sign in sign up
<<
Home , Aladdin (opera), Dan Chameroy, Detroit Opera House, Dimitrij (opera), Kirk in the Hills, Lulu (opera)

SPRING 2019 SEASON B R AVO The Secret World of Og MARCH 23, 2019

Hansel and Gretel APRIL 6-14, 2019

The Grapes of Wrath MAY 11-19, 2019

2019 Spring Opera Season Sponsor ENGAGED IN THE ARTS. COMMITTED TO CULTURE. IMPACTING OUR COMMUNITY.

The Community Foundation for Southeast proudly supports the as part of our mission to assist organizations creating a lasting, positive impact on our region.

CFSEM.org 313-961-6675 Spring 2019 Contents Opera Season bravo ON STAGE Hansel and Gretel...... 6 The Official Magazine of Michigan Opera Theatre FEATURE STORY: Puppets Amplify Fantasy of Classic Fairy Tale...... 11

Erica Hobbs, Editor ...... 14 FEATURE STORY: Publisher: Transforming The Great American Novel Echo Publications, Inc. into The Great American Opera...... 21 Royal Oak, Michigan www.echopublications.com The Secret World of Og...... 22 Tom Putters, President Michigan Opera Theatre Studio Overview...... 27

Physicians’ services provided by Profiles from the Pit...... 28 Henry Ford Medical Center. Education and Community Programs...... 30 Comet Interactive is the official media production of the MICHIGAN OPERA THEATRE Opera House. Boards of Directors and Trustees...... 4 Welcome...... 5 Michigan Opera Theatre Contributors...... 32 Michigan Opera Theatre is a nonprofit cultural organization, whose activities Administration and Staff...... 37 are supported in part by the Michigan General Information...... 38 Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, the National Endowment for the Arts, and other individuals, corporations, and foundations. Michigan Opera Theatre is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

For more info, please contact Angela Nelson-Heesch, Director of Development, 313.237.3416 or [email protected]

Michigan Opera Theatre www.MichiganOpera.org BRAVO • Spring 2019 3 BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2018-2019 July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019

R. Jamison Williams Margaret Allesee Marianne Endicott Nora Moroun DIRECTORS EMERITUS Chairman Pernilla Ammann Paul E. Ewing Peter Oleksiak Shelly Cooper Lee Barthel Jennifer Fischer Charlotte Podowski Marjorie M. Fisher Wayne S. Brown Richard A. Brodie Barbara Sara Pozzi Jennifer Nasser President and CEO Elizabeth Brooks Herman Frankel Paul Ragheb Audrey Rose Enrico Digirolamo Robert Brown Dean Friedman Ruth Rattner William Sandy Chair, Finance James Ciroli Richard G. Goetz Ankur Rungta Richard Webb Committee Françoise Colpron John P. Hale Terry Shea Joanne Danto Devon Hoover Matthew Simoncini Cameron B. Duncan Julia Donovan Darlow Danialle Karmanos Richard Sonenklar Treasurer Ethan Davidson Barbara Kratchman Lorna Thomas Kevin Dennis Thomas M. Krikorian C. Thomas Toppin Gene P. Bowen Shauna Ryder Diggs Alphonse S. Lucarelli Jesse Venegas Secretary Sonal Dubey Donald Manvel Ellen Hill Zeringue Michael Einheuser Ali Moiin

BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2018-2019 July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019

