** 2024 Commencement Updates **

** 2024 Commencement Updates **

HU Presents Opera Star Van Ann Moore in ‘A Jenny Lind Christmas’ Dinner Theatre at Plaza Hotel Dec. 12

HU Presents Opera Star Van Ann Moore in ‘A Jenny Lind Christmas’ Dinner Theatre at Plaza Hotel Dec. 12 

The New Mexico Highlands University Department of Music presents opera star Van Ann Moore in ‘A Jenny Lind Christmas’ dinner theatre Dec. 12 at the historic Plaza Hotel on the Old Town Las Vegas Plaza.
 
The university’s Madrigal Choir will also perform in A Jenny Lind Christmas. Department of Music Choral Director Andre Garcia-Nuthmann directs the performance, which is a benefit for the choral program.
 
Van Ann Moore is an acclaimed opera singer and actress who performs internationally and is well known for the one-woman musical theatre productions that she researches, writes, directs and performs. She has more than 35 major roles to her credit in opera, musicals and plays.  
 
Moore has also taught music and theatre for many years at the University of New Mexico and has received awards from the New Mexico Endowment for the Humanities.  
 
Many of Moore’s own shows are based on historical heroines such as Jenny Lind, the legendary Swedish opera star who lived from 1820 — 1887. The Dec. 12 dinner theatre is billed as a Victorian Christmas experience.
Former New Mexico Arts Commissioner Dorothy Peterson said Moore gives a virtuoso performance in the character of Jenny Lind.
A Denver Post review says, “Miss Moore’s singing rates plaudits for its powerful expressiveness, and she gives a superlative characterization.”
“Van Ann Moore is simply superb, and this is sure to be a wonderful, festive holiday performance for the community,” Garcia-Nuthmann said. “The Plaza Hotel ballroom has beautiful ambience and is so well suited to dinner theatre.”
 
Garcia-Nuthmann said that generous donors have helped bring the Santa Fe Symphony and other top-level musicians to Las Vegas to perform with the university’s choral students. He added that benefits such as the Jenny Lind dinner theatre are important because proceeds help enhance future choral performances.  
 
Tickets are $30 for the dinner theater, with a cash bar from 5 — 6 p.m. Tender roast beef with rosemary gravy is the main course and will be served at 6 p.m. Pre show music will be performed by the university Jazz Choir at 5 p.m., and the Madrigal Choir at 6 p.m.   
 
Tickets are available locally at the front desk of the Plaza Hotel or by calling 505-425-3591, hitting zero for the operator. Tickets are also available at the Highlands University Music Building, 1052 11th St., 505-454-3135; Ida Cooney, Europa Hair Studio, 874 Sperry Dr., 505-426-8988; and Dr. Em Krall, Natural Health & Healing Center, 814 National Ave., 505-454-9525.