Audiences this season at UAO will ride the high seas and frolic on the beaches of Cornwall with Gilbert & Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance then traverse the rocky Tyrolean Alps of Gaetano Donizetti's La Fille du Régiment and experience love turned to obsession, Russian-style, in Tchaikovsky's Pikovaya Dama ("The Queen of Spades"). The season concludes with a newly-formed holiday tradition: Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors. (Further information on Amahl will be released in the coming months.)
Chicago-based director Mark James Meier stages the upcoming The Pirates of Penzance. UAO Principal Stage Director Jolly Stewart will return later this month to stage La Fille du Régiment and teams up with guest conductor Kostis Protopapas, of Tulsa Opera. Director Tim Ocel returns to stage Pikovaya Dama, his first full production at Union Avenue Opera.
Set Designer Patrick Huber has designed a festival set for the summer season. Costume Designer Teresa Doggett is at the helm for The Pirates of Penzance and Pikovaya Dama, and Lyn DeMoss will make her costume design debut with UAO on La Fille du Régiment.
Cast of Pirates: Robert Boldin (Frederic), Victoria Botero (Mabel, Pirates), Debra Hillabrand (Kate), David Dillard (Sergeant of Police), Denise Knowlton (Ruth), Elise LaBarge (Edith) and Thomas Sitzler (Samuel).
Cast of Fille: Erica Cochran (Marie), David Dillard (Sergeant Sulpice) and E. Scott Levin (Hortensius).
Cast of Pikovaya Dama: Keith Boyer (Tchekalinsky), Mathew Edwardsen (Ghermann), Jon Garrett (Master of Ceremonies), Debra Hillabrand (Paulina/Daphnis), Elizabeth Schleicher (Masha), Thomas Sitzler (Narumov), Cecelia Stearman (Countess), Sylvia Stoner (Lisa) and Clark Sturdevant (Tchaplitsky).
Several artists make their UAO debut this summer:
- Baritone Todd von Felker (Pirate King, Pirates and Tomsky/Pluto, Pikovaya Dama)
- Soprano Stella Markou (Chloë, Pikovaya Dama)
- Baritone Andrew Papas (Major-General Stanley, Pirates)
- Baritone Nick Probst (Sourin, Pikovaya Dama)
- Mezzo-Soprano Dixie Roberts (La Marquise de Berkenfeld, Fille)
- Baritone Cory Schantz (Corporal, Fille)
- Tenor Gregory Schmidt (Tonio, Fille)
- Baritone Jordan Shanahan (Prince Yeletsky, Pikovaya Dama)
- Members of the Ensemble: Sopranos Caetlyn Van Buren, Lindsay Keller, Sarah Rodewald, Leann Schuering and Rachel Smith; Baritones Lawrence Lewis, Greg Storkan and Kevin Nicoletti.
Jolly Stewart will also make a special cameo in La Fille du Régiment as La Duchesse de Krakenthorp!
UAO continues its educational outreach to the public an event in conjunction with its production of La Fille du Régiment: High Tea on Saturday, July 24 at Union Avenue Opera. Patrons will have tea and petit fours, hear musical performances and get a sneak peek at the sets, costumes and staging of Fille. Ahead of the opening of Pikovaya Dama, UAO offers a Poker Night on Saturday, August 14 at the Regional Arts Commission Building. There will be a poker tournament complete with drinks and refreshments. Prizes will be awarded. For more information visit the UAO Website and visit this blog in the coming weeks.
TICKETS & PRODUCTION INFO
The Pirates of Penzance runs July 9, 10, 16, 17, 18(M). La Fille du Régiment runs July 30, 31, August 7, 8(M). Pikovaya Dama runs August 20, 21, 27, 28. All performances at 8pm, except matinee performances (marked 'M') at 3pm. Productions sung in original languages (English, French and Russian, respectively) with projected English supertitles.
To purchase tickets or find more information about UAO, please call 314.361.2881 or visit http://www.unionavenueopera.org/
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