musical theatre

Shaun Parry will be presented with a BYU Alumni Achievement Award on Thursday, Oct. 8. Prior to the award reception, Parry will give a lecture entitled “Impossible Dreams I Didn’t Know Enough To Dream.” The lecture will be held in the Madsen Recital Hall at 11 a.m. Admission is free and the lecture is open to the public.

The Brigham Young University BRAVO! Professional Performing Arts series presents Kelli O’Hara, Tony Award—winning Broadway star of “The King and I,” in the de Jong Concert Hall on Friday, Sept. 4, at 7:30 p.m.Tickets are $25-55, with discounts available for alumni, seniors and students.

PHOTO: BYU Young Ambassadors perform at the Covey Center on Provo Center Street. by Cassidee Hobbs The triple threat of singing, dancing and acting may not be enough anymore, as more and more musicals require the fourth skill of playing a musical instrument as well.

Three leading female soloists across three different fields of music – Renee Fleming, Kelli O’Hara and Nnenna Freelon – will headline the BYU Bravo! 2015-16 Performing Arts series.

Frank Wildhorn, a famous American composer known for both his musicals and popular songs, visited BYU in October 2013. Wildhorn taught a master class to MDT students where they rehearsed some of his critically acclaimed Broadway songs and received his in-the-moment coaching.

The BRAVO! series’ upcoming season will feature a Tony Award-nominated actress, a world-renowned English a capella group, two dancing jugglers from France, and the Royal Ballet of Cambodia. These world-class artists will sing, dance, perform and instruct students and attendees.

Will perform “The Sound of Music” and “Hansel and Gretel”Austria’s historic Salzburg Marionette Theatre will bring its 100th Anniversary Tour to Brigham Young University to present “The Sound of Music” Friday, Nov. 1, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 2 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall.

Multi-Grammy and Tony Award-nominated composer and producer Frank Wildhorn will present “Frank Wildhorn and Friends” at Brigham Young University Thursday, Oct. 3, at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. Tickets start at $20 ($10 off with a student ID, $3 off for senior citizens and BYU alumni) and can be purchased at the Fine Arts Ticket Office, (801) 422-2981, or at byuarts.com/tickets. “Frank Wildhorn and Friends” will take the audience on a concert journey through Wildhorn’s celebrated catalog of music paying homage to his greatest songs in a personal and thrilling way. The group features Wildhorn, piano, a three-piece band and the vocal talents of Broadway’s Jackie Burns (“Wicked”), Darren Ritchie (“Wonderland” and “Little Shop of Horrors”) and Adrienne Warren (“Bring It On” and “Dreamgirls”). In 1999, Wildhorn became the first American composer in 22 years to have three shows running simultaneously on Broadway, including “The Scarlet Pimpernel,” “Jekyll & Hyde” and “The Civil War.” His other Broadway work includes “Wonderland” and “Bonnie & Clyde.” Outside of Broadway, other artists to record and perform his work include Whitney Houston, Natalie Cole, Kenny Rogers, Sammy Davis Jr. and Hootie & the Blowfish. Wildhorn wrote Whitney Houston’s No. 1 international hit “Where Do Broken Hearts Go?” and “Gold,” for the opening ceremony of the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games. This concert is a part of BYU’s new performing arts series, “BRAVO!” — a new season that features a dynamic roster of celebrated guest artists. For more information, visit www.frankwildhorn.com, contact Jeff Martin, (801) 422-6340 or visit byuarts.com. Source: BYU News

