The folk opera “Miss Lucy,” which I first wrote about in Feb. 2010 — written by Community High School faculty member Les Epstein, based loosely on the life of Roanoke education pioneer Lucy Addison (click here to read more) — has taken a little while to get off the ground, which sometimes happens with complex creative endeavors. However, Community High School has announced performance dates (Nov. 17-19) and a date for auditions (Oct. 8). Further details below, courtesy of Cara Modisett.

Lucy Addison

Community High School is going to be staging the folk opera “Miss Lucy” this fall, November 17-19 – the story is based on Roanoke history during the days of segregation – specifically, the story of Lucy Addison. CHS premiered “Miss Lucy”‘s first act in 2010 at the Dumas Center.

The music, interestingly enough, has been co-written by producer/bluegrass musician Tom Ohmsen and jazz pianist William Penn. It’ll be directed by CHS theater instructor Les Epstein, who also wrote the libretto, and will be performed at the new high school, which will have a 150-seat theater (including a recently-obtained Yamaha grand piano), downtown, with a small group of bluegrass/classical musicians accompanying.

Open auditions take place Saturday, October 8, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the high school. Needed: principals and a 20-plus-singer chorus, both adult and youth. For more information, contact Les Epstein at les@communityhigh.net.