Kenn and Liz Allen Douglass Diggs and Gary and Gwenn Johnson Spencer and Myrna R. Jamison and Karen Robert and Margaret Shauna Ryder Diggs George Johnson Partrich Williams Allesee Enrico and Kathleen Jill Johnson Daniel and Margaret Joan Young and Thomas Sarah Allison Digirolamo Ellen Kahn Pehrson L. Schellenberg Daniel and Pernilla Debbie Dingell Peter and Danialle Charles and Charlotte Mary Lou Zieve Ammann Mary Jane Doerr Karmanos Podowski Ellen Hill Zeringue Lourdes V. Andaya Dilip and Sonal Dubey Stephanie Germack Kerzic Sara Pozzi Harold Mitchell Arrington Cameron B. Duncan Michael and Barbara Waltraud Prechter TRUSTEES EMERITI Beverly Avadenka Michael Einheuser Kratchman Paul and Amy Ragheb Marcia Applebaum Lee and Floy Barthel Kenneth and Frances Thomas and Deborah John and Terry Rakolta Agustin Arbulu Mark and Caprice Baun Eisenberg Krikorian Ruth F. Rattner Marvin A. Frenkel Debra Bernstein-Siegel Marianne Endicott Melvin A. Lester Roy and Maureen Roberts Preston and Mary Happel Joseph and Barbra Bloch Alex Erdeljan Linda Dresner Levy and Patricia H. Rodzik E. Jan and Pat Hartmann Gene P. Bowen Fern R. Espino and Edward Levy David and Jacqueline Robert and Wally Klein Richard and Gwen Bowlby Thomas Short Mado Lie Roessler William and Marjorie Betty J. Bright Paul and Mary Sue Ewing Arthur and Nancy Liebler Audrey Rose Sandy Richard and Joanne Margo Cohen Feinberg Stephan and Marian Carolyn L. Ross Roberta Starkweather Brodie and Robert Feinberg Loginsky Anthony and Sabrina Paul and Janet Victor Elizabeth Brooks Oscar and Dede Feldman Mary Alice Lomason Rugiero H. Wilhelm Robert and Geraldine Ford David and Jennifer Fischer James LoPrete Ankur Rungta and Brown Marjorie M. Fisher Alphonse S. Lucarelli Mayssoun Bydon FOUNDING MEMBERS Wayne S. Brown and Carl and Mary Ann Denise Lutz Hershel and Dorothy Mr.† & Mrs.† Lynn A. Brenda Kee Fontana Donald Manvel Sandberg Townsend, Founding Charles D. Bullock Elaine Fontana Florine Mark Donald and Kim Schmidt Chairman Michael and Mary Chirco Barbara Frankel and Ron Ronald and Zvezdana Mark and Lois Shaevsky Mr. & Mrs.† Avern L. Cohn James and Elizabeth Ciroli Michalak Martella Arlene Shaler Dr. & Mrs. John H. DeCarlo Gloria Clark Herman and Sharon Jack Martin and Bettye Terry Shea Dr. † & Mrs. David DiChiera Avern and Lois Cohn Frankel Arrington-Martin Matthew and Mona Mr.† & Mrs.† Aaron H. Thomas Cohn Dean and Aviva Friedman Dexter Mason Simoncini Gershenson Françoise Colpron Barbara Garavaglia Benjamin Meeker and Sheila Sloan Mr. & Mrs. Donald C. William and Kelly Connell Yousif and Mara Ghafari Meredith Korneffel William H. Smith Graves Peter and Shelly Cooper Richard and Aurora Goetz Eugene and Lois Miller Phyllis F. Snow Mr.† & Mrs.† John C. Griffin Joanne Danto and Arnold Carolyn Gordon Phillip D. and Dawn Minch Richard A. Sonenklar and Mr. & Mrs. Harry L. Jones Weingarden Samuel and Toby Ali Moiin and William Gregory Haynes The Hon.†& Mrs.†Wade H. Helen Daoud Haberman Kupsky Mary Anne Stella McCree, Jr. Julia D. Darlow and John Alice Berberian Haidostian Donald and Antoinette Ronald F. Switzer and Jim Mr. Harry J. Nederlander C. O’Meara John and Kristan Hale Morelock F. McClure Mr. E. Harwood Rydholm† Jerry and Maureen Eugene and Donna Manuel and Nora Moroun Lorna Thomas Mr. & Mrs. Neil Snow D’Avanzo Hartwig E. Michael and Dolores C. Thomas and Bernie Mr. & Mrs. Richard Lawrence and Dodie Doreen Hermelin Mutchler Toppin Strichartz David Derek and Karen Hodgson Allan and Joy Nachman James G. Vella Mr.† & Mrs.† Robert C. Ethan and Gretchen Devon Hoover Barbara Nusbaum Jesse and Yesenia VanderKloot Davidson Alan and Eleanor Israel Juliette Okotie-Eboh Venegas Dr.† & Mrs.† Sam B. Williams Kevin Dennis and Jeremy Una Jackman Peter Oleksiak Marilyn Victor Mr.† & Mrs.† Theodore O. Zeltzer Don Jensen and Leo Linda Orlans Inge Vincent Yntema Karen V. DiChiera Dovelle Richard and Debra Bradley Wakefield and Kent and Amy Jidov Partrich Meghann Rutherford

