Samuel Ramey, Renowned Opera Singer, to Accept William Inge Theater Festival “Kansas Citizen of the Arts” Honor

Internationally renowned bass-baritone Samuel Ramey returns to his home state to accept the William Inge Theatre Festival’s Kansas Citizen of the Arts award during ceremonies Saturday, April 12.

The Inge Festival, located in the small town of Independence, Kansas, bestows the award to honor a famous Kansas native artist or arts supporter.

Mr. Ramey is a native of Colby, Kansas, and attended Wichita State University. He has sung on all the world’s major stages, such as the Metropolitan Opera, Teatro alla Scala, the Royal Opera and Opéra de Paris - Bastille, among others.  In concert, he has performed with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic, and many more. Ramey is the most recorded bass in history; his expressive voice is particularly famed for its portrayal of devils and villains.

“We are thrilled to have Mr. Ramey join us,” said Peter Ellenstein, director of the Inge Festival.  “He is one of Kansas’ most treasured arts ambassadors.  It is a goal of the Inge Festival to promote all the arts, and Mr. Ramey’s unique ability to crossover into theatre through recording many of the great Musical Theatre roles is an added bonus.”

Ramey will accept the Kansas Citizen of the Arts Award during ceremonies Saturday, April 12^th, 7:30 p.m., the final night of the 22^nd Annual William Inge Theatre Festival. The ceremony will pay tribute to renowned playwright Romulus Linney, who is the 22^nd recipient of the Inge Festival’s Distinguished Achievement in American Theatre Award.  Linney is “an American artist passionately concerned about exploring the nature of what it is to be human and whose work increases all of our humanity,” in the words of fellow playwright August Wilson.

One of Linney’s plays, “Democracy,” is being adapted into an opera by Scott Wheeler and will debut at Placido Domingo’s Washington Opera in 2004. Ramey will join the list of past Kansas Citizen of the Arts winners, which include actress Shirley Knight, photographer Gordon Parks, commentator Jim Lehrer and former Senator Nancy Kassebaum.

Ramey’s most performed role is  Méphistophélès in Gounod's Faust, with over 200 performances in more than 20 productions.  He is equally well-known in opera houses and concert halls throughout the world for his performances of Boito's Mefistofele, including over 70 performances in the Robert Carsen production of this work specifically created for Mr. Ramey; Berlioz' devil in La damnation de Faust; the sinister Nick Shadow in Stravinsky's The Rake's Progress; and the tour de force of all four villains in Offenbach's Les contes d'Hoffmann.