Word: gratto
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...production is still in its infancy, so tonight there is no real rehearsal, only a singthrough with Fuller and David Bachrach, a baritone. The director, Kathy Gratto, sits and talks with whichever singer isn't working with Krag. Krag stops Fuller periodically, marking points of emphasis, interjecting at a particular phrase, "Dance it," and indicating with her hands and body how she wants the melody to move. For the next few weeks she will be teaching the singers their music and trying to improve their diction. Most of the humor of a Gilbert and Sullivan play depends on being able...
...question arises about the way Fuller should sing the line "hearts of stone, heart of fire" which Hilarion, the hero, sings to his beloved, Princess Ida. Everyone pauses for a moment. Krag, Fuller and Gratto discuss various interpretations and finally compromise with Krag saying, "Emphasize the note on heart and the diction on stone and fire." Throughout the evening the singthrough is punctuated by conferences, laughter and corny jokes. Afterwards, walking back to North House. Krag talks about choosing the cast. The auditions were low-key and relaxed; Krag and Gratto sat cross-legged on a couch and listened...
...smiles and says, "Beautiful!" then reminds the singers to emphasize diction and watch their pronunciation of consonants. She asks them to do the passage again and remains seated while she conducts. Only the pencil she is again using as a baton distinguishes her from the rest of the cast. Gratto, the director, is seated in the semicircle with the chorus. She is filling in for several sopranos who are out with the flu and she makes up with gusto and expression whatever she lacks in vocal range...
Krag is responsible for the music--vocal and instrumental--and Gratto is responsible for the blocking, the acting and the overall production. There is a lot of give and take between the two women. Krag often looks to Gratto for her opinion if not for advice. At this stage it is the petty details that keep causing problems--should the chorus sing "can't" or "can't," "humbly beg and humbly sue" or "soo." Each alternative is discussed, sung by the chorus and decided upon. When Krag admonishes the chorus to sing. "They are men of fight ha! ha!" louder...
...point in popularity, the council president became the first Lehigh student to have his head shaved by his classmates, a ceremony which is usually reserved for football weekend attacks on Lafayette freshmen. The next year, the council's prestige was restored somewhat by the election of athlete Joe Gratto as president. Gratto was a member of Lehigh's highly respected wrestling team...