"The Brave Rooster" operetta premieres in Philadelphia (07/15/01)

"The Brave Rooster" operetta premieres in Philadelphia

by Petrusia Sawchak

JENKINTOWN, Pa. - A highly awarded, delightful children's operetta from Lviv, "The Brave Rooster," composed by Maestro Bohdan Yaniwsky, charmed a packed audience at the Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center (UECC) on June 9-10.

It featured 23 talented youngsters ranging in age from 3 to 18 from the Philadelphia area. The operetta was adapted for the stage from the tale "When the Moon Rises" by Natalia Zabila.

The theme of the fable of the operetta is the triumph of Good over Evil. Children delight in the bravery of the rooster and dog standing up to the bullies, the polecat and the fox, while adults can relate to the allegory and satire of the story.

Love as a binding force is also an important part of the operetta. First, there is romantic love between the rooster and the chicken; then a mother's love for her little ducklings. Also, there is love of neighbor as the other animals, with the exception of the predators, care for the welfare of each other.

The composer, Prof. Yaniwsky, has worked in all the major theaters of Ukraine and composed over 200 works to the plays of Shevchenko, Shakespeare, Franko and others. He has also composed numerous operas, symphonies, choral works and songs. Presently he works as dean for international relations for the Lviv Music Academy. He is also president of the Ukrainian Association Svit Kultury.

The director of the operetta, Ivan Prasko, an actor and teacher best known in Ukrainian circles for directing the opera "Lys Mykyta" by Wasyl Ovcharenko, contributed his theatrical expertise to the production. Assistant director Katrya Oransky-Petyk, a performer in musical theater for the past 22 years and a voice teacher, coached the children during rehearsals. Taras Lewyckyj, performer for the famed Voloshky Ensemble and instructor and choreographer for the School of Voloshky since 1978, designed the choreography.

The stylized folk costumes for the children were designed and made by Vera Shembel. The set design by Anna Hursky-deVassel and set contruction by Danylo Zacharczuk recreated a barnyard scene complete with houses for the various animals. Adrian Kwitkowsky provided sound and lighting. Maria Kaminsky provided accompaniment for rehearsal.

The administrative staff included: Petrusia Sawchak, president of UECC; Orysia Hewka, administrator; Borys Zacharczuk, business manager; Marko Klos, program layout and design; Motrja Bojko-Watters, children's coordinator; Alexander Mychaluk, photographer; and Dr. Natalia Pazuniak, program editor. Andrij Pikush of Ukraine provided the cover design of the program book, which featured the celebrated rooster.

There were two casts - one for Saturday and another on Sunday - to give as many children the opportunity to perform. The casts included the following performers: Damian Shembel, 16 ("Pirate" the dog); Andrij Harasewych, 16 (Rooster); Adrianna Shembel, 18 (Fox); Julia Login, 16 (Chicken); Ivan Bobak, 16 (Polecat); Sofia Prasko, 16 (Magpie); Yana Osypenko, 14 (Duck); Taisa Hewka, 13 (Turkey); Khristina Dukh, 13 (Goose); Arianna Watters, 12 (Fox); Sofia Zmurkewych, 13 (Rooster); Lesia Petyk, 13 (Polecat); Julia Knihnicky, 11 (Chicken); Julia Hudimyak, 12 (Magpie); Victor Prasko, 13 (Dog); Andrea Watters, 10 (Duckling); Alexa Watters, 7 (Duckling); Sofia Zacharczuk, 8 (Duckling); Maria Flis, 11 (Duckling); Natalia Tarasiuk, 11 (Duckling); Alanna Watters, 3 (Duckling); Emily Knihnicky, 9 (Duckling); and Nina de Vassal, 10 (Puppy).

After each performance, there was a "meet the artists" reception. Honored guests at the premiere were Cultural Attaché Mykola Kravchenko of the Embassy of Ukraine from Washington, and his wife.

The UECC, which sponsored this U.S. premiere of the operetta, hopes to tour with the production to other cities and is performing at Soyuzivka in August. More information will be announced in the press when the plans are finalized.

| Home Page |