She sings, she writes, what *can't* she do?

Turns out our "Yeomen" star Alicia Berneche is quite a poet as well. Alicia was a winner of the City of Evanston's recent poetry competition. Original poems by five Evanston residents were installed in concrete on the sidewalk ramp in front of the Evanston Public Library in downtown Evanston.

Alicia played leading lady Elsie in last June's The Yeomen of the Guard, Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance in 2009, as well as Marian in The Music Man and Phyllis in Iolanthe, both in 2008.

Here's Alicia's poem "The Poetic Foot"

Your feet scan these words
And feel the vibration of meaning
through their soles.
Poetry is motion
And the rhythm of bodies
That pound their stories
Into the earth.

You can see the inscription of her words at the Evanston Public Library at Church and Orrington in downtown Evanston

Great Music, Great Stories, Great Shows and a Great Party!

It’s not all work here at Light Opera Works. Sometimes we get to cut a rug and bring our friends together for fun and fundraising. The stars and the checkbooks came out to support 2009 YouthReach and SeniorReach, with 150 people coming together to raise more than $45,000 for these great community engagement programs.

This year’s spring benefit was themed “A Devil-May-Care Affair,” chaired by Diane Blake and Lori Twombly and hosted by Jim and Rosemary Hughes in the beautiful terrace level at the North Shore Country Club in Glenview.

John and Lori Twombly (pictured, far left) also hosted a special V.I.P. reception, where guests at the Premium level met opera great Samuel Ramey and the Hon. Judy Baar Topinka (photo, center) at a private Champagne Reception. Later, following dinner, Light Opera Works presented Ms. Topinka with the Arts Advocacy Award while Mr. Ramey received the Artistic Excellence Award. Also pictured is event co-chair Diane Blake with Tom Blake (far right)

Charming as ever, star of Light Opera Works and Chicago theater James Harms acted as the evening’s Master of Ceremonies, with Artistic director Rudy Hogenmiller hosting a star-studded musical program. Featuring More great Light Opera Works favorites including Larry Adams , Natalie Ford, Jessye Wright, Catherine Lord and Jim Harms, with Linda Slein on piano, performed songs from the upcoming 2009 season. For a finale, they surprised honoree Samuel Ramey by leading the crowd in “Happy Birthday.” You’ll be able to see all of these critically acclaimed and award winning actors in our upcoming season.

I’m so grateful to everyone who came and to our wonderful sponsors. Flowers were provided by Carl Davenport of Davenport Designs and photography by Jennifer Schumann of Horizon Photography. Other sponsors were Abt Electronics, LaserStar Productions and Marcus Productions.

We have lots more events planned for the season, and of course our wonderful shows. Check out our website for details, and subscribe to this blog to get the latest updates and offers!
(photo credits: Jennifer Schumann, © 2009)