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Seth Colaner conducts in 2003.
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SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — An accidental shooting leaves one man dead and puts several people on an emotional roller coaster of fear, imprisonment, love, loss and redemption in The Path of a Bullet, an original opera written by Wittenberg University student Seth Colaner of Xenia, Ohio, class of 2005.
Colaner’s production includes 31 new songs he wrote that explore the 10-year aftermath of the tragedy. Crystal Polk of Springfield, Ohio, class of 2005, is directing the production, which is scheduled for 8 p.m. Saturday, March 19, and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 20, in Blair Hall Theatre on campus.
The story begins in the Powder Keg, a rock ‘n’ roll club, and two of the characters are rock musicians.
“I wanted to bring together elements of popular music and serious art music,” Colaner said. “In addition to the predictable strings and percussion, I used electric guitar, bass guitar and a drum set in the score, and the music, plot and characters are deeply integrated, with some of the musicians actually appearing onstage as characters while playing their instruments.”
Following the stories through vignettes rather than lengthy scenes allowed Colaner to cover the broad time-span in three-acts contained within about an hour of music. The music major worked on the text for the story under the guidance of Professor of Theatre and Dance Steve Reynolds during the summer of 2004.
Colaner has written music for piano, cello, guitar, theremin and piano, unaccompanied voices, string quartet, brass quintet, brass choir, percussion ensemble, orchestra and a variety of mixed ensembles. His music has been performed in the United States and Poland.
Singers include Tyler MacDonald of Dublin, Ohio, class of 2008, as Jack; Max Stein of Mamaroneck, N.Y., class of 2006, as a detective, record executive and TV newscaster; Becka Jenzen of Grosse Pointe, Mich., class of 2006, as Delia; Todd Collinsworth of West Jefferson, Ohio, class of 2006, as a judge and pastor; Jennifer Gordon of Yellow Springs, Ohio, class of 2007, as Samantha; Suzanne Guy of Winnetka, Ill., class of 2008, as Carol; Daniel Portice of Baldwin, N.Y., class of 2007, as Frank; and Jon Wise of Brecksville, Ohio, class of 2005, as Simon.
Admission is free, and the public is invited. Tickets may be picked up one hour before each performance in the Blair Hall Theatre lobby.
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