ROCK ISLAND, IL (11/05/2009)(readMedia)-- Augustana's opera singers will delight audiences with their heartwarming performance of "Little Thieves of Bethlehem" from Friday, November 20, through Sunday, November 22, at 8 p.m. in Wallenberg Hall at Denkmann Memorial Building (3520 7th Ave.). The opera is set in Bethlehem after Jesus' birth and follows three outcast children who find new hope in the Christmas story.

Augustana students will be only the second group to perform "Little Thieves of Bethlehem," which was first performed in Rochester, N.Y., in the 1990s. The story focuses on an orphaned brother and sister in Bethlehem who must steal food to keep from starving. They are shunned by children and adults in their community, but they are the first to hear Mary sing to her new baby. The three kings who come to see Jesus also bring along a child servant who is an outcast, but is embraced in the Christmas story. The opera runs approximately 55 minutes.

Kelly Mitroff, a vocal music major who will play the innkeeper's wife, says the performance is fun and family-friendly. "This opera has a song about a camel, which seems to come out of nowhere. It gives everyone a break from the drama of what's going on, and let's face it, you just can't go wrong with a song about a spitting camel," says Mitroff.

Melissa Goode, a senior music major from Davenport, will play the lead role of Mary. Goode has performed with Opera@Augustana in the past, but finds this production to be particularly special because it is only the second time the show has been performed. "It is a twist on the traditional story of Christ's birth, so that will make it new and exciting for audiences," she says.

"The magic of Christmas comes alive to all on stage and in the audience," says Dr. John Pfautz, professor of voice and the opera's director and producer. Pfautz founded Opera@Augustana shortly after coming to Augustana in 1987. He earned his Doctorate of Musical Arts from West Virginia University where he studied under Frances Yeend and has performed as the featured tenor soloist in operas throughout the United States and Canada.

Pfautz is excited that "Little Thieves of Bethlehem" includes some of the faculty and staff's children, in addition to Augustana students. Aislinn Geedy, daughter of biology professors Dr. Dara Wegman-Geedy and Dr. Kevin Geedy; Mackenzie Parboosingh, daughter of theater professor Adam Parboosingh; and Robert Ducey, son of Beth Ducey from art history, will appear onstage as local children.

Melissa Goode is a senior music major from Davenport, IA. Goode is part of the 26 cast members performing in the opera.

Jennifer Youngs is a sophomore general studies major from Taylor Ridge, IL. Youngs is part of the 26 cast members performing in the opera.

"Little Thieves of Bethlehem" is the first of a series of musical festivities at Augustana during the Christmas season. The second annual "Christmas at Augustana" holiday concert features performances by Augustana's premier choir, band and orchestra on Friday, December 4, at 8 p.m. and Saturday, December 5, at 4 p.m. The public event will be held in Centennial Hall (3703 7th Avenue). Tickets are available at www.augustana.edu/tickets or by calling (309) 794-7306.

The Handel Oratorio Society, a choir that combines the vocal talents of Augustana students and Quad-City community members, will perform Handel's Messiah on Saturday, December 12, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, December 13, at 2 p.m in continuation of an annual tradition started in 1879. The event is open to the public and will be held in Centennial Hall (3703 7th Ave). For tickets, log onto www.augustana.edu/tickets or call (309) 794-7306.

The Augustana Chamber Singers and Office of Campus Ministries will present Lessons and Carols on Thursday, December 17, at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. This beautiful Christmas service chronicles Christ's birth through songs and readings in Ascension Chapel (820 38th St). This event is free and open to the public.

Nine hundred thirty-nine students have been named to the spring term Dean's List at Augustana College for the 2008-2009 academic year. Students receiving this honor have earned a minimum grade point average of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) for courses taken during the 2009 spring term.

From the QC area, this includes:

Martha Ade from Moline , IL , a first-year student majoring in general studies .

Timothy Ade from Moline , IL , a senior student majoring in biology and pre-medical .

Rihana Al-Ghalayini from Bettendorf , IA , a senior student majoring in biology and French .

Bailey Albrecht from Milan , IL , a sophomore student majoring in general studies .

Crystal Aldeman from Rock Island , IL , a senior student majoring in elementary education .