4 BRAVO • Spring 2019 www.MichiganOpera.org † Deceased Michigan Opera Theatre WELCOME

elcome to the , home of the David elcome to the second half of our 2018-19 WDiChiera Center for the Performing Arts. Wopera series, continuing our celebration The 2019 Spring Opera Season is supported by a of great literary works turned opera! Following grant from General Motors. We are delighted to have you join us as Alexander Pushkin’s and Voltaire’s we continue our exploration of great literature-turned-opera with Candide, we are excited to present Hansel and Engelbert Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, based on the Grimm’s Gretel, the classic Grimm’s fairytale, and John fairy tale, and Ricky Ian Gordon and Michael Steinbeck’s Great American Korie’s The Grapes of Wrath, based on the classic Novel, The Grapes of Wrath. novel by . While two completely different Michigan Opera Theatre has long been stories, they offer a balance committed to artistic excellence, presenting between a whimsical fantasy opera and dance performances of the highest and a harsh reality, one with caliber to our patrons. But just as important is a happy ending and the other our commitment to community engagement, more dire but with a sense providing ongoing initiatives that inspire and of hope. enlighten, as well as support the ongoing For more than 200 years, evolution of the opera art form. Hansel and Gretel has been an essential part This season we continue to introduce our Page to Stage initiative, of the fairy tale canon, a story told to children a program exploring the original texts and themes of our for centuries. While the original fairy tale was based on literary masterworks, including Alexander Pushkin’s published in 1812 and Engelbert Humperdinck’s Eugene Onegin and Voltaire’s Candide, in addition to Hansel and opera published in 1893, this 21st century Gretel and The Grapes of Wrath. With a combination of study production offers a twist — literally. Director and guides, expert lecturers, performances and more, Page to Stage has master puppeteer Basil Twist takes the fantasy partnered with area libraries, book stores, book clubs and schools to to the next level with flying angels, dancing provide a deeper context to our operas, as part of our commitment gingerbread and a larger-than-life witch. I am proud to our community. We encourage you to visit our website, to conduct the opera alongside him for a magical www.MichiganOpera.org, to stay up-to-date on events near you. work unlike anything you’ve seen before. Study guides and additional resources are also available on our With The Grapes of Wrath, the Great American website for further study, even after today’s performance has finished. Novel turns into the Great American Opera. In recognition of our commitment to increasing the awareness Composer Ricky Ian Gordon and librettist Michael and celebration of the opera and dance art form in Southeast Korie take this poignant American story and Michigan, MOT is pleased to have been awarded two major grants bring it to life through music. Though set nearly that (when matched) will our organization to expand our 100 years ago in a completely different part of programming of opera productions and dance presentations the country, the Joad family’s journey for survival throughout . We are the proud recipient of a explores themes of exploitation and injustice as $1 million grant from the Knight Foundation aimed at presenting well as compassion and kindness in the worst new contemporary works, with a focus on presenting non-traditional of times. Set to Gordon’s distinct contemporary operas and engaging new audiences. In addition, The William S. American musical style with Korie’s insightful Davidson Foundation recently awarded MOT with a $4 million grant adaptation, the work is a true American opera with to support continued artistic excellence, expand our community everlasting themes that resonate long after the and educational outreach, as well as to seed support for necessary opera has finished. facility improvements to our historic Detroit Opera House. Looking ahead to next season, we are excited to Next season has recently been announced and will include a present a line-up of thrilling operas that will keep thrilling opera series, including Wolfgang Mozart’s Don Giovanni, you on the edge of your seat. This fall, we present ’s Sweeney Todd, ’s Gianni two dark comedies: Mozart’s Don Giovanni and Schicchi, Terence Blanchard’s Champion and Ruggero Leoncavallo’s Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd, productions Pagliacci. In addition, our dance series will include the return of with the power to make you laugh and squirm the , , celebrating its 50th at the same time. Our 2020 spring opera series anniversary, and in performances of Swan includes Terence Blanchard’s “opera in jazz,” Lake, a co-presentation with University Musical Society. It will also Champion, about American boxer Emile Griffith, include the Detroit Opera House debut of French contemporary and concludes with Leoncavallo’s heart-wrenching ballet company, Malandain Ballet Biarritz, and perennial favorite tragedy, Pagliacci. The series also includes a with BalletMet. community presentation of Puccini’s only comedy We invite you to join us for great opera and dance offerings. Gianni Schicchi, featuring our MOT Studio Artists. We are prepared to accept your reservation for next season at the We hope you enjoy today’s performance and designated subscription booths in the lobby of today’s performance. encourage you to join us next season for future Thank you for your support! productions at the Detroit Opera House!

