Dead Man Walking stars on public radio this past weekend

If you're a fan of Colorado Public Radio, you might have caught two of our Dead Man Walking artists over the airways this weekend. (They both play nuns, by chance, so we'll call this another honorary "Monday Nun Day" post.)  If you missed them, it's no problem – you can listen to them now online!

Saturday evening , Jennifer Rivera (Sister Helen Prejean, Dead Man Walking) performed on Public Radio International's A Prairie Home Companion. Last week saw the release of her EP album The Garrison Keillor Songs, five songs written by the author and host. Jennifer was featured in sketches throughout the evening, introduced as coming directly from Central City to be on the show. She was serenaded by Keillor with a new song that included her name in it, and performed Handel's "Ombra mai fù" and Cherubina's aria "Non, so più cosa son" from The Marriage of Figaro. (While Central City Opera performs Figaro this summer, Rivera is not in that particular cast.) In addition to participating in several sketches, Jennifer sang "Unification," a song with lyrics written by Keillor, set to music by Robert Aldridge (from the previously-mentioned album). Listen to the entire June 21 A Prairie Home Companion broadcast online now.

"Non so più" from Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro — @jjennymr pic.twitter.com/mbx9gLpgXk
— Prairie Home Comp. (@prairie_home) June 21, 2014

This weekend, another public radio program, This American Life, featured the talents of Jeanine De Bique (Sister Rose, Dead Man Walking) during a special musical radio drama episode. As De Bique described it on her Facebook page, her comedic debut was a "...live broadcast of the true story 'Locked in closet' by my friend Carin Gilfry. I play the Jamaican maid that rescues her! There are elves, german tourists, a bored receptionist and a surprise guest Composer! Watch the trailer!"

THIS AMERICAN LIFE: LIVE AT BAM - Trailer from This American Life on Vimeo.

The New York Times review of the episode included the following description:

Brooklyn Academy of Music’s opera house must have hosted plenty of Valkyries in its time. But Jeanine De Bique is almost certainly the first to stride onstage accessorized with a broom and dishwashing gloves, singing about how much she hates her job. Her angry soprano aria was among the many blissful surprises of “The Radio Drama Episode” — Saturday night’s embraceable live performance for the public-radio show “This American Life” that devoted itself to documentary dramas of true stories.

You can now stream the entire June 20 radio drama episode of This American Life online, with a special video option available as well for a small fee.

Catch both of these talented women in Dead Man Walking at the Central City Opera House July 5 to 25, 2014. Tune in to Colorado Public Radio this coming weekend as well, for the live broadcast of The Marriage of Figaro opening night, Saturday, June 28th.