Drew Allen from Bettendorf , IA , a senior student majoring in business administration .

Samuel Anderson from Rock Island , IL , a sophomore student majoring in math and computer science .

Caleb Arringdale from Davenport , IA , a senior student majoring in accounting .

Carrie Bestian from Taylor Ridge , IL , a junior student majoring in elementary education .

David Brickner from Rock Island , IL , a junior student majoring in accounting and business administration .

Courtney Brown from Port Byron , IL , a first-year student majoring in biology and pre-medical .

Nicholas Camlin from Rock Island , IL , a junior student majoring in political science .

Kevin Carton from Moline , IL , a junior student majoring in communication studies and French .

Robin Castro from Rock Island , IL , a senior student majoring in biology .

Kerry Cheeney from Davenport , IA , a senior student majoring in accounting and business finance .

Austin De Porter from Orion , IL , a junior student majoring in biology .

Adelle DeVolder from Moline , IL , a sophomore student majoring in business administration .

Nicholas Dee from Davenport , IA , a senior student majoring in history and classics .

Linsy Depooter from Milan , IL , a senior student majoring in accounting and music performance .

Brianna Dyer from Rock Island , IL , a junior student majoring in English/language arts education .

Jacob Favre from Rock Island , IL , a senior student majoring in business marketing .

Megan Ferris from Moline , IL , a senior student majoring in elementary education .

Melissa Fobert from Rock Island , IL , a junior student majoring in accounting and business finance .

Kristin Friedrich from Port Byron , IL , a first-year student majoring in general studies .

Andrew Fritch from East Moline , IL , a junior student majoring in accounting and business finance .

Jeremy Gerlach from Rock Island , IL , a senior student majoring in communication sciences and disorders .

Lauren Godlewski from Rock Island , IL , a senior student majoring in biology .

Melissa Goode from Davenport , IA , a senior student majoring in music .

Scott Griffith from Moline , IL , a senior student majoring in sociology and psychology .

Alyssa Harmon from Moline , IL , a sophomore student majoring in business administration .

Kelly Helmich from Bettendorf , IA , a senior student majoring in instrumental music education .

Clayton Holst from Davenport , IA , a senior student majoring in biology .

Olivia Husman from East Moline , IL , a senior student majoring in communication studies .

Mohammed Hussain from Moline , IL , a sophomore student majoring in general studies .

Meckenzie Husske from Princeton , IA , a senior student majoring in communication sciences and disorders .

Gaetano Iaccarino from Davenport , IA , a first-year student majoring in .instrumental music education and instrumental music performance

Ross Jallo from Long Grove , IA , a senior student majoring in music .

Danielle Jennings from Port Byron , IL , a senior student majoring in business management .

Nicole Johnson from Moline , IL , a sophomore student majoring in English/language arts education .

Stephen Jones from Davenport , IA , a senior student majoring in business administration .

Krystal Keith from Bettendorf , IA , a junior student majoring in English .

M. Colleen Kilbride from Rock Island , IL , a senior student majoring in Spanish .

Paul Lambrecht from Moline , IL , a senior student majoring in history education .

Jasmin Landeros from Moline , IL , a sophomore student majoring in elementary education .

Thomas Larrison from Davenport , IA , a junior student majoring in religion .

Megan Lecander from Sherrard , IL , a sophomore student majoring in business administration .

Thomas Lemon from Moline , IL , a junior student majoring in history and business management .

Amy Malmstead from Moline , IL , a first-year student majoring in business administration .

Benjamin Marine from Coal Valley , IL , a junior student majoring in biology, pre-medical and business administration .

Crystina Mayfield from Coal Valley , IL , a first-year student majoring in general studies .

Melissa McKenna from Eldridge , IA , a senior student majoring in psychology and sociology with social welfare .

Ted McMillan from Cordova , IL , a senior student majoring in chemistry and math .

Ryan Mendoza from Moline , IL , a senior student majoring in business finance .

Sarah Miers from Rock Island , IL , a senior student majoring in English/language arts education .

Jennifer Mirocha from East Moline , IL , a senior student majoring in business marketing and economics .

Courtney Mitten from Moline , IL , a sophomore student majoring in psychology .

Allison Mulherin from Moline , IL , a senior student majoring in biology .

