Dear Arts Patrons,

Welcome to this 2023–24 performing arts season production. The quality programming you are about to enjoy, and in which the university community takes so much pride, would be impossible without our friends, benefactors, and audience members. We are very pleased to have you join us.

This season is an expanded and eclectic mix of music, drama, music theatre, and stand-up comedy performed by outstanding artists ranging from nationally known acts to Viterbo students. The carefully crafted schedule reflects our dedication to upholding the legacy of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration and their goal of sharing the wonder of the arts with everyone in the region.

To all Viterbo arts patrons, benefactors, sponsors, volunteers, artists, and students, thank you very much for your continued support.

“Pace e Bene”
Peace and all good

Rick Trietley
Viterbo University President

Welcome to the Viterbo University Conservatory for the Performing Arts. We’re so glad you’ve joined in this shared experience of live theatre and music. There’s nothing else quite like it.

This season promises a tapestry of emotions, stories, and melodies, from the enchanting glamour of 42nd Street to the quirky brilliance of Bat Boy: The Musical, and the soul-stirring magic of Godspell.

We’re pleased to bring you new works from some of the most current voices in American theatre. In She Kills Monsters, Obie-award-winner Qui Nguyen offers up a genre-bending “Dungeons and Dragons” romp that can make you laugh even when you’re not supposed to. Tar Beach by Tammy Ryan drops us into 1977 on a New York City rooftop where an overstressed electrical grid leads to a city-wide blackout and the loss of innocence.

Feel the warmth of the holidays with the music of A Viterbo Christmas: The Holly and The Ivy, blending timeless carols and modern classics to launch the season. And in February, mark your calendars for the jazz-inspired romantic short opera, Later That Same Evening.

Thank you for joining us on this artistic journey as we explore new worlds, challenge perspectives, and create memories that last long after the final curtain.

Rick Walters

Executive Artistic Director
Conservatory for the Performing Arts

We are delighted to gather with you in the spirit of togetherness and musical celebration for another treasured Viterbo Christmas. This year, we mark the 800th anniversary of the creche, or nativity scene, a symbol that holds special significance for the Franciscan Sisters and the campus community. Let’s fill the hall with the sounds of nativity celebration and the warmth of community.

The music we have selected for this year's program strives to paint the picture of Christ’s nativity through sound. You will hear the angels’ proclamations in the Messiah, and a delicate manger lullaby in Benjamin Britten’s Balulalow. Today’s centerpiece hymn, The Holly And the Ivy, explores Christ’s birth through symbolism, where the holly serves as the traditional symbol of Jesus and the ivy represents His mother, the Virgin Mary. The orchestra’s opening rendition utilizes the traditional British tune, while the Stephen Paulus setting sets the words anew, with a rich tapestry of rhythmic and harmonic variety.

We are pleased to continue the now annual tradition of including Viterbo Choral Arts in the Viterbo Christmas celebration. Viterbo’s newest choral ensemble consists of both students and members of the community. And to complement having more singers, this year’s orchestra features an additional cohort of string players. The full force of this year’s Christmas choir and orchestra is sure to fill the hall!

We are so glad you have joined us for this special celebration of Christmas. The music, the nativity scene, and the company of friends and family will create a truly moving experience.

Sincerely,
James Wilson