GILBERT & SULLIVAN'S DRAMATIC YEOMEN STAGED BY ROWAN OPERA COMPANY

(GLASSBORO, NJ) – Considered one of the more musically ambitious and emotionally engaging works by the legendary team of Gilbert & Sullivan, The Yeomen of the Guard is presented by the Rowan Opera Company for three performances only, March 25 at 8 pm and March 26 at 3 and 8 pm in Pfleeger Concert Hall on the university's Glassboro campus.

Under the direction of Marian Stieber, the company features the talents of Rowan's vocal music students, in addition to an ensemble from the university community and the region. They are joined by the Rowan University Orchestra, conducted by Salvatore Scarpa.

The Yeomen of the Guard is a much more dramatic work than might be expected from Gilbert & Sullivan and set in the Tower of London during the 16th Century. The gentleman Colonel Fairfax has been wrongly accused of sorcery and sentenced to death within the hour. Fairfax hatches a plan to avoid letting his estate fall into the hands of his scheming cousin (who is also his accuser) by secretly marrying Elsie Maynard, a strolling singer. She agrees to the ceremony and expects to be a wealthy widow upon Fairfax's imminent demise, leaving her free to marry her lover, the jester Jack Point. However, Fairfax miraculously escapes his fate and chaos ensues.

Stieber is professor of Voice and head of the Vocal Division at Rowan in addition to leading the Opera Company. She has earned critical acclaim as both an opera singer and concert artist, performing roles such as Mimi in La Boheme, Violetta in La Traviata, Marguerite in Faust, The Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro and the title role in The Merry Widow. Stieber has performed as a soloist with the Philadelphia Singers, Basically Bach Festival, Germantown Oratorio Society, Philadelphia Chamber Orchestra and Philadelphia Youth Orchestra and has frequently appeared with The Philadelphia Singers at The Kimmel Center and at Carnegie Hall in New York. At Rowan, she has directed previous Opera Company productions of Carmen, The Magic Flute, Dido and Aeneas, The Pirates of Penzance and more. She has served as vocal director for numerous musical theater productions at The Ritz Theatre.

Pfleeger Concert Hall is located in Wilson Hall on the campus of Rowan University, Route 322 in Glassboro, NJ. Tickets are $10, general admission; and $5 for seniors, non-Rowan students, Rowan staff & alumni. Rowan students are admitted free with valid ID. For tickets and information, visit www.rowan.edu/fpa or call the box office at (856) 256-4545.