NAU Lyric Theater presents ‘Love is a Plaintive Song’

Love is a Plaintive Song flier

Sept. 24, 2019

In October, Northern Arizona University’s Lyric Theater invites you to join them on a journey exploring the trials and tribulations of romance in “Love is a Plaintive Song.” The show features operatic and musical theater works from a variety of composers. Songs are set to the scene of a girl explaining the pitfalls of her love life to a therapist. 

“Her stories take musical form, including the best fights, love scenes, love triangles and mix-ups known in opera and musical theatre repertoire,” said Eric Gibson, Lyric Theater’s director.

While relatable and sometimes hilarious, the girl’s topsy-turvy therapy session includes music by Puccini, Donizetti, Bernstein, Gilbert and Sullivan, Mozart, Rossini, Rodgers and Sondheim. More than 25 School of Music students will sing, accompanied by three collaborative pianists, graduate student Addison Mauro will conduct.

“Songs are drawn from many music lovers’ favorite shows, including “The Marriage of Figaro“, “Don Giovanni,” “The Turk in Italy, Cinderella,” “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” “Lucia di Lammermoor and La Rondine,” Gibson said. “Come get a therapy session with Lyric Theater!” 

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 3-4 and at 2:30 p.m. Oct. 5-6 in Kitt Recital Hall.  

Tickets are sold online at nau.edu/cto, by phone at (928) 523-5661 and in person at the Central Ticket Office. Entry to the show costs $15 for adults, $10 for NAU faculty, staff and seniors (65 and over) and is free for NAU and Coconino Community College students with ID. Ordering fees may apply. For the Thursday performance, a community parking pass can be downloaded at nau.edu/guest