Five-time Tony Award-winning actress and singer Audra McDonald will bring her acclaimed concert to Brigham Young University for the first time Thursday and Friday, Sept. 5 and 6, at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. Tickets start at $40 ($10 off with a student ID, $3 off for senior citizens and BYU alumni) and can be purchased at the Fine Arts Ticket Office, (801) 422-4322, or at byuarts.com/tickets. The performance will be 70 to 90 minutes long with no intermission. She will be accompanied in the performance by music director Andy Einhorn, bassist Mark Vanderpoel and drummer Gene Lewin. McDonald is unparalleled in the breadth and versatility of her artistry as both a singer and an actress. Blessed with a luminous soprano and an incomparable gift for dramatic truth-telling, she is equally at home on Broadway and opera stages as she is on film and television. With a record-tying five Tony Awards, two Grammy Awards and a long list of other accolades to her name, she is among today’s most highly regarded performers. New York Timesonce praised her for her “devastating theatrical impact, it’s hard to imagine any hurricane matching the tempest that is the extraordinary Audra McDonald.” Most recently the star of the Broadway revival of The Gershwins’ “Porgy and Bess” in New York and featured on the ABC television series “Private Practice,” McDonald’s resume of acclaimed Broadway performances also includes “Carousel,” “Master Class,” “Ragtime,” “A Raisin in the Sun,” “The Secret Garden” and “110 in the Shade.” In addition to her theatrical work, she maintains a major career as a concert and recording artist, regularly appearing on great stages throughout the world, including an appearance as the featured guest soloist with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square in December 2004. This concert is the first event of the BYU’s new performing arts series, “BRAVO!” — a new season that features a dynamic roster of celebrated guest artists. For more information, contact Jeff Martin, (801) 422-6340 or visitbyuarts.com. Return to BYU News page.

