In its second season, Blue Lake’s Opera Department continued to receive complimentary reviews from members of the Michigan press. This year’s production of Giacomo Puccini’s one-act comic masterpiece, Gianni Schicchi, directed by Kenneth Beachler and conducted by Dr. James Niblock, was the subject of an extended article in the Lansing State Journal in advance of the production’s premiere. Fran Schattenberg, the reviewer for the White Lake Beacon (Muskegon County, Michigan), attended the Opening Night performance on July 29, 2007. In her review, published in the July 8 edition of the newspaper, Schattenberg called Blue Lake’s production “powerful, prodigious, and professional” and a “must-see.” In addition, Ms. Schattenberg stated that “Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp’s Opera Department has begun an impressive history of professionalism, ability, and a sure touch and sense of opera theatre.”

The following are excerpts from Ms. Schattenberg’s review:

“There has been no growing up period for opera at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp; it is already there.”

“One could run out of positive adjectives for this extraordinarily coordinated and staged production. Director Ken Beachler’s finger prints were everywhere: movements from fluid to static to fit the plot, perfectly timed exaggerated actions that were classic caricatures. . . .”

“Seven-year-old boy soprano, Josh Berndt [the son of Blue Lake’s Business Manager, David Berndt], already has mastered some scene stealing gestures and wonderful wiser-than-his-years expressions that give an added comic spark.”

“The set construction crew transformed wood, cement block, and harsh lighting into a late medieval room that enclosed the singers and plot into an operatic world that welcomed the audience with glowing colors and fabrics.”

“Helping the hapless in trying to decipher the convoluted story synopsis were Stage Manager and Technical Director, Becky Taylor’s and Kim Ferguson’s very legible supertitle designs, thereby enabling the audience to coordinate the complexity of plot, action, and music.”

“. . .[T]enor Lonel Woods [was Rinuccio,] the frustrated lover of Lauretta, Schicci’s daughter[. . . .] His aria on the beauties of Florentine nature was a rich flow of notes that carried the listener to understanding.”

“Returning for a second year, soprano Susan Ruggiero-Mezzadri still can project an astounding vocal range out of a tiny body. Her rendition of the famous aria, “O mio babbino caro,” was a masterpiece of vocal ability, acting, and creating a character in a relatively short time.”

“[Baritone William Bokhout as the devious Gianni Schicchi] maintained the necessary balance between humor, comic action, and integration with the cast.”

Former Blue Lake staff member starts Yahoo! Group for other staff alums.

Greg Webber of Knoxville, Tennessee (Counselor, Lifeguard, Staff Chorus 1987-1988; Counselor, Bus Driver, Staff Chorus 1992), has begun a Yahoo! Group for his fellow Blue Lake Staff Alumni. Greg says that the group will "allow us all to reconnect on our own terms, on our own time." Clicking on the link below will take you directly to the group, which is in the "Groups - Fine Arts - Education" subcategory. Greg is the moderator of the group, which is not an "official" part of Blue Lake's website or Alumni Association.

If you're a Blue Lake Staff Alum, this will be a great way to reconnect with some of your friends from your days as a counselor, program staff member, or any of the other camp staff areas. Enjoy!

Click here to go to the Yahoo! Staff Alum group page.

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