`Hansel and Gretel' role has girl singing with pride

SAVAGE RESIDENT Liberty Spicher, 11, will be singing her heart out tonight in a performance of Engelbert Humperdinck's opera "Hansel and Gretel" at Lyric Opera House in Baltimore.

The sixth-grader from Patuxent Valley Middle School also is a student at Peabody Institute, the renowned music school. It's common for professional groups such as the Baltimore Opera Company to cull singers from the school's choirs to play minor roles. Liberty is in five scenes, first as a gingerbread child and, in a later dream sequence, as an angel.

This isn't her first performance. Liberty - or Libby, as she prefers to be called - has been with Peabody since she was 5 years old, when she performed as a member of the Choristers.

But "Hansel and Gretel" is her first dramatic role and the requirements are different. She has to move as well as sing.

"I've never had to do that before because we're not allowed because we're on risers," she said. "It's kind of difficult because you're trying to hit the notes correctly and breathe correctly and move."

Having dramatic sets and costume changes are also a novel experience for Libby. "The sets are cool, but they're kind of scary," Libby said. "They're realistic but cartoonish."

The sets were designed by artist and children's book writer and illustrator Maurice Sendak.

Costume changes present another problem.

"We have only nine minutes between the witches' ride and the dream scene to get down four flights of stairs and undressed, get all the makeup off and get into Spandex leotards for the angels and gauzy floaty angel things," Libby said.

"It's kind of a crash, but it's organized because the boys move aside as we run down the stairs," she added.

Libby auditioned for "Hansel and Gretel" in October and has been rehearsing since. Her normal schedule includes a weekly class at Peabody Institute but for this performance, rehearsals were held almost daily.

"I try not to fall asleep in class," she said, when asked about her demanding singing and school schedule.

The performances have been a relief for the young singer because, she noted, "We don't have any more rehearsals."

On Saturday, well-wishers at her dramatic debut included older sister Heather Hunt and brother-in-law John Hunt, as well as grandmother Eileen Souder, aunt Laura Kerruish, cousin Emily Kerruish and family friends Charla and Joe Long.

Sunday's show was a matinee, so Libby didn't get to sleep in, the singer noted regretfully. Tonight is the final performance of "Hansel and Gretel," and Libby is anticipating future auditions.

"I hope I get to do another one because I like it so much," she said.

Holiday services

Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Scaggsville will hold a Christmas Eve service at 9 a.m. with carols and dramatic performances. The service is especially for children.

At 7 p.m., a more traditional service with bell-ringing and a performance by the children's choir will be held.

At 10 p.m., the church will hold a candlelight service in which the women's choir will perform.

Bollman Bridge artists

Bollman Bridge Elementary School children have their artwork on display at the Allfirst Bank branch in Kings Contrivance.

Among the young artists are Jade Stevenson, Mark Lehtonen, Janice Rattigan, Alysa Delgado, Sarah Hinman, Jenna Kingsbury, Scott Simpson, Crystal Ford, Michael Gilbert, Akash Patel, Danny Smith, Sara Pecas, Cody Landon, Brigid Atwater, Luke Petrusic and Bobby Stewart.