"Mame" to Open 43rd Summer Lyric Season

The leading role of the unconventional, show business aunt in Mame suits Elizabeth Argus just fine. Mame will be presented by Summer Lyric Theatre at Tulane University on June 17–20. Argus says, "It might be like Peter Pan a little bit, but with one boy and lots of gorgeous clothes and jewelry."

Actress and Tulane alumna Elizabeth Argus, left, plays the leading role of Mame this year as she teams up again with B. Michael Howard, right, artistic director of Summer Lyric Theatre. (Photo by Michael Palumbo)

It is Argus' 21st season with the company. She says, "I feel like what we do at Summer Lyric is a part of Tulane's greater service to the public. Every culture needs to celebrate beauty, joy, sorrow, anger, the rites of passage, the struggle to find the truth. That is what we do."

Argus is an award-winning singer, dancer, actress, choreographer, director, teacher and commercial talent. She has performed with the True Brew Theatre, Southern Repertory Theatre, the Jefferson Performing Arts Society, the Loyola Ballet and the Utah Shakespearean Festival and the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. Argus also directs a music program at Cabrini High School in New Orleans.

She has two degrees in music from Tulane: a bachelor of fine arts (1989) and master of fine arts (1991). Her first roles with Summer Lyric Theatre were in the choruses of My Fair Lady and Little Mary Sunshine in 1987. She also played Hope Harcourt that summer in Anything Goes.

In addition to the June production of Mame, the 43rd season of Summer Lyric Theatre will present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum July 8–11 and The Music Man July 29–Aug. 1.

Auditions for other roles are on Saturday, Feb. 27. Actors/singers should call 504-865-5271 to schedule an audition time.

The Summer Lyric Theatre box office opens March 8 for season renewals, and new season subscriptions go on sale April 12. Single ticket sales begin on May 10.