Donald Dorr, born October 9, 1934 in Grand Rapids MI, died Wednesday, June 15, 2011. He was a resident of Coden AL, and formerly of Baton Rouge LA, Jackson MS, New Orleans LA, Auburn AL and Knoxville, TN. He is survived by his wife, Dolores Ardoyno Dorr of Coden, a sister Betty Dorr of Los Vegas, nieces Kathy Burke, Sheila Maurin, Sr. Sandra Ardoyno SL, and Jaime (Greg) Havard; nephews Jack (Lyndia) Ardoyno and Bobby (Johnny) Ardoyno; and a number of great nieces and nephews. Dorr co-founded Opera/South in Jackson MS, a top-twenty American company in the New York Times first edition of "Who's Who in Opera", and at the time the only black opera company. With his wife, Dolores Ardoyno, he also founded the Baton Rouge Opera in Louisiana. A versatile artist, he designed sets, costumes and lighting, and was also a producer, librettist and author, writing poetry and articles in several fields. In 1987 he received the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Deems Taylor Award for excellence in writing on American music. Dorr produced, designed and directed the world premiere of William Grant Still's "Bayou Legend" and of Ulysses Kay's "Jubilee." Both operas had repeat productions, and the latter was also filmed and aired on National Public Radio. He founded "Mississippi Showboat," a touring company which gave performances and workshops throughout Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and Arkansas. Educated at Carroll College in Waukesha, WI and Louisiana State University in New Orleans, LA, he also studied piano. Operatic training was received as assistant stage director and designer at New Orleans Opera. His made his operatic debut as designer and director of "Salome," and as costume designer, of "Macbeth"; both with New Orleans, as were his costumes for the American revival of Verdi's "Attila." He was librettist for a number of Ulysses Kay's other compositions, most notably "The Western Paradise," commissioned for Helen Hayes by the National Symphony Orchestra of Washington and performed at Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall; and the opera "Frederick Douglass," commissioned and given its premiere by New Jersey State Opera. Some of his outstanding productions were "Elixir of Love," reset in a Mississippi river town and side-paddle river boat; "Othello." which reversed roles racially making Othello white and the rest of the cast black; " Flying Dutchman," "Carmen;" "Norma," "Fidelio," "Turandot," "Rape of Lucretia" and "Lakme." All Opera/South performances were in English. For Baton Rouge, rarely performed works were "Joan of Arc." and "Dido and Aeneas." Dorr was an avid genealogist and while living in Baton Rouge was on the board of the Louisiana Genealogical and Historical Society and vice-president of the local chapter. He contributed to a number of publications in the field and after he moved to Coden he added "Documents Relating to Ardoyno and Allied Families to the Mobile Public Library shelves. For Bayou La Batre's Blessing of the Fleet he did photography and public relation brochures and worked with the BLB-Coden chamber of commerce. As director of the Bayou la Batre-Coden Tourism Commission he hosted the first visit of he national Urbain Baudreau Graveline Genealogical Association to the Bayou area, and for several years led Fourth of July reenactments celebrating the 1811 raising of the first American Flag in Mobile County at Bayou la Batre. For the past 12 years he has been pastoral assistant to Father William N. Gorman at St. Edmund's-by-the-Sea Catholic Church on Dauphin Island. There was a memorial service for Mr. Dorr Sunday, June 26, at St. Edmond's church on Dauphin Island at 3:00 p.m.
Published in the Press-Register from July 2 to July 3, 2011

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