The evenings of August 15, 16 and 17 beginning at 8:00 p.m., the Sayville Young People's Opera Workshop (still the only organization on Long Island of its kind) will present its summer 2007 workshop production of Sigmund Romberg and Oscar Hammerstein II's classic operetta The New Moon in the Sayville High School auditorium in Sayville, New York.

Begun in 1995, SYPOW continues this year with its tradition of introducing young people from Nassau and Suffolk counties to the many forms of operatic endeavors.

Previous productions have included such mini-operas as Gian Carlo Menotti's The Medium and The Telephone and Samuel Barber's A Hand of Bridge; operettas such as Gilbert and Sullivan's Trial by Jury, HMS Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance, and The Mikado, as well as Rick Besoyan's Little Mary Sunshine; rock operas such as Jesus Christ, Superstar and Tommy; and legitimate operas such a Luc Plamondon and Richard Cocciante's Notre Dame de Paris and W. A. Mozart's The Magic Flute.

Now, after a mere six weeks of rehearsal, over 60 area young people from both Nassau and Suffolk counties ranging in age from 12 to 25 will be ready to recreate on stage with dialogue, song and dance one of the classic early 20th century operettas that were so popular then.

Opening in 1928 on Broadway and running for 509 performances while simultaneously being performed in London, The New Moon deals with the effects of the French Revolution on the colonists of Louisiana and features such famous songs as "Wanting You", "Lover Come Back to Me", "Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise", and "Give Me Some Men Who Are Stout-Hearted Men" to the accompaniment of a full orchestra. (The 1940 film version starred Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy in the leading roles.)

For further information please go to http://sypow.tripod.com.

Questions or comments? Get in touch with us at: sypow.opera@yahoo.com