1973 HLOC Founders
Phil Kates, James Stanard, and Francine Tuft Peterson
The Humboldt Light Opera Company was started in 1973 by three forward thinking individuals - Philip Kates, (orchestra conductor), James Stanard, (music director), and Francine Peterson, (stage director). It was their vision for our community that has stayed with HLOC since the beginning. Our HLOC family owes them all a huge debt of gratitude for understanding the role that the arts play in a person’s life and in the fabric of our rural community. Together with their spouses, Jeana Stanard (costumer) and David Peterson (set designer), they worked tenaciously in those early years to establish the company as a place where local singers, dancers, and actors could hone their skills. We hope they would be proud of their “baby” today.
Sunday, May 9, 2021, marked the passing of Francine Dezzie Tuft Peterson. Francine was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Utah and later went on to achieve a Master of Arts degree in directing and musical theater. Francine began her professional career at the Social Services office as an administrator in Eureka, California. In 1973, Francine was one of the founding directors of the Humboldt Light Opera Company. She directed numerous Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, classic musical theatre works, and large several scale productions including Carmen, The Pearl Fishers, Amahl and the Night Visitors, and Pagliacci. She also developed an innovative series of opera scenes that brought a wonderful array of highlights from favorite operas to our area. In 1984 Francine was hired by Loyola University in New Orleans as the Opera Theatre director. Francine quickly created the Loyola Opera Theatre program designed to train undergraduate and graduate singers to be effective vocal and acting performers in musical theatre, opera and operetta. During her tenure at Loyola, she produced and directed 11 operas, nine musical comedies, six scene recitals, four operettas and two special projects. For the last 30 plus years, Francine has worked as a Feng Shui Practitioner and Certified Sacred Place Practitioner.
Francine’s directing skills were exceptional. She had a clear vision for exactly what she wanted to see on stage spending hours doing detailed work on every picture she presented. Her ability to intuitively interpret opera composers such as Puccini, Bizet, and Verdi, was a remarkable gift both for audiences and performers. She was able to help a new generation of singers find the physicality of their characters and draw out the strong emotions that were necessary for the literature she loved. Her work influenced many young performers who have continued to bring music theatre to their communities, passing on her passion for the arts. Thank you Francine for everything you taught us and for letting “your imagination take flight on wings of song!”
Sunday, May 9, 2021, marked the passing of Francine Dezzie Tuft Peterson. Francine was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Utah and later went on to achieve a Master of Arts degree in directing and musical theater. Francine began her professional career at the Social Services office as an administrator in Eureka, California. In 1973, Francine was one of the founding directors of the Humboldt Light Opera Company. She directed numerous Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, classic musical theatre works, and large several scale productions including Carmen, The Pearl Fishers, Amahl and the Night Visitors, and Pagliacci. She also developed an innovative series of opera scenes that brought a wonderful array of highlights from favorite operas to our area. In 1984 Francine was hired by Loyola University in New Orleans as the Opera Theatre director. Francine quickly created the Loyola Opera Theatre program designed to train undergraduate and graduate singers to be effective vocal and acting performers in musical theatre, opera and operetta. During her tenure at Loyola, she produced and directed 11 operas, nine musical comedies, six scene recitals, four operettas and two special projects. For the last 30 plus years, Francine has worked as a Feng Shui Practitioner and Certified Sacred Place Practitioner.
Francine’s directing skills were exceptional. She had a clear vision for exactly what she wanted to see on stage spending hours doing detailed work on every picture she presented. Her ability to intuitively interpret opera composers such as Puccini, Bizet, and Verdi, was a remarkable gift both for audiences and performers. She was able to help a new generation of singers find the physicality of their characters and draw out the strong emotions that were necessary for the literature she loved. Her work influenced many young performers who have continued to bring music theatre to their communities, passing on her passion for the arts. Thank you Francine for everything you taught us and for letting “your imagination take flight on wings of song!”
We are truly grateful to be living in such a supportive community.
We hope to be able to bring you live music in person someday soon
We hope to be able to bring you live music in person someday soon
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Click on the Donate button for donations on your credit card. Personal checks made out to HLOC can be mailed to 1482 Buttermilk Ln, Arcata, CA 95521. Donations are tax-deductible.
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