Trock 'N Roll

4/28
Aria Hungry?
Opera in bite-sized portions
Learning to appreciate opera is a lot like learning to eat sushi. Start with small bites of stuff you recognize, go easy on the wasabi and more than a mouthful is wasted anyway. Student singers of the Meadows Opera Theatre are serving up tantalizing arias, soulful snippets of big, long, tedious operas, during Scenes of Love, Hate and Fantasy on campus at Southern Methodist University. They've chosen recognizable tunes--Bizet's Carmen, Verdi's Rigoletto--and thrown in some tough stuff--Massenet's Werther, Britten's Turn of the Screw and Midsummer Night's Dream. The program features duets, trios and ensembles with the university's School of the Arts performers singing in English, French, Italian and ancient Egyptian. Under the direction of Marciem Bazell, this performance highlights each student's vocal training as well as his or her acting, stagecraft, language, movement and even stage combat techniques, which are not unlike wrestling sushi with chopsticks. Two free concerts begin at 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at SMU's Greer Garson Theatre, 6101 Bishop Blvd. Call 214-768-1951. --Annabelle Massey Helber

4/25
Catch Her If You Can
Quad C Theatre has a reputation for churning out quality stage shows that make audiences forget they're watching a community college production. The program attracts young actors from all across North Texas and out of state. Last year's A Clockwork Orange drew critical kudos, and the stalker drama Boy Gets Girl by Rebecca Gilman is equally promising. Theresa (Sarah Saunders) takes a chance on Tony (James Dougherty) and quickly decides that he's not the one for her. But Tony has other plans in mind for poor Theresa who must learn to protect herself before becoming another statistic. It opens Friday at 8 p.m. and runs through May 4. Black Box Theatre, 2800 E. Spring Creek Parkway, Plano. Tickets are $8 and $6 for students. Call 972-881-5100. --Jay Webb

4/24
WWGCTD?
Answer: Godspell!
Here it is: your moment of Zen. Barely a week after Easter, Garland Civic Theatre's got Jesus up onstage, alongside John the Baptist, head intact, with Judas "Spare Change" Iscariot lurking nearby. Yep, it's Godspell, the retro, 1970s, hippified musical based on the stories in the biblical book of Matthew. GCT director Andy Long stays true to the show's original concept, Paula Morelan choreographs and George Gagliardi provides music direction. David Lugo plays Jesus with Stephen Bates playing both John and Judas. The rollicking ensemble cast includes Suzanne Bonifert, Kathy French, Josh Hepola, Quincy Jones, Noelle Mason, Delynda Moravec, Fred Patchen and Raegan Payne. Godspell runs April 24 through April 26, May 1 through May 3, May 8 through May 10 with 8 p.m. curtain at the Granville Arts Center, 300 N. Fifth St., Garland. Matinees are 2 p.m. May 3, May 4, May 10 and May 11. Tickets are $14.50 to $18.50 by calling 972-205-2790. Or, for info, call 972-485-8884. --Annabelle Massey Helber