Regards, Stephen Lord Principal Conductor, Michigan Opera Theatre Wayne S. Brown President and CEO, Michigan Opera Theatre

Michigan Opera Theatre www.MichiganOpera.org BRAVO • Spring 2019 5 Hansel and Gretel APRIL 6-14, 2019

MUSIC Engelbert Humperdinck

LIBRETTO Adelheid Wette, based on the Grimm’s fairy tale

WORLD PREMIERE Deutsche Nationaltheater and Staatskapelle Weimar – Weimar, Germany, December 23, 1893

2019 Spring Opera Season Sponsor

The J. Ernest & Almena Gray Wilde Fund Production Sponsor

CONDUCTOR PRODUCTION Stephen Lord Basil Twist

ASSOC. DIRECTOR ASSOC. PUPPET DIRECTOR CHORUS MASTER Kimberley S. Prescott Kate Brehm Suzanne Mallare Acton

LIGHTING DESIGN WIG & MAKEUP DESIGN COSTUME REALIZER Gordon Olsen Joanne Weaver Melissa Graff

ASST. CONDUCTOR SUPERTITLES REPETITEUR STAGE MANAGER Stefano Sarzani Dee Dorsey Jean Schneider Ken Saltzman

The Witch realized by the Jim Henson Company Hansel and Gretel is a co-production of and Atlanta Opera

6 BRAVO • Spring 2019 www.MichiganOpera.org Michigan Opera Theatre HANSEL AND GRETEL

CAST .PROFILES (In order of vocal appearance) Gretel...... Deanna Breiwick Suzanne Mallare Acton (Chorus Master) Hansel...... Emily Fons Gertrude...... Mary-Hollis Hundley Chorus Master Suzanne Mallare Peter...... Russell Braun Acton has received wide acclaim The Sandman...... Katherine DeYoung* for her choral direction involving The Dew Fairy...... Cheyanne Coss* more than 125 productions in seven The Witch...... Matthew DiBattista languages. credits include , The *Michigan Opera Theatre Studio Artist Puppeteers Music Man, Pirates of Torri Lynn Ashford, Kate Brehm, Lute Breuer, Sean Burpee, Dorothy James, Penzance, The Mikado, Carrie Morris, Joel Orr, Justin Perkins Daughter of the Regiment, , and Carmina while. As darkness falls, they realize that SYNOPSIS Burana with The they cannot refill the basket and, worse, Medium for Michigan Act I that they are . Their fears multiply as Opera Theatre; My Fair Lady and La In the forest stands the rustic cottage they imagine animals behind every tree. Traviata for Dayton Opera; of Peter the broommaker. Hansel and An old man appears. He scatters gold The Merry Widow and Madama Gretel have been left to themselves sand and promises restful sleep. After Butterfly for Artpark; and for by their parents. Gretel puts down the Sandman leaves, the two children Augusta Opera. Ms. Acton is the the stocking she is knitting to recite a kneel to say their prayers and fall asleep. founding Director of the MOT Children nursery rhyme, which Hansel interrupts The glade is gradually transfigured as s Chorus. She is also the Artistic and with cries of hunger. She shows him a angels surround the sleeping forms and Music Director of ’s pitcher of milk hidden in the cupboard keep guard during the night. but will not let him drink it. To keep him Rackham Choir. happy, she begins to teach him how Act 2 to dance. Suddenly, the door bursts The Dew Fairy awakens Gretel, who Torri Lynn Ashford (Puppeteer) open and Gertrude, their mother, drags the sleepy Hansel to his feet. Torri Lynn Ashford has performed comes in and angrily reproves them for The mist evaporates, trees vanish, and with local ensemble-based theatres their horseplay. When Hansel laughs a candy house appears. Hungry, they including A Host of People, The at Gretel’s punishment, his mother begin nibbling at the sweet treats on Hinterlands and chases him around the hut; the milk the house. Then Hansel hears a voice Carrie Morris Art pitcher falls to the floor and smashes. from inside the house. A 12-foot tall Productions. She has Gertrude is furious that dinner is ravishing of a witch studied puppetry with ruined, the broommaking abandoned comes out of the house along with Puppet Art Theatre a pack of gingerbread children who and Gretel’s stocking left incomplete, (Detroit), eventually capture Hansel and Gretel. When they so she chases both children into the heading puppet refuse her flattery, she puts a spell on woods to find some wild strawberries. workshops and She puts her head down on the table, them and claps Hansel in a cage as she summer camps. At present Torri Lynn grieved by poverty and hunger, just also transports us to the inside of her is a teaching artist with Living Arts as the happy voice of her husband, house. Gretel is released to go into the (Detroit) and a touring puppeteer with Peter, is heard in the distance. He house to set the Witch’s table. In a fit Bread and Puppet Theater located in quickly tells his wife that he sold his of joy at her prospective banquet, the Glover, Vermont. brooms to a wedding party for the Witch chases the gingerbread children until she grabs one as an appetizer. best price he has ever received. He Russell Braun (Peter) opens his sack and begins taking out Cleverly, Gretel whispers the Witch’s food of all kinds. He then asks where magic words, which break the spell Renowned for his luminous the children are. When Gertrude tells on Hansel; she then asks the Witch voice “capable of the most powerful him they have gone to the woods, he is to show her how to make the oven explosions as well as the gentlest horrified. He tells her about the Witch work. As the Witch leans in, Hansel and covered notes” ( Star), who lives there and bakes children into Gretel push her in and slam the door. Russell Braun rightfully claims his gingerbread. In frustration, Peter pulls The oven gets hotter and hotter until it place on the concert, opera and recital down the curtains to discover a raven explodes. Hansel and Gretel see that all stages of the world. — the Witch’s familiar — which has been the gingerbread children have suddenly This season Mr. Braun returns eavesdropping. The two rush off to find become real children, still asleep. Hansel to the Hansel and Gretel. again recites the Witch’s spell, and the as Don Alfonso in Così fan tutte. He In a forest glade, Gretel is making a youngsters spring to life. As Peter and will also star in Hell’s Fury, a staged crown of wildflowers as Hansel picks Gertrude rush in and embrace their performance of Hanns Eisler’s the last of the wild strawberries. A offspring, a huge gingerbread cake of Hollywood Songbook at the Luminato cuckoo calls, and the children parrot the Witch is discovered. Everyone joins Festival. In concert, he sings one of the bird’s call, eating strawberries all the in giving thanks to the Lord. his signature pieces, Britten’s War

