The Tender Land
Music by Aaron Copland
Libretto by Horace Everett (Erik Johns)
after Let Us Now Praise Famous Men
by James Agee and Walker Evans
SETTING: A Farm in the American Midwest
TIME: 1930s
SYNOPSIS: The Moss family prepares a party for their eldest daughter, Laurie, the first high school graduate in the family. Rumors of violence by outsiders, however, upset Ma Moss, and make her fear for the safety of her young daughters. When Grandpa hires two drifters, Martin and Top, Ma regards them with great suspicion, especially when she notices the obvious attraction between Laurie and Martin. Laurie and Martin slip away from the crowd at the party, but Grandpa soon discovers them, forcing a confrontation between the drifters and the tight-knit farming community. Grandpa orders Top and Martin to leave the farm at daybreak. After the party disperses and the family is in bed, Laurie and Martin meet once more and plan their elopement at dawn.
CAST (in order of appearance)
† Friday performance
‡ Saturday performance
§ Member of the Kentucky Opera Chorus
* Guest of the University Opera Theatre
Beth Moss - Sarah Elizabeth Patrick
Ma Moss - Mary Beth Harris †, Korin Kormick ‡
Mr. Splinters - Corey Logsdon
Laurie Moss - Jennifer N. Poff †, Jessica D. Towse ‡
Martin - Sean Miller *
Top - Jason Mallory
Grandpa Moss - Ben Powell
Mrs. Jenks - Rebecca von Kamp
Mr. Jenks - Austin Echols
Mrs. Splinters - Rachel Clark
and featuring "George" as Daniel
Party Guests
§ Member of the Kentucky Opera Chorus
* Guest of the University Opera Theatre
Christopher Baker §
Carrie Page
Mozelle Sherman §
Richard Blanton §
Jesse Patrick *
Annette Skaggs §
David Bradley §
Rachel Patrick *
Connor Smith *
Kevin Kouba *
Paula Rada
Thomas Tucker §
Liam Lloydsmith *
Rick Robbins §
W. S. Walston §
Rick Lovett §
Louis Sherman §
Dane Waters §
Beth Olliges §
UNIVERSITY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Kimcherie Lloyd, Director
Young-il Kwon, Assistant Conductor
Cary Cobb, Assistant Conductor
Kevin Byrne, Orchestra Librarian
Kristin Roehrig, Manager
PRODUCTION STAFF
Music Director - Kimcherie Lloyd
Stage Director - Michael Ramach
Costume Design - Suzanne Stone, Hilda Carr
Set Design and Construction - Paul Wilson
Lighting Design - Brett Landow
Makeup - Shawna Foster
Prop Mistress - Alice Baldwin
Assistant Conductor/ Chorus Master - Cary Cobb
Stage Manager - Steve Miller
Light Board Operator - Cecil Belle
Rehearsal Accompanist - Cary Cobb
