For one night only, Opera Laguna presents a semi-staged concert of The Student Prince, the beloved operetta that became the longest running show on Broadway of its time following its 1924 premiere and was later popularized through recordings by Mario Lanza.
Sent to Heidelberg to live as a student, Crown Prince Karl Heinrich steps into a life far from the one he is meant to lead. There are new friendships, and a love he never planned on. For a moment, it feels like everything could be different.
The Student Prince features internationally acclaimed operatic soloists, a full live orchestra, and Opera Laguna’s Young Professional Chorus.
Directed by Josh Shaw, One of Musical America's Top 30 Innovators in Classical Music and conducted by Brian Holman.
This production also features brand new choreography by Tanya Durbin, Associate Artistic Director of the SoCal Ballet Scene.
With music by Sigmund Romberg and book and lyrics by Dorothy Donnelly, this reimagined adaptation & book by Oriana Geis-Falla and Arnold Geis brings a fresh perspective to a classic.
Sung in English with supertitles.
Estimated Run Time: 2HRS
Read Synopsis
July 3, 2026
ONE NIGHT ONLY
7:30pm
Laguna Playhouse
🎫 General Admission: Tickets as low as $35
Creative
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Brian Holman
CONDUCTOR
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Josh shaw
DIRECTOR
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Tanya Durbin
CHOREOGRAPHER
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Michael Skidgel
Chorus Master
Cast
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Arnold Geis
Prince Karl Franz
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Oriana Geis-Falla
Kathie
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Kevin Blickfeldt
Dr. Engle
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Alex McKissick
Count Hugo Detlef
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Ricardo Garcia
Von Asterberg
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Sergio Manzo
Lucas
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Lily Prado
Princess Margaret
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Felipe Prado
Captain Tarnitz
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Alexys Tiscareno
Gretchen
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Allegra De Vita
Mezzo Soloist
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Roberto Perlas Gomez
Ruder
Some Fun Facts:
The Student Prince was one of the biggest Broadway hits of the 1920’s with 608 performances, making it the longest-running Broadway show of the decade!
The Laguna Playhouse was founded in 1920, so it’s the perfect venue for this operetta.
It opened during prohibition, so, yes, one of its most famous numbers is a drinking song 🍻
It was later adapted into the silent film The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg in 1927
It gained new popularity with Mario Lanza’s beloved recordings following the 1954 film The Student Prince with Ann Blyth!
Our performance will feature a 36-piece orchestra (even a harp!), 12 soloists and our new Young Professionals Chorus!
The piece also has a personal connection for Opera Laguna:
Arnold’s birth father sang the title role at Heidelberg Castle in 1990.
Frequently Asked Questions
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606 Laguna Canyon Rd
Laguna Beach, CA 92651 -
🚗Parking is available across the street in Parking Lot 11 (551 Forest Ave) or Parking Lot 10 (725 Laguna Canyon Rd), at street meters along Laguna Canyon Road, and at downtown public lots just a few minutes walk from the Playhouse. Meters and lots payable via credit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. Please note that meters are strictly enforced.
🚎If nearby lots are full, Parking Lot 16, located at 1900 Laguna Canyon Road, is a great alternative, with all-day parking for just $5 and a free trolley running from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30p.m. that drops you off just steps away from the Playhouse with service every 30 minutes.
Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft are also widely available in Laguna Beach. For real-time traffic updates, call the city hotline at (949) 497-0747, or visit the City of Laguna Beach website for full parking and trolley information.
Some restaurants have ride-share opportunities if you dine there before the show! -
120 minutes including intermission!
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Nope! All singers are off mic! Our only mic’d performer is our narrator!
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we think so! probably 10 & up!
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semi - staged concert means the orchestra is onstage with us. There are no costumes or sets and we are in tuxes and dresses. BUT we are still acting for our lives (no music stands!)
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friends@operalaguna.org for questions about the show. Contact the playhouse directly for issues with tickets :)
Synopsis
Prologue
Prince Karl Franz is heir to the Kingdom of Karlsberg. Raised within the rigid structure of palace life after the loss of his father, he has grown up sheltered from ordinary society under the guidance of tutors and military tradition. Though promised since childhood to Princess Margaret, he has never met her. Hoping to broaden his experience and prepare him for leadership, his grandfather King Ferdinand sends him incognito to the University of Heidelberg to live as an ordinary student. Accompanied by his beloved tutor Doctor Engel, the overly formal valet Lutz, and Lutz’s assistant Hubert, Karl Franz leaves court life behind for the first time.
Act I
In Heidelberg, life is vibrant, youthful, and full of freedom. At the beloved Inn of the Three Gold Apples, run by Herr Ruder, students gather nightly in celebration of friendship and university life. There, Karl Franz meets Kathie, Herr Ruder’s niece, whose warmth and spirit immediately capture his heart. As he settles into student life and forms close friendships with his fellow classmates, he experiences for the first time a sense of belonging and joy far removed from the expectations of royalty. Before long, Karl Franz and Kathie fall deeply in love, despite the impossible divide between prince and commoner.
Act II
As the school term continues, Karl Franz embraces the camaraderie and freedom of Heidelberg, growing even closer to Kathie and his fellow students. Their happiness is interrupted when Princess Margaret and her mother arrive with news that the King is gravely ill. Karl Franz is summoned home to fulfill his royal duty and proceed with the long arranged engagement to Margaret. Torn between love and obligation, he considers abandoning the throne for a life with Kathie, but Doctor Engel and the royal court remind him of his responsibility to the kingdom. Reluctantly, he agrees to return home, promising Kathie he will come back to her.
Act III
Two years pass, and Karl Franz has been unable to return to Heidelberg. Following the death of his grandfather, he has ascended the throne and now lives bound by the demands and ceremony of royal life. Princess Margaret, meanwhile, carries her own private disappointments and understands that Karl Franz’s heart has never truly belonged to her. When word arrives that Doctor Engel has died in Heidelberg, Karl Franz is persuaded to return for a reunion with his old friends, while privately hoping to see Kathie once again.
Act IV
Before Karl Franz arrives, Princess Margaret secretly visits Kathie. Realizing the sacrifices required by the crown, the two women agree that Kathie will tell Karl Franz she has fallen in love with another man and plans to marry him. Believing he has truly lost her, Karl Franz resolves to accept his royal responsibilities fully and move forward with Margaret. Though duty ultimately prevails, Kathie remains the great love of his life, and the memory of Heidelberg continues to live in his heart forever.