Michigan Opera Theatre www.MichiganOpera.org BRAVO • Spring 2019 7 HANSEL AND GRETEL

Requiem, with the Toronto Symphony Seattle and holds degrees from The Cheyanne has also performed with Orchestra, at the Proms in Juilliard School and Mannes College Chautauqua Opera, Charleston and with the Atlanta of Music. She spent several years in Symphony Orchestra and Opera Symphony Orchestra. Europe as an Ensemble member of Theatre of Saint Last season Opernhaus Zürich. Louis. She has won included a return to several competitions, the Lute Breuer (Puppeteer) including First Place as Pentheus in The Lute Breuer is a New York-based in the William C. Bassarids, to the puppeteer. Broadway performance Byrd Young Artist Competition, the credits include War Horse at the David Daniels Young for Ill in The Visit of the Old Lady Vivian Beaumont Theatre, The Pee Artist Competition and second and to the Calgary Opera as Figaro in Wee Herman Show at the Stephen place in the FAVA Grand Concours . Sondheim Theatre Competition. This season, Cheyanne and The New York makes her debut as Pamina in The Kate Brehm (Associate Puppet Spectacular at Radio Magic with Opera Grand Rapids Director, Puppeteer) City Music Hall. and Toledo Opera. She hails from Kate Brehm is a movement He performed in Eaton Rapids, Michigan and is a proud specialist who performs and devises the national and alumna of Oakland University. original works of visual theater using international tours objects and physical performance. of Mabou Mines’ Katherine DeYoung (Sandman) Her company, imnotlost, has Peter and Wendy as well as directing been producing puppetry for The Yin Mei Dance Traverse City, Michigan native performances and Company in Beijing. Other productions Katherine DeYoung is the resident mezzo- of the Michigan events in New York have taken him to Rio, Moscow, Mexico Opera Theatre Studio. In addition to City since 2003. City, Seoul and Edinburgh. Additional the Sandman, her Michigan Opera Well-known for its New York productions include Rite of Theatre roles this large and unusual Spring at , Sisters season include Old puppet objects, at Abrons Art Center, Charcoal Boy at Lady in Candide and uncanny stories and Here, The Lighthouse Keeper at Dixon Mae in The Grapes of madcap character, imnotlost is part of Place and Pip’s Island currently running Wrath. Last summer, the fabric of a vibrant New York City in Times Square. He has worked with she performed as puppetry scene. Select directing and/ Basil Twist on multiple occasions and is an apprentice with or design credits include The Poofs at very happy to do so again. . She Theater for One box in Times Square, also recently completed her master’s Dark Space at Chashama on 42nd Sean Burpee (Puppeteer) degree at the University of Houston Street and The Eye Which We Do Not Puppeteer Sean Burpee makes where she performed Isabella in The Have at Dixon Place. his stage debut with Hansel and Italian Girl in Algiers, Gertrude in Gretel. He is a former advertising Romeo and Juliet and Elizabeth Proctor Deanna Breiwick (Gretel) executive in New in The Crucible. Her favorite role American soprano Deanna Breiwick York City working performed is the title role in Carmen makes her Michigan Opera Theatre for BuzzFeed and with Opera in the Ozarks. Katherine debut as Gretel in Hansel and Gretel Slate Magazine. In is a District Winner of the 2018 and will perform Rosasharn in The addition to puppetry, National Council Grapes of Wrath he is a passionate Auditions and is an alumna of Michigan with MOT later this