THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, December 15, 1994 TAG: 9412140163
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
Jason Boothe is Balthazar, one of the kings of the Orient who followed the star of Bethlehem.
``He is the strongest - the most serious king,'' said the 16-year-old Lakeland High School sophomore. ``Kaspar is fun-loving, Melchior is a visionary.''
As the three kings travel they meet Amahl, a young crippled boy, and his mother - a meeting resulting in a miraculous cure for the child.
The familiar story, ``Amahl and the Night Visitors,'' is the Christmas presentation of the opera and vocal arts department of The Governor's School for the Arts, where Jason studies vocal music.
The opera will be presented Friday through Sunday at the Governor's School Theatre in Norfolk.
``I was in some plays last year - really getting into it,'' Jason said, ``but this is my first big production.''
The production features three other Lakeland students, including Jason's 18-year-old brother, Herman, a senior. The others are Crystal Campbell, a 10th-grader, and Keisha Jones, a ninth-grader.
Jason has ``a major role,'' according to Louise H. Lowenthal, director of Curriculum and Instruction.
``I've been singing since the seventh grade. Singing is a gift,'' Jason said. ``My brother's been singing all his life.''
The two have both music and medicine in common, each aspiring to become a hospital administrator.
``I want to go to college to study that and business administration,'' Jason said - ``with a minor in music. I love music but it doesn't pay the bills.''
The brothers' interest in music comes from their father ``who,'' Jason said, ``just began singing with a rhythm and blues band.''
Herman Boothe lives in Massachusetts and works for Raytheon ``building missiles,'' his son said.
The interest in medicine stems from their mother, Sharon Scott, a nurse at the Waverly Health Care Center, and The Neighbor's Place in Zuni, a home for retarded adults.
The boys and their mother live on Chancellor Court in Turlington Park.
The home is more musical than ever these days as the Boothe brothers practice their parts in Gian Carlo Menotti's all-singing production.
``The school gives us tapes ands sheet music. That really helps us. I keep them with me all the time,'' said Jason who, with his brother, is a member of the men's choir at Mount Ararat United Christian Church.
There was singing in Richmond on Dec. 7 when members of the Magnet School's Department of Opera and Vocal Arts provided some of the entertainment during Gov. George F. Allen's Christmas tree lighting ceremony.
All eyes were on Jason during the fourth verse of ``Gloucestershire Wassail'' - his solo spotlight.
He credits Alan Fischer, guest artist/conductor and the play's director, and one of his assistants, Geraldine Brown, ``for really helping me. `Amahl and the Night Visitors,' '' Jason said, ``is really a nice play.'' MEMO: The Governor's School for the Arts, department of opera and vocal arts,
presents ``Amahl and the Night Visitors'' at 7:30 p.m. Friday and
Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. All seats are $5. For reservations call
451-4711. The production is being presented at the Governor's School
Theatre, 254 Granby St., Norfolk.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Jason Boothe, a sophomore at Lakeland High, plays Balthazar in
``Amahl and the Night Visitors,'' a Christmas presentation of the
opera and vocal arts department of The Governor's School for the
Arts, where Jason studies vocal music.
by CNB