The UNLV School of Music and Nevada Conservatory Theatre present UNLV Opera’s production of Jacques Offenbach’s operetta Orpheus in the Underworld (1858) March 12-14 in the Judy Bayley Theatre. Linda Lister stage directs, with music direction by Darryl Cooper, who also conducts the UNLV Symphony Orchestra.

This delightful and farcical piece is perhaps most famous for its “Infernal Galop” or the classic can-can. This anachronism is part of the operetta’s charm, especially in the new English translation by Buck Ross from the Moores Opera Center at the University of Houston, which includes modern references to reality television.

Perry Chacon Jr. plays Orpheus with Valentine Baron and Moriah Berry alternating as Eurydice. Hunter Rose Turner and Brenna Ward portray Public Opinion. Chase Gutierrez is Jupiter, king of the gods, while Matthew Erhart is Pluto, king of the Underworld. The Roman gods and goddesses include Haylee Glenn and Christina Mata as Venus, Emily Clements and Alessandra Las as Cupid, Taylor Lee and Arianna Perroots as Diana, Amanda Māra Rizzotto and Kristina Tullgren as Juno, Andrew Williams as Mars, Alex Price as Mercury, and Daniel Nach as John Styx. 

Tickets are $25, $15 for seniors/military/faculty/staff, and $5 with student ID. Call 702-895-ARTS or visit pac.unlv.edu, and get ready to can-can!