artist specializing in State University. season. Hailed by embroidery, pottery the New York Times and ink drawings. He is also a graphic Matthew DiBattista (Witch) for her “sweet sound designer working with clients such Matthew DiBattista returned to and floating high as Jonathan Van Ness (Queer Eye), Michigan Opera Theatre this season notes,” a series Throwing Shade podcast, Comedy as Monsieur Triquet in Eugene Onegin of house and role Bang Bang, Conan O’Brien and LeVar prior to singing the debuts encompass Ms. Breiwick’s Burton. Witch in Hansel and 2018-19 season. She will return to the Gretel. He made Metropolitan Opera as a Shadow in Cheyanne Coss (Dew Fairy) his debut with Marnie, debut Adina in L’Elisir d’Amore As the Michigan Opera Theatre MOT last season with Opera Omaha, debut the role Studio soprano, Cheyanne Coss as Matteo Borsa in of Cunegonde in Candide with Des most recently appeared in Candide . Described Moines Metro Opera and Norina in as Paquette and Immigrant. She as “brilliant” and Don Pasquale for a house debut with is a graduate of the New England “mega-talented” by , he Berkshire Opera Festival. Orchestral Conservatory of Music and recently has performed with the Metropolitan highlights include a return to the made her San Francisco debut in the Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Opera Charleston Symphony for Handel’s role of Aminta in The Shepherd King Theatre of Saint Louis and Boston Messiah. Ms. Breiwick is a native of with the Merola Opera Program. Symphony Orchestra, as well as

8 BRAVO • Spring 2019 www.MichiganOpera.org Michigan Opera Theatre HANSEL AND GRETEL other major orchestras, festivals, and conductors across the and abroad. Recent performances include Goro in and Scaramuccio in with Santa Fe Opera, as well as Normano in with , Don Basilio in The Marriage of Figaro with Boston Lyric Opera and the First Jew in with Minnesota Orchestra. He can also be heard in recording as the title role in Judgment of Midas with Albany Records. Mr. DiBattista is an alumnus of University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Some of the world’s most creative Emily Fons (Hansel) Mezzo-soprano Emily Fons is minds suffer from one of the most impressing audiences and critics alike through her remarkable versatility as devastating conditions — an interpreter of Mozart and baroque music as well as of Rossini and more bipolar disorder. modern composers. This season, Ms. Fons returns to Our scientists and research participants are committed to Michigan after having finding answers and effective personalized treatments. performed in concert at the David DiChiera Grand Salute and as Sesto in Julius Caesar. Join us. Be a source of hope. She also appears as Cherubino in The Right now, gifts are being matched up to $5 million. Marriage of Figaro with San Diego Opera, Laurene in The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs with Seattle Opera and the title-role in The Coronation of Poppea PrechterProgram.org with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. 734-763-4895 Last season, Ms. Fons performed the roles of Ruby in Cold Mountain with North Carolina Opera, Sister Helen Prejean in Dead Man Walking with Kentucky Opera, the title role in L’enfant et les sortilèges with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and both a reprisal of L’enfant and La Ciesca in Gianni Schicchi at the Seiji Ozawa Music Academy. Other concert appearances included A Midsummer Night’s Dream with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.

