New
Musical Explores Sculptor’s Life and Art as Part of Oshkosh
Sesquicentennial Celebration
WORLD
PREMIERE
at Oshkosh’s restored
historic Grand Opera House
Oct.
31-Nov. 2 and Nov. 7-9.
The
Fountain of Life, a new musical featuring 17 original songs and
seven major production numbers, is based on the life of nationally
acclaimed sculptor Helen Farnsworth Mears (1873-1916), a native of
Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
A Local Production:
Oshkosh author Mary Hiles (920-233-1777; hiles@execpc.com) wrote the
book, lyrics, and some melodies for The Fountain of Life.
UW-Oshkosh music professor James Chaudoir oversaw the orchestration
and arrangements done by two of Chaudoir’s former students-Jay
Thomas and Erik Helm . Chaudoir and Thomas also composed some of the
music. Herb Berendsen and Jennifer Henselin are directing the production,
performed by public and private high school student actors.
Unprecedented community-wide
participation: Related events include a lecture series and exhibit
of Mears’s originals and exhibit of the winners of the state-wide Helen
Farnsworth Mears’s Art Award at the Oshkosh Public Museum and Mears’s
exhibits at the Oshkosh Public Library and UW-Oshkosh and Mears’s originals
on display at the Grand Opera House during the performances .
Reproductions of Mears’s
sculptures: The Fountain of Life features four reproductions
of Mears’s sculptures including a full-sized figure Genius of Wisconsin
done by UW Oshkosh sculpture graduates Charis Congail and David Barnhill.
Production benefits school
art program: All proceeds go to Project S.O.A.R. (Special Opportunities
for Artists in Residency), which brings artists-in-residence to Oshkosh
area schools.