The 2013-2014 Brigham Young University Performing Arts Series launches a new season with a new name – BRAVO! – featuring a dynamic roster of celebrated guest artists, as well as a new contemporary theatre initiative – OFF THE MAP – showcasing an eclectic mix of work from across the globe. From the theatre scene in Iran to the music of New York City’s famed Carnegie Hall, the 2013-14 season welcomes to campus one of the most exciting groups of dancers, theatre performers and musicians in BYU history. Most performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. Individual tickets will be available at the Fine Arts Ticket Office, (801) 422-4322 or at byuarts.com/tickets. Season ticket packages will be available for purchase beginning Tuesday, May 28; new subscribers may also submit order forms at this time. Ticket orders will be filled beginning May 28 in the order they are received. The BRAVO! schedule: Fall 2013 Audra McDonald, renowned singer and actress with unparalleled breadth and versatility, will start off the season Thursday and Friday, Sept. 5-6, in the de Jong Concert Hall. Winner of five Tony Awards and two Grammy Awards, she is one of today’s most highly regarded performers. Blessed with a luminous soprano and an incomparable gift for dramatic truth-telling, she is equally at home on Broadway and opera stages as on film and television. Single ticket sales begin July 25. Hexnut, a modern band of five soloists, comes to BYU to present “Wrench — A Choreography Between Music and Image” Wednesday, Sept. 25, in the de Jong Concert Hall. Hexnut mixes the styles, sounds and playing techniques of contemporary classical, jazz, metal, improvisation and cartoon music. “Wrench” will blend a program of new music and the images of award-winning photographer Edward Burtynsky into a performance of integrated sound and projected image. The compositions by Jan-Bas Bollen, David Dramm, Anthony Fiumara, Ned McGowan, Mayke Nas, Seung-Ah Oh, Felipe Waller and BYU music professor Steve Ricks combine into a single set without pause. Admission is free. Also “Edward Burtynsky: The Industrial Sublime,” an exhibition of the artist’s work, will be on display at the BYU Museum of Art through Nov. 16, 2013. Admission is free. Frank Wildhorn, pop music songwriter and Broadway composer (“The Scarlet Pimpernel,” “Jekyll & Hyde,” “The Civil War,” “Wonderland” and “Bonnie & Clyde”), will take the audience on a concert journey through his celebrated catalog of music Thursday, Oct. 3, in the de Jong Concert Hall. A trio of Broadway and recording artists with Wildhorn at the piano, “Frank Wildhorn and Friends” will celebrate the man’s greatest songs in a personal and thrilling way. This multi-Grammy and Tony Award-nominated composer and producer's work spans popular, theatrical and classical music. Artists who have recorded and performed Wildhorn’s music include Whitney Houston (the international hit'Where Do Broken Hearts Go?'), Natalie Cole, Kenny Rogers, Sammy Davis Jr., Liza Minnelli, Julie Andrews, Freddie Jackson and more. Single ticket sales begin Aug. 26. The Zagreb Saxophone Quartet from Croatia will perform Wednesday, Oct. 30 in the Madsen Recital Hall. With a repertoire ranging from Bach to Gershwin and Mozart to Bernstein, Croatia’s esteemed classical woodwind ensemble has become a premier interpreter of new and established works for saxophone. The Zagreb Saxophone Quartet is renowned for their exceptional musicality, interpretative focus and technical supremacy and has performed in more than 20 countries since the quartet’s formation in 1989. After a five-year absence, the group returns to BYU with special guest and master saxophonist Eugene Rousseau. Single ticket sales begin Sept. 30. Austria’s Salzburg Marionette Theatre will present “The Sound of Music” Friday and Saturday, Nov. 1-2 and “Hansel and Gretel” Saturday, Nov. 2, in the de Jong Concert Hall. To experience the Salzburg Marionettes is to witness the beauty and magic of a group rarely seen outside of Europe. For 100 years the company has performed dramatic presentations utilizing the remarkable life-like movements of its elaborate costumed, two-foot tall, string-manipulated puppets on lavish backdrops set to beautiful recorded music. Featuring a skilled ensemble of behind-the-scenes professional puppeteers, the performance presents the charm and wonder of a long-standing European tradition in a fresh, exciting way. Single ticket sales begin Sept. 30. Joshua Bell, whom the Boston Herald praised as “the greatest American violinist active today,” will perform Thursday, Nov. 14, in the de Jong Concert Hall. Often referred to as the “poet of the violin,” Bell is one of the world’s most celebrated violinists. His restless curiosity, passion, universal appeal and multi-faceted musical interests have earned him the rare title of “classical music superstar.” Bell has played recitals in the most esteemed venues across the globe, including his Carnegie Hall debut at the age of 17. He can be heard on numerous recordings, including his latest release “French Impressions” and film scores, including the 2009 film “Angels and Demons”. In 2007, Bell performed incognito in a Washington, D.C. subway station for a Washington Post story by Gene Weingarten examining art and context. The story earned Weingarten a Pulitzer Prize and sparked an international discussion about perception and priorities. Single ticket sales begin Oct. 14. Winter 2014 The Utah Symphony returns to BYU with a program of classical masterworks featuring guest conductor Matthias Pintscher and pianist Inon Barnatan Thursday, Jan. 9, in the de Jong Concert Hall. The symphony will play Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4, Dvorak’s