Mary-Hollis Hundley (Gertrude) Soprano Mary-Hollis Hundley returns with Sarasota Opera and Helena in degree in Voice from Mannes College to the Detroit Opera House as Gertrude A Midsummer Night’s Dream with of Music and a bachelor’s degree in in Hansel and Gretel following her soloist Virginia Opera. Ms. Hundley was an Arts Administration and Music with performance in Alessandra Ferri: Art of apprentice with Santa Fe Opera, a the University of Kentucky. the Pas de Deux. Performance highlights Gerdine Young Artist with Opera include Zerlina in Don Theatre of Saint Louis and a Studio Dorothy James (Puppeteer) Giovanni with Opera Artist with Sarasota Opera. She was a Dorothy is a Brooklyn-based on the James, Meg Metropolitan Opera National Council puppeteer who has performed off- Page in Sir John in Love Auditions Regional Finalist, a George Broadway at 59E59 and at Radio City with Bronx Opera, London Foundation Finalist and a Music Hall. Specializing in devised Musetta in La bohème Richard Gaddes Fund Career Grant puppet theater, she has developed with Tulsa Opera, Recipient with Opera Theatre of Saint work at St. Ann’s Warehouse, The High Priestess in Aïda Louis. She holds a Master of Music Object Movement Residency, The

Michigan Opera Theatre www.MichiganOpera.org BRAVO • Spring 2019 9 HANSEL AND GRETEL

Eugene O’Neill with the Grand Rapids Symphony Crucifer, Ant Sandwich and My Cold Theater Center, and Orchestra. She holds BFA in directing Dead Fingers. Through Bobbindoctrin, FigurTeateret in from NYU and an MFA in Studio Joel has enjoyed many collaborations . Her work can Art with a focus on multimedia and with Houston arts groups, including be seen in BBC’s new experimental puppetry the Danse Macabre children’s series Moon from University of trilogy with Two Star and Me, Amazon’s Michigan. She is a Symphony, The Long Patriot and various J. William Fulbright Christmas Ride Home music videos. Dorothy is also a paper grantee in the field (by Paula Vogel) with cut artist and avid baker. of performance art Unhinged Productions, for creative work in Rot (by John Harvey) Stephen Lord (Conductor) multimedia shadow with Mildred’s Umbrella Theatre Company, The Danube (by Marie Stephen Lord joined Michigan puppetry in Solo, Indonesia. Her Irene-Fornez) and The Noblest of Drugs Opera Theatre as Principal Conductor work has been supported by the (by Joel Orr, directed by Jason Nodler) in November 2016, and he will lead the Princess Grace Foundation, the Knight with Infernal Bridegroom Productions. company’s artistic activities through Foundation, the Erb Family Foundation, Joel has also performed as an actor the 2018-19 season. the National Endowment for the Arts in Houston with The Catastrophic Opera News named and from 2011-2015 she served as Theatre, in roles including Nagg in Lord one of the “25 the Program Manager of Puppetry Samuel Beckett’s Endgame and Hubert Most Powerful Names and Performing Arts for the Detroit in Donald Barthelme’s Snow White. This in U.S. Opera” (one Institute of Arts. is Joel’s third outing with Basil Twist’s of four conductors), production of Hansel and Gretel, having and he is continually Gordon W. Olson previously performed with The Houston praised for conducting (Lighting Design) Grand Opera and the Atlanta Opera. both traditional and contemporary operatic works. For his debut with San Before assisting Francisco Opera, conducting Rigoletto, on the Broadway Justin Perkins (Puppeteer, one critic observed, “He partnered productions Puppet Repair Manager) his singers perfectly and gave of Good People Justin Perkins is a theater artist everything its proper weight – he was (World Premiere) based in New York. He designs and master of the score’s details and the and Jerusalem (Tony builds objects for performance and also orchestra played superbly for him.” He Nominated – Best Lighting Design) performs as a puppeteer and actor. In is currently music director emeritus for in 2011, Gordon Olson spent three recent months, Justin Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and was years as Resident Lighting Designer and his work have formerly the music director of Boston with Florida Grand Opera, where his appeared at Abrons Lyric Opera. designs for Madame Butterfly, Lucia di Arts Center, Ping In addition to this work in Saint Lammermoor and Così fan tutte won Chong + Company, Louis and Detroit, he has been a critical praise. Between 2006-2008, Ringling International frequent guest conductor at the Gordon served as the Lighting Arts Festival (Sarasota), Canadian Opera Company, Lyric Supervisor for Houston Grand Opera, Miller Theater at Opera of Chicago, Santa Fe Opera, where he designed the lighting for a Columbia University, La Mama, and the English world premiere production of Hansel Triskelion Arts and more. His visual art National Opera, returning there for and Gretel. Other design engagements unifies, sometimes uneasily, the organic four consecutive seasons. include Pagliacci with San Antonio with the mass-produced, baroque An outstanding mentor and Opera and with the refinement with punk anarchism. Justin discoverer of young talent, he has been Renaissance Theatre. To date, Gordon lives in Brooklyn and was born in New directly responsible for the initial work has been involved with the lighting of Hampshire. Justin teaches puppetry of Lawrence Brownlee, Russell Thomas, over 90 productions in his professional and filmmaking in public schools and Morris Robinson, , career. He received his BFA from the community centers in NYC. He holds Christine Goerke, Patricia Racette and University of Arizona in 2001 and degrees in theater from Vassar and literally scores more of today’s best his MFA from the University of Texas Sarah Lawrence Colleges. singers. — Austin in 2004. Currently Gordon is a Lecturer in Lighting Design at Kimberley S. Prescott Carrie Morris (Puppeteer) the University of North Carolina at (Associate Director) Carrie Morris is a director and Charlotte. Kimberley S. Prescott is excited performance artist producing work to return to Michigan Opera Theatre that combines puppetry, multimedia Joel Orr (Puppeteer) where she last assistant and the gestural language of Joel Orr is the founding Artistic directed Julius Caesar experimental theater. As a director Director of Bobbindoctrin Puppet in 2012. The majority and puppet designer, her work has Theatre. He has written and directed of her work has been at been seen in the NYC Fringe Festival, several puppet plays, including The opera companies like The Athens Museum of Art, Seattle’s Black Box, Corpus Struwwelpeter, the Baltimore Opera, Annex Theater, the Canadian Fringe Ivan the Fool, The Mauist, The Crime WolfTrap Opera, the Festival and is an invited artist working of the Assistant Master Butler, The Washington Opera, the