Justine Nuguid from Moline , IL , a first-year student majoring in biology and pre-medical .

Megan O'Connor from Rock Island , IL , a senior student majoring in art history and psychology .

Danielle Oester from Rock Island , IL , a senior student majoring in music and sociology .

Luke Osborne from Moline , IL , a senior student majoring in pre-medical and classics with Latin emphasis .

Kayla Papish from East Moline , IL , a sophomore student majoring in math education .

Aubree Payne from Moline , IL , a first-year student majoring in psychology .

Michael Pettis from Davenport , IA , a senior student majoring in business finance and communication studies .

Srividya Prabhu from Moline , IL , a junior student majoring in biology and pre-medical .

Kristen Quinn from Bettendorf , IA , a first-year student majoring in general studies .

Andrew Randone from Davenport , IA , a senior student majoring in political science .

Michael Reeves from Moline , IL , a sophomore student majoring in accounting .

Bridget Reich from Bettendorf , IA , a junior student majoring in psychology .

Lauren Reid from Sherrard , IL , a first-year student majoring in psychology .

Kelli Schledewitz from Davenport , IA , a senior student majoring in English/language arts education .

Geoffrey Schoon from Rock Island , IL , a senior student majoring in accounting and business finance .

Aaron Schroeder from Long Grove , IA , a senior student majoring in English and philosophy .

Alyssa Schroeder from Coal Valley , IL , a junior student majoring in business finance and accounting .

Kalin Showers from Moline , IL , a junior student majoring in political science .

Meghan Showers from Moline , IL , a sophomore student majoring in Asian studies .

Alex Sieg from Bettendorf , IA , a junior student majoring in biochemistry .

Michael Skelley from Bettendorf , IA , a senior student majoring in pre-medical .

Anna Smith from Moline , IL , a junior student majoring in biology .

Darla Smith from Port Byron , IL , a junior student majoring in elementary education .

Amber Soike from Rock Island , IL , a first-year student majoring in elementary education .

Steven Stern from Rock Island , IL , a senior student majoring in business management .

Mark Stumphy from Moline , IL , a sophomore student majoring in general studies .

Josephine Swanson from Rock Island , IL , a sophomore student majoring in biology .

Audrey Taylor from Moline , IL , a junior student majoring in biology education .

Theodore Teros from Moline , IL , a sophomore student majoring in general studies .

Jeffrey Trask from Eldridge , IA , a senior student majoring in Spanish education .

Courtney Vandewiele from Rock Island , IL , a junior student majoring in political science and accounting .

Felipe Villagomez from Moline , IL , a sophomore student majoring in anthropology and biology .

Jordan Voigt from Bettendorf , IA , a senior student majoring in political science and business management .

Katherine Voigt from Bettendorf , IA , a sophomore student majoring in general studies .

John Wagle from Rock Island , IL , a senior student majoring in physics and business administration .

Audrey Waner from Davenport , IA , a junior student majoring in art .

Emily Weller from Rock Island , IL , a junior student majoring in art education .

Peter Wessels from Bettendorf , IA , a first-year student majoring in business administration .

Lauren White from East Moline , IL , a sophomore student majoring in accounting .

Margaret Wiborg from Moline , IL , a senior student majoring in general studies .

Eric Wigand from Moline , IL , a junior student majoring in business administration .

Nicholas Wilczynski from Moline , IL , a senior student majoring in biology, pre-medical, and biochemistry .

Ian Williams from Moline , IL , a first-year student majoring in general studies .

Alyssa Wilson from Moline , IL , a senior student majoring in communication science and disorders .

Joshua Woodham from Bettendorf , IA , a junior student majoring in biology .

Kory Woolfolk from Silvis , IL , a senior student majoring in business management .

Louis Young from Rock Island , IL , a senior student majoring in art history .

About Augustana: Founded in 1860 and situated on a 115-acre campus near the Mississippi River, Augustana College is a private liberal arts institution affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The college enrolls 2,500 students from diverse geographic, social, ethnic and religious backgrounds and offers more than 60 majors and areas of study. Augustana employs 226 faculty and has a student-faculty ratio of 11:1. Augustana continues to do what it always has done: challenge and prepare students for lives of leadership and service in our complex, ever-changing world.

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