Join Oakland University School of Music, Theatre and Dance for an unforgettable evening of music, humor and heart as faculty members Alta Boover Danztler and Jacob ben Widmar take to the stage in “Souvenir: a fantasia on the life of Florence Foster Jenkins.” This special one night only performance will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 20 at Varner Recital Hall.
The play is based on the true story of Florence Foster Jenkins, a wealthy American socialite and amateur soprano whose musical ambition outstripped her singing talent. Jenkins became a cult phenomenon in the early 20th century due to her off pitch renditions of classical arias and extravagant costumes.
Written by Stephen Temperley, “Souvenir” is a hilarious and touching tribute to passion, friendship and the enduring power of music. The play chronicles Florence Foster Jenkins’s unlikely rise to fame and culminates in her sold out performance at Carnegie Hall in 1944. At the heart of the story is Jenkins’s unlikely partnership with her accompanist Cosmé McMoon, a years-long friendship and musical collaboration.
The play’s title is derived from Florence Foster Jenkins insisting to Cosmé McMoon that she must record Mozart’s “Queen of the Night,” believing it will make a cherished souvenir when her voice declines with age.
“Souvenir” is a two character play, starring mezzo-soprano Alta Boover Dantzler as the eccentric Florence Foster Jenkins and actor, director and choreographer Jacob ben Widmar as Cosmé McMoon.
The gifted Alta Boover Dantzler has starred on the Carnegie Hall stage as a soloist and appeared at Lincoln Center in “Peter and the Wolf.” The Lake Orion native spent six seasons with the Ohio Light Opera, performing in over 400 shows in 50 different operetta productions.
Starring alongside Dantzler is Broadway veteran Jacob ben Widmar, best known for his performances in productions of “The Book of Mormon,” “Xanadu” and “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas.” In addition to his stage work, Widmar utilizes his decades of professional training as an assistant professor of theatre at Oakland University, dedicated to nurturing the next generation of talent.
Distinguished Professor Emerita Karen Sheridan lends her expertise to the production of “Souvenir” as director. Sheridan has directed numerous acclaimed plays and musicals both at OU and regionally, and brings an additional layer of depth and story telling to the play.
To purchase tickets, visit etix.com. Prices are $12 for adults, $9 for seniors and non-OU students, $7 for OU employees and veterans, $10 for eighteen and under, and free for School of Music, Theatre and Dance staff, students and faculty. The show runs for two hours with an intermission.
