Elmer Gantry: A New American Opera

I have been fortunate to have been part of many new works and believe that in America, we are blessed with opera as a thriving art form. While it is always exciting and challenging to take on a piece that has never been performed, it's rare that actors get to do a piece that is so fully realized and masterfully written.

Maestro William Boggs conducting the sitzprobe.

My role in Elmer Gantry is that of Frank Shallard. For those who are familiar with the novel, Frank is a combination of the characters Jim Lefferts and Frank Shallard. Jim was Elmer's early friend and partner in crime. Frank was a roommate with Elmer at school when he was getting his degree in the baptist ministry. They appeared at different times in Elmer's life, but in combining the two, Herschel and Robert have created a friend for Elmer that winds through his journey on the stage.

Frank enjoys Elmer's company and companionship and is convinced by Elmer to follow paths with him that he would not have taken on his own. Due to Elmer's prodding, Frank goes into the ministry at Terwilinger College with Elmer and goes on to lead a congregation instead of following other family members into a career in law that would likely have been his future.

Jennifer Rivera as Sharon Falconer in the sitzprobe.

Conscience is Franks guide and points out his lack of faith in Jesus Christ. This discomfort is exacerbated by seeing everyone around him seemingly so steadfast and solid in their faith, their singing of hymns, their lack of questioning the mysteries of the bible and their communion and their strength of prayer. Frank sees everyone around him growing in faith, and the church growing in commerce. Both of these issues gnaw at Frank who tries to be true to himself and his deeply felt doubts and inability to pray.

For me as an actor, it's moving to play someone who questions and finds his doubt leading him down a path, that while troubled is at the same time true to his moral self and those he cares about - and most importantly in the scope of Christianity - true to God.

Chauncey Packer as the Revival Singer.

I'm thrilled to be performing with such a talented and true cast in a piece that is so moving and that the world will see with increasing frequency. Congratulations to Nashville Opera for their vision in taking this piece on; to John Hoomes for his effective, moving and informative staging of this piece; to Maestro William Boggs for his passionate conducting and Amy Tate Williams for being our orchestra at the piano before we were able to have the orchestra with us.

Vale Rideout

The Chorus of Elmer Gantry

Keith Phares as Elmer Gantry and Jennifer Rivera as Sharon Falconer