Opera Cowpokes Alive!
                  Opera Stars Sing Classic Western and Country Western Songs

WHEN:     Saturday through Monday, August 3, 4, 5, at 7:30 pm

WHERE:     CRS Barn Studio, 2622 N. Triphammer Road, ITHACA, NY 14850
        In case of rain, the performance will be held indoors at the same location.



The original Opera Cowpokes recording is available on Amazon and iTunes, or directly from the CRS Barn Studio.



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