Symphony No. 8, and Matthias Pintscher’s “Towards Osiris.” Single ticket sales begin Dec. 9. China’s Golden Dragon Acrobats visits BYU with “Cirque ZÁva,” a technically innovative show featuring a large athletic cast and spectacular scenic and lighting elements, Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 6-8, in the de Jong Concert Hall. With superb artistic merit, high production values and a solid commitment to cultural exchange, “Cirque ZÁva” demonstrates why the Golden Dragon Acrobats have been recognized as the preeminent Chinese acrobatic company touring the United States. Filled with contemporary music, impressive acrobatics, theatrical enhancements and Chinese traditional dance, “Cirque ZÁva” promises to thrill the young and the young at heart. Single ticket sales begin Dec. 9. John Lithgow, world-renowned actor, presents “Stories by Heart,” featuring works by P.G. Wodehouse and Ring Lardner Friday, Feb. 28, in the de Jong Concert Hall. Following his triumphant appearances at New York’s Lincoln Center and London’s National Theatre, the Tony, Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning actor offers a touching and humorous reflection on storytelling as the tie that binds humanity. Invoking memories of his grandmother and father before him, Lithgow traces his roots as an actor and storyteller, interspersing his own story with two tales that were read aloud to him and his siblings when they were children — 'Uncle Fred Flits By' by P.G. Wodehouse and 'Haircut' by Ring Lardner. In the first, a fretful young Englishman is taken on a wild afternoon escapade in suburban London by his irrepressible uncle. In a hilarious tour de force, Lithgow performs with zany abandon, portraying ten distinct, outrageous characters (including a parrot). By contrast, 'Haircut' is a darkly comic look at Midwestern American implacability. Single ticket sales begin Dec. 9. The Diavolo Dance Theater will perform Wednesday, March 19, in the de Jong Concert Hall. Internationally renowned for the unique way in which it reinvents dance, reimagines theatre and redefines thrills, Diavolo Dance Theater takes movement, athletics and daring to the extreme, creating abstract narratives about the human experience through surreal tableaux. The company has an extensive performance history in its home city of Los Angeles, as well as throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia and Latin America. In more than 14 seasons of touring, Diavolo has performed for hundreds of thousands of concertgoers worldwide, as well as millions more on television. For its BYU debut, the company will present two of its most celebrated and exciting pieces, “Transit Space” and “Trajectoire.” Single ticket sales begin Feb. 18. The OFF THE MAP BYU International Theatre Festival schedule: Winter 2014 Iran’s Leev Theater Group will present “Hamlet, Prince of Grief” Thursday through Saturday, Jan. 23-25, in the Margetts Theatre. Household objects and children’s toys are used to play out a domestic and political history of betrayal and death as Shakespeare’s tragic hero comes to terms with his violent fate through an obsessive retelling of the moments preceding the tragedy. “Hamlet, Prince of Grief” was first presented in Iran by Leev Theater Group, featuring acclaimed Iranian actor Afshin Hashemi. It was chosen as Iran’s Best Theater Group by the Critics and Writers Association of Iran’s Theater House and was named Tehran’s Best Theater Group by the Dramatic Arts Center. Single ticket sales begin Dec. 9. The Theatre Ad Infinitum will perform “Translunar Paradise” Thursday through Saturday, Jan. 23-25, in the Pardoe Theatre. “Translunar Paradise” takes audiences on a journey of life, death and enduring love. After his wife, Rose, passes away, William escapes to a paradise of fantasy and memories, a place far from the reality of his grief. Returning from beyond the grave, Rose revisits her widowed companion to perform one last act of love: to help him let go. With live accordion accompaniment, this exquisite piece of mask and movement theatre was a multi-award winning, critically acclaimed sellout at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2011. Theatre Ad Infinitum is an award-winning international ensemble based in London, developing new and original theatre for a multi-cultural audience. Single ticket sales begin Dec. 9. Australia’s Perth Theatre Company will present “Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer” Thursday through Saturday, Jan. 23-25, in the Nelke Theatre. This multi-award-winning one-man micro-epic puppet show melds technology and multimedia into a touching story of enduring love and the end of the world. Creator and performer, Tim Watts employs a unique blend of mime, puppetry, live and recorded music, and live animation to present an exploration of the oldest and next frontier: the deep blue sea. The seas have risen, billions of people have died and those who are left live on farms on mountaintop skyscrapers. The scientists have tried everything. Floating islands sank, space probes found nothing, and the giant sponges, visible from the moon, are now rotting icons of failure. Now science and humanity are turning to the oceans. A last ditch effort to save the human race requires journeying down through the mysterious depths of the deep blue sea to find a new place to live. These are the dire circumstances that surround the tale’s central hero, Alvin Sputnik. Having just lost his wife, Alvin accepts this perilous mission to follow her soul down to the underworld to be with her once more. Single ticket sales begin Dec. 9. For more information, contact Jeff Martin, (801) 422-6340 or visit byuarts.com. Source: BYU News

