Miami, March 12, 2019 – Miami Dade College’s (MDC) Kendall Campus presents Rodgers and Hammersteins’ Oklahoma, produced by campus’ Music, Theater and Dance Department as part of its On Stage Series. The two night engagement takes place Friday and Saturday, March 15 – 16. Admission is free and open to the public.
Directed by MDC Kendall Campus faculty Misty Bermudez and Dr. Leo Walz and performed by MDC students. Oklahoma was the first collaboration between famed partners Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. First performed on Broadway in 1943 and set in Western Indian territory just after the turn of the 20th Century, the spirited rivalry between the local farmers and cowboys provides the backdrop for the love story between Curly, a handsome cowboy and Laurey, a beautiful farm girl. The road to true love is anything but smooth, but there is no doubt that these two will succeed in making a life together in a brand new state, Oklahoma.
A versatile vocalist, Bermudez is a concert soloist, chamber artist, operatic actress and educator. She teaches voice and directs the Opera Theatre Ensemble and the Chamber Singers at MDC Kendall Campus. Her students have been admitted to fine college vocal programs around the country with impressive scholarship awards. A mezzo-soprano, Bermudez has captivated critics and audiences alike with her “ravishing” voice and compelling” concert performances (South Florida Sun Sentinel, Palm Beach Arts Paper). She is a founding member of the Grammy-nominated vocal ensemble Seraphic Fire. In May 2018, Bermudez became the first female Artistic Director of the Civic Chorale of Greater Miami in its 48-year history.
A well-known conductor and educator, Dr. Walz teaches music history and music theory at MDC Kendall Campus. He is the founder of The Alhambra Orchestra, Miami’s longest-lived and most active community orchestra, and works in various capacities with Miami Lyric Opera. Dr. Walz also frequently conducts in Eastern Europe and Central America. He holds a doctorate in musical arts from the University of Miami, and studied piano with Gordon DeBroder and Janet Landreth in his native Colorado.
About On Stage Series
Each season, On Stage presents an exciting line-up featuring entertaining and culturally significant performances by accomplished artists and rising stars. On Stage encompasses each of the performing arts – from jazz and gospel music to classical and theatrical realism and experimental dance. Most performances are FREE and open to the public and include workshops, performances and conferences by MDC Music, Theater and Dance faculty, staff, alumni, and visiting artists.
About MDC Kendall Campus’ Music, Theater and Dance Department
At the department of Music, Theater and Dance, passion for expression takes center stage. Featuring a distinguished faculty comprised of highly-skilled artists and scholars, state-of-the-art facilities and performance opportunities, the department guides and develops the artistic, intellectual, and professional growth of its students. The music, theater and dance programs offer unparalleled experiences, connecting classroom activities with current discourses in cultural studies and the performing arts as well as intellectual enrichment through exposure to visiting artists, scholars and experts in each respective field.
WHAT: MDC Kendall Campus Presents Rodgers and Hammersteins’ Oklahoma
WHEN: Friday and Saturday, March 15 and 16, 7:30 – 9 p.m.
WHERE: MDC Kendall Campus, Alfred Mcarthy Auditorium, 6120
11011 SW 104 Street
View a schedule of upcoming MDC On Stage events at http://www.mdc.edu/onstage.
On Stage Contact: Carolina Salazar, 305-237-2282, csalaza4@mdc.edu. Images available upon request.