 | Paul Curran designed this set for the Yale Opera production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream," which will be performed at the Shubert Theater Feb. 11-13. |
Opera stars-in-training will conjure up a magical landscape when the School of Music presents "A Midsummer Night's Dream" Friday-Sunday, Feb. 11-13, at The Shubert Theater, 247 College St.
The opera features music by Benjamin Britten and a libretto by Peter Pears that is based on Shakespeare's text. Marc Verzatt will direct the production, which will feature performances by singers from the Yale Opera program and the Philharmonia Orchestra of Yale, conducted by Giuseppe Grazioli. Doris Yarick Cross is the artistic director of Yale Opera, a department of the School of Music.
One of Shakespeare's most popular comedies, "A Midsummer Night's Dream" follows the exploits of four young Athenians: Lysander and Hermia, who are in love; Demetrius, who also loves Hermia; and Helena, who desires Demetrius. The four enter an enchanted wood where Oberon and Titania, the king and the queen of the fairies, are feuding. Oberon orders his servant sprite Puck to use magic to make Demetrius fall in love with Helena, Lysander long for Helena and Titania yearn for Bottom, a member of a troupe of bumbling actors, who has been turned into an ass for good measure. Eventually, order is restored, and the story ends at the wedding celebration of Duke Theseus and Hippolita.
"A Midsummer Night's Dream" will be performed in English with supertitles.
The cast will include: guest artist Dean Anthony as Puck; Ian Howell as Oberon; Sumi Kittelberger and Lielle Berman Robertson as Titania (on alternating nights); Amanda Ingram as Hippolita; Liam Moran and Evan Bennett as Theseus and Bottom (in alternating roles); Luis Yo and Matthew Edwardsen as Lysander; Diego Matamoros and Dan Bircher as Demetrius and Starling; Rebecca Ringle and Kate Maroney as Hermia; Jennifer Black and Sara Jakubiak as Helena; Eric Downs as Quince; Matthew Plenk as Flute; Shelby Condray as Snug; and Caleb Stokes as Snout.
Verzatt, the stage director, has an active career directing opera and musical theater throughout the United States and Europe. He was acting coach and stage director for the Lyric Opera of Chicago's young artists program, Lyric Opera Center for American Artists; he was also co-artistic director and director of the Young Artists Program of the Lake George Opera Festival. His engagements for the 2004-2005 season include productions of "Carmen" and "La Boheme" at the Atlanta Opera, "Hansel and Gretel" for Palm Beach Opera, "Albert Herring" with the New Jersey Opera Theater and a debut with the Teatro Colon for "Elisabetta Regina D'Inghilterra."
A noted teacher, Verzatt recently joined the Yale faculty as an adjunct professor in opera and is currently teaching in the master's degree program, as well as directing an opera scenes workshop.
Grazioli, the conductor, is renowned in the symphonic and operatic field as a champion of the modern repertoire. He has conducted leading orchestras throughout the world, and produced many critically acclaimed recordings. His recent and upcoming projects include a symphonic concert and the world premiere of the opera "Vita" by Italian composer Marco Tutino for Teatro alla Scala, the final concert of Operalia Opera Contest Placido Domingo in Paris (Théâtre du Châtelet) and "Lucia di Lammermoor" with Opera d'Avignon and with Washington Opera.
Standard ticket prices for "A Midsummer Night's Dream" range from $18 to $40. Student tickets are available for $10 with a valid student I.D. Patrons 65 years of age or older will receive a 15% discount. Yale faculty and staff are eligible for half-price tickets. All groups of 10 or more are eligible for a 25% discount off standard priced tickets. Tickets may be purchased by phone at (203) 562-5666 or (888) 736-2663; online at www.shubert.com; and in person at the Shubert box office, 247 College St., 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday.
T H I S
Yale Opera stages the magical
'A Midsummer Night's Dream'
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