The Deseret News featured an article today about the upcoming performance, “Mandy Patinkin: Dress Casual, with Paul Ford on Piano.” The show will take place at the HFAC in the de Jong Concert Hall on August 31 at 7:30 p.m. and on September 1 at 2:00 p.m. View the full article here.

by Angela Fischer Brigham Young University’s Young Ambassadors will perform a variety of Broadway songs in “Circle of Life” Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 16-18, at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. A matinee performance will take place Saturday, Feb. 18, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $8 for students and faculty. To purchase tickets, call the Fine Arts Ticket Office at (801) 422-4322 or visit performances.byu.edu. “Circle of Life” is a musical review celebrating selections from musical theatre of the 20th and 21st centuries. Show numbers include favorites such as “Lida Rose” from “The Music Man” and “All I Ask of You” from “Phantom of the Opera.” The show will also feature a medley from “Fiddler on the Roof” and numbers from “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,” “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” “Mary Poppins” and “Mamma Mia.” “With complex choreography representing a wide variety of dance styles and charismatic rhythms, our program has kept people in the audience tapping their shoes for generations,” said director Randy Boothe. “The Broadway tunes selected also celebrate friends, family, love and laughter amid the challenges of today’s world.” “Circle of Life” involves a four-member band and a cast of 30 singers and dancers. The group is also supported by 10 student technicians who provide backstage support and control lighting and sound. The Young Ambassadors will perform “Circle of Life” on tour in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Illinois this summer. Last year, they performed and toured in China and South Korea. For more information, contact Randy Boothe at (801) 422-2564. Source: BYU News

BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY Fine Arts and Entertainment Calendar January 2004 All month: 'On the Road with C.C.A. Christensen: The Moving Panorama' at the BYU Museum of Art. Carl Christian Anton (C.C.A.) Christensen, a Danish immigrant who worked and lived in Utah, was one of several Utah artists to use this popular art form. Christensen produced four panoramas, two of which are being exhibited in the Museum of Art. The exhibition presents two large moving panoramas. Accompanying the exhibition is a re-enactment of the 19th-century performance given by Christensen when he traveled his panorama to localities throughout Utah and Idaho. The 40-minute panorama performance will be presented every Monday evening at 7:30 p.m. and every Thursday evening at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. in the gallery. The exhibit is free and the public is welcome to attend. '150 Years of American Painting' at the BYU Museum of Art is a permanent installation of paintings by renowned artists such as Frederic Edwin Church, Maynard Dixon, John Singer Sargent, and many local Utah favorites such as Mahonri Young. Admission is free. 'Outside Inside: Fragments of Place' continues on display at the BYU Museum of Art. This ambiguous exhibition title refers to a project in which seven Australian artists were commissioned to examine the extended community that has gathered along the Wasatch Front. These artists were selected for their ability to sensitively analyze cultures, social behaviors, geographic spaces and historical foundations, and manifest their research in thought-provoking ways. 'Outside Inside' is on display through April 27, 2004. Admission is free and the public is welcome to attend. 'Contemporary Spaces, Underlying Culture' remains on display at the BYU Museum of Art. The exhibition brings together five artists who use photography as a means of exploring ideas related to a sense of place, cultural identity, human interaction and the nature of artistic expression in contemporary life. 'Contemporary Spaces' is on display through Saturday, Feb. 21, 2004. Admission is free and the public is welcome to attend. Thursday, Jan. 8 The Utah Symphony Orchestra will perform in concert at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. The performance will feature Britten's 'Sinfonia a Requiem,' Vaughn Williams' Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis; and Dvorak's Concerto for orchestra and cello in B Minor, op. 104. The concert will be conducted by Keith Lockhart and will feature Shauna Rolston, cello. Tickets at $20 and $4 off with BYU or student ID are available at the Fine Arts Ticket Office, (801) 378-4322 or at www.byu.edu/hafc. Wednesday, Jan. 14 through Friday, Jan. 16 BYU's Living Legends, a celebration of Native American, Polynesian and Latin American music and dance will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. Tickets at $10 and $2 off with BYU or student ID are available at the Fine Arts Ticket Office, (801) 378-4322 or at www.byu.edu/hafc. Saturday, Jan. 17 The Intercollegiate Band, the finest musicians from Utah's colleges and universities, will perform under the direction of guest conductor Jerry Junkin from the University of Texas at Austin beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. The performance is free and the public is welcome to attend. Saturday, Jan. 17 The Amadeus Trio, one of the most dynamic chamber music groups performing today, including Timothy Baker, violin, Jeffrey Solow, cello, and Marian Hahn, piano, will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. A free master class will be offered Saturday, Jan. 17 at 10 a.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. Tickets for the concert at $9 with $3 off with BYU or student ID are available at the Fine Arts Ticket Office, (801) 378-4322 or at www.byu.edu/hafc. To learn more about the Amadeus Trio visit www.amadeustrio.com. Tuesday, Jan. 20 Dallas Brass, directed by Michael Levine, is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a performance tour that includes BYU. Dallas Brass is recognized as one of America's foremost musical ensembles. A unique blend of traditional brass instruments with a full complement of drums and percussion creates a performing entity of extraordinary range and musical challenges that the entire family will enjoy. Featuring Jason Ayoub, horn; Brian Neal, trumpet; Jose Sibaja, trumpet; Michael Levine, trombone; Deanna Swoboda, tuba; and Daniel Hostetler, percussion. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m., in the de Jong Concert Hall. Tickets at $9 and $3 off with BYU or student ID are available at the Fine Arts Ticket Office, (801) 378-4322 or at www.byu.edu/hafc. To learn more about the Dallas Brass visit www.dallasbrass.com. Wednesday, Jan. 21 through Saturday, Feb. 7 Smokey Joe's Cafe: The Songs of Leiber and Stoller, directed and choreographed by Pat Debenham, with music direction by Randy Boothe will be presented at the Pardoe Theatre. You'll have reason to celebrate the heyday of rock 'n' roll when you are at Smokey Joe's Café, where the American pop that defined an era is transposed into exciting musical theatre. When you hear 40 favorites like 'Hound Dog,' 'Love Potion No. 9,' 'Jailhouse Rock,' 'Stand by Me' and 'Yakety Yak.' You won't just be strollin' down memory lane, you'll be dancin' in the aisles. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Previews are Wednesday, Jan. 21, and Thursday, Jan. 22. A matinee performance will be given Saturday, Jan. 31 at 2 p.m. There will be no performances Sundays or Mondays. Tickets are $14 and $4 off with BYU or student ID. Tickets for previews and matinee performances are $5. Tickets are available at the Fine Arts Ticket Office, (801) 378-4322 or at www.byu.edu/hafc. Wednesday, Jan. 28 The Q'd Up Faculty Jazz Quintet, features Ray Smith, reeds; Ron Brough, percussion; Steve Lindeman, keyboards; Jay Lawrence, vibes; and Matt Larson, bass. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. The performance is free and the public is welcome to attend. Thursday, Jan. 29 through Saturday, Jan. 31 The Dancer's Company will appear in concert, with artistic direction by Rebecca Wright Phillips. 'Song of Deliverance,' dedicated to LDS pioneer heritage, is a tribute to the past, along with a beautiful piece by Bill Evans, 'For Betty,' to music by Antonio Vivaldi. 'April,' choreographed by guest artist Nana Shineflug of the Chicago Moving Company, is structurally based on the bell curve. 'Wheelenese Waltz,' a Viennese waltz like you've never seen before, is sure to bring a laugh, and the dancers' own choreographic premiere will bring us up to date as dancers use stunt stilts to leap, jump, and flip into the 21st century. Performances are in the de Jong Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee performance Saturday, Jan. 31 at 2 p.m. All tickets at $5 are available at the Fine Arts Ticket Office, (801) 378-4322 or at www.byu.edu/hfac. Thursday, Jan. 29 The Special Collections Motion Picture Archives Film Series presents 'Angels with Dirty Faces' at 7 p.m. in the Harold B. Lee Library auditorium. The mannerisms that made James Cagney famous (and earned him an Academy Award nomination) were established in this exciting crime drama that features the Dead End Kids, later known as the Bowery Boys. The final scene is a movie milestone. Directed by Michael Curtiz with movement and flair, it co-stars Pat O'Brian, Humphrey Bogart and Ann Sheridan. Admission is free. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Early arrival is recommended as seating is limited. Children ages 8 and over are welcome. Saturday, Jan. 31 The American Piano Duo featuring Jeffrey Shumway and Del Parkinson will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. The performance is free and the public is welcome to attend. Source: BYU News

This musical homage to Julia Child promises a showcase of vocal and culinary talent The BYU School of Music has a delicious surprise in store for audiences this June: the performance of operas “A Dinner Engagement,” a lighthearted romantic comedy about two strangers who bond over their love of food, and “Bon Appétit,” a piece based on a real episode of Julia Child’s cooking show.