Great Songs, Great Melodies; Brenda Frye & Friends perform October 24 at 8:00 p.m.

Brenda Frye, our marvelous Mikado "Katisha," brings us the second annual benefit gala, featuring great songs by the great composers, on October 24 at 8:00 p.m. This unforgettable even will benefit the Playhouse audience and development programs.

Brenda Frye and her friends from the national opera network bring us an evening of opera and musical theater melodies. Playhouse soloists join in as well.

Frye received her training as an instrumentalist and vocalist at the University of Memphis. Over the past 10 years she has enjoyed singing with several opera companies including Opera Memphis, Mississippi Opera, Nevada Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, and the Natchez Opera Festival.

Mark Walters, hailed as an exceptional singing actor, is rapidly gaining international attention with a repertoire of voer 50 operatic and musical theater roles, and 20 oratorio works. He has been seen in leading roles throughout the United States, and in the last year has received offers to perform in Japan, Italy, Greece, Spain and the Czech Republic.

Mark Ensley, director of the University of Memphis Opera Program, has served on the artistic staffs of Des Moines Metro Opera, Tulsa Opera, and Opera Memphis, where he was for four season as the Associate Conductor and Chorus Master.

Special Event Tickets are $85, and include dinner at Halcyon Days Restaurant. Dinner will be prime rib, with salad baked potatoes and rolls. Veggie meals are available upon request. Cash bar will open at 5:00 p.m., with dinner served at 5:30 p.m. There will also be a champagne and chocolate reception during intermission.

Concert-only tickets are $25 for adults, and $12 for children or students. The even is sponsored by Hughes Real Estate Services and Halcyon Days Restaurant. Call the box office for reservations at 931-484-5000.

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