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SYPOW
Who We Are --
The Sayville Young People's Opera Workshop
(SYPOW) was organized in the summer of 1996 when voice teacher Donna Hailey said to drama teacher
Steven Hailey, "We need somewhere to introduce opera and operetta to young people." That summer SYPOW, assisted by pianist
extraordinaire Stephen Abrams, produced Gian Carlo Menotti's short opera The Telephone and his one
act opera The Medium featuring area high school students in the SHS Little Theatre. The following
summer open auditions were introduced as we prepared The "Little" Magic Flute, which was an adaptation
of W. A. Mozart's The Magic Flute. In the summer of 1998 we opened auditions to middle school children
as well as we prepared Samuel Barber's short opera A Hand of Bridge and Gilbert and Sullivan's operetta
Trial by Jury which was performed in the Sayville Middle School. Since then we have produced former
Sayville resident Rick Besoyan's operetta Little Mary Sunshine, and Gilbert and Sullivan’s
H.M.S. Pinafore, Mikado and again Trial by Jury also at the Sayville Middle
School. In the summer of 2003 we did four performances at the “Common Ground” gazebo in Sayville’s Rotary
Park of an adapted version of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance and excerpts
from Luc Plamondon and Richard Cocciante’s new dramatic opera Notre Dame de Paris in August
and an encore performance in Sayville High School’s Little Theatre in September. The following summer we did three performances
in the Sayville Middle School and one at the “Common Ground” of Jesus Christ Superstar
and followed the same schedule the summer after with our workshop presentation the Who’s Tommy
(with a full orchestra for the first time!). In the summer of 2006, we returned to classical opera with a full production
of Mozart's The Magic Flute, again with a full orchestra, and in the summer of 2007 we presented
the classic early 20th century operetta The New Moon by Sigmund Romberg and Oscar Hammerstein
II. Last summer we took a two-pronged approach to the workshop featuring an abridged version of Rodgers and Hammerstein's
Carousel followed by a Salute to Stephen Sondheim.
Mrs. Hailey has a degree in vocal performance and has taught voice in both private
and public school although now she teaches only privately out of her studio. She has belonged to various regional choral and
opera societies (including Opera on the Sound, the Long Island Repertory Opera Company,
the Long Island Philharmonic Chorus, the Babylon Chorale, and the New York Choral
Society) and has performed semi-professionally and regionally as well as locally.
Mr. Hailey has been dramatics
director for Sayville High School since 1978 where he directs the drama program and co-directs the spring musical. He also
taught drama in the now defunct Sayville Elementary Summer School and speech, debate, and drama at the Long Island University
Center for Gifted Youth. He has performed and directed semi-professionally and regionally as well as locally.
SYPOW
is a non-profit/zero budget operation and neither of the directors nor the accompanist nor the conductor nor any other member
of the “staff” receives a salary. Production costs, including royalties, are covered by the materials fee and
voluntary donations.
Why We Are --
Young people are talented. These
young people are capable of amazing things when they are given the chance. Being the parents of three boys ourselves, we are
convinced that the more opportunities young people are given to perform, the more often they will amaze those around them,
as well as themselves, with not only the quality of their dedication but also the quality of their talent. That is why we
originated the opera workshop and why with Trial by Jury we began the policy of multiple casting
where we can. We are not looking to create "stars"; we want every deserving youngster to get as big a chance as possible to
experience performing on stage.
What We Expect --
We know it's summer
and we want this to be not only an educational experience but an enjoyable experience, as well. Consequently, we try to keep
our summer workshops as realistic as possible considering that people have families and summer obligations. We hope that everyone
can make all of the full cast rehearsals, but when one cannot we are as understanding as we can possibly be. Communication
is extremely important and our names are in the phone book if something comes up at the last minute that you must miss a rehearsal.
However, by the time we get to full rehearsals, if any company member does not know his or her music and/or lines and/or staging,
there is no way that person can expect to be allowed on the stage.
Also, please note that in order to cover production
expenses, we do ask that each participant pay a nominal production fee (yet to be determined for this year’s workshop).
This fee should be paid at the first rehearsal.
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