south knoxville's golden globe nominee david keith to perform

Homegrown actor and Golden Globe nominee David Keith will be performing this weekend for the Knoxville Opera with its upcoming production of Gilbert & Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance. Keith makes his first operatic appearance when this comedic operetta premiers Friday, March 12 at the historic  Tennessee Theatre.  Brian Salesky, now in his fifth year as Knoxville Opera's executive director, made the bold decision to cast Keith as the Pirate King for this tongue-in-cheek parody of Donizetti's' Lucia di Lammermoor, Knoxville Opera's 2010 season opener.

"David is a rare combination of rugged sensitivity and charisma. His stage presence is compelling, and he's an integral part of this ensemble production. His enthusiasm for the role has exceeded all my expectations and delighted the rest of the cast," says Salesky.

"They have been after me for years to work with them at the Knoxville Opera and it's been so much fun," Keith told The Herald.  "This is such a fun and talented group of people." According to Keith this is his first onstage musical since 1977 when he played the role of Scotty in the "Red Bluegrass Western Flyer Show", a country-western musical. But with his singing background and love for all types of music, including Bluegrass, County and Rock and Roll, he knew it was time to come back to the stage. "There is a lot of singing," stated Keith. "My favorite song is Away Away."

Keith is best known for his dramatic portrayal of a suicidal officer-in-training in An Officer and a Gentleman, starring Richard Gere and Debra Winger. Keith received Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actor and New Star of the Year for his explosive performance. A Knoxville native and University of Tennessee graduate, Keith went on to star in dozens of Hollywood movies including The Lords of Discipline, Major League II, The Indian in the Cupboard, U-571, Behind Enemy Lines and Daredevil as well as television shows such as Law and Order.

"As an actor and director, I'm always looking for interesting opportunities to hone my craft. Opera is uncharted territory for me. It's a rigorous art form with a steep learning curve. I'm honored to work with a luminous talent like Rachel Anne Moore in this complex and richly textured production," says Keith. "And I'm relieved that it's a comedy!"

Joining Keith as the Pirate King and Moore, a coloratura soprano, as Mabel are UT Opera Theatre Director Carroll Freeman as "the very model of a modern Major-General," La Scala's Julian Rodescu as the Police Sergeant and tenor Marc Scheiner as Frederic. In addition to Rachel Anne Moore, featured UT Opera Theatre graduate students in the production are Jessica Cates, Sarah Hoeppner, Leah Serr, Corinne Stevens and Jesse Stock.
 
 This is an Opera experience that the whole family can come out and enjoy. The Pirates of Penzance will be performed in English on Friday, March 12 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, March 14 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets start at only $15 for adults and $10 for students. Group discounts are also available. Seating is limited, and advance tickets are highly recommended. For details go to KnoxvilleOpera.com or call 865-524-0795.  Season tickets are also available.

When not singing and acting Keith is the full time development director and lobbyist for PROTECT, (Protect.org) a national pro-child, anti-crime membership association. He lives in Knoxville with his wife and daughter.

    
About Knoxville Opera - Knoxville Opera's mission is to provide the residents of East Tennessee with high quality, locally produced opera and to contribute to the future of the operatic art form by educating the community about opera and its role in our culture.  Knoxville Opera, founded in 1978, is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization presenting productions made possible, in part, by generous funding from our patrons, the Tennessee Arts Commission, the City of Knoxville, the Arts and Culture Alliance of Knoxville and the Cole Foundation.