University Opera presents 'Thais' by Jules Massenet, with a cast of undergraduate and graduate students from the UW-Madison School of Music directed by William Farlow. James Smith is the music director and conductor of the UW Symphony. The production is sung in French, with projected surtitles providing a translation in English. The title role is shared by Emily Birsan (October 30 and November 3) and Kristin D. Schwecke (November 1). Other roles are sung by Justin Niehoff Smith, Anders Tobiason, Ryan P. McEldowney, Anna Danielle Slate, Emily Campbell and Leigh Akin. Inspired by New York's 1970s licentious discotheque culture, University Opera's premiere of 'Thais' examines issues of the sacred and profane. It is a tale of the zealous monk Athanael's conversion of the infamous courtesan Thais.