The Lee University Opera Theatre, directed by James Frost, will present Giacomo Puccini’s comic opera, “Gianni Schicchi” for this year’s main stage production. 
 
Performances will take place in the Dixon Center Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 26-Feb. 28, at 7:30 p.m. and a matinee on Sunday, March 1, at 3 p.m. 
 
When the wealthy Buoso Donati dies, his relatives discover he has left his fortune to a monastery. Desperate, they turn to Gianni Schicchi, a shrewd outsider, to forge a new will. 
  
The cast includes music, musical theatre, theatre, cinema, and business majors. The goal for the Opera Theatre Ensemble is to create a space where all students have the opportunity to become better communicators both on stage and in daily life.  
 
“Working on ‘Gianni Schicchi’ has been a very challenging but extremely rewarding experience,” said Tanner Jennings, a junior cinema and theatre double major, who portrays Simone in the production. “It has been a pleasure working with this incredibly talented cast as we have received wonderful leadership from our director, Mr. Frost, and invaluable guidance from Dr. ChoEun Lee. We have grown immensely as both an ensemble and as individuals, and I am very excited for everyone to see the fruits of our labor in this production.” 
 
Tickets are $8 per adult, $5 per senior, and all students, children, Lee faculty, and Lee students are free. Tickets are available for purchase at LeeUOperaTheatre.eventbrite.com. Seating is limited to 150 seats per performance. 
  
Founded in spring 1998 by now-retired professor Tony Deaton, Opera Theatre has grown from a workshop into a full production organization. It presents a Musical Revue in the fall, a fully staged opera in February, and an opera scenes program in the spring. 
  
For more information about Lee’s Opera Theatre, contact Frost at [email protected].