10 BRAVO • Spring 2019 www.MichiganOpera.org Michigan Opera Theatre Atlanta Opera, Palm Beach Opera, the Hansel and Gretel: Kentucky Opera, Opera San Antonio, , Lyric Opera of Kansas City and Seattle Opera where she Puppets Amplify worked on the 1995 production of Der Ring auf des Niebelungen. Kimberley has also worked abroad with opera houses in Italy, France, Germany, Scotland Fantasy of Classic and Ireland. Her home company from 1994-2006 was the Houston Grand Opera where she stage managed over Fairy Tale 50 productions including 12 world premieres (such as , Florencia BY ERICA HOBBS en el Amazonas, Little Women, Cold Sassy Tree and The Little Prince) and t’s a tale as old as time. A young multiple outside projects. Kimberley’s brother and sister are driven from current home is as the Production Stage Itheir poverty-stricken family to Manager for Opera Theatre of Saint fend for themselves in the woods, Louis where she has worked since 2008 only to be nearly eaten by a witch and has staged managed, among other who lives in a gingerbread house. productions, the world premieres of In the opera, Hansel and Gretel The Golden Ticket, Champion, 27 and presents the classic Grimm’s fairy Shalimar the Clown. tale in Grand Opera style, including a few new characters and set to Basil Twist (Director) folk music-inspired themes by Basil Twist is a third generation composer Engelbert Humperdinck. puppeteer whose work has spanned With Michigan Opera Theatre’s throughout opera, Broadway, dance and production, Hansel and Gretel takes beyond. In addition to Hansel and Gretel, the fantasy to a whole new level – he has conceived with puppets. and directed, La Bella “Whether that be a giant witch or a Dormente Nel Bosco. tree or just a piece of fabric, the craft Mr. Twist’s Broadway of puppetry is the magic of making face, a huge headdress and arms credits include Charlie something come alive on stage,” said twice the length of real arms. Three and The Chocolate director and master puppeteer Basil puppeteers manage the bottom, one Factory, Oh, Hello! On Twist. to work the legs, one to make the Broadway and The Twist designed the production, costume rise up and down and one to Addams Family, for which he won a including the puppets, costumes and make the whole thing move around. . In dance, Mr. Twist scenery, keeping his “puppeteer’s “The mechanism and the created the sets and puppetry for the touch” everywhere. puppeteers allow the singer to world premiere of Dorothy and The With the exception of Hansel and perform as this huge flamboyant, wild Prince of Oz for The Tulsa Ballet and Gretel themselves, he said that nearly witch,” Twist said. “The witch is going collaborated on a new Nutcracker with everything on stage is made through to eat the kid, I wanted to really see Christopher Wheeldon for The Joffrey puppetry or through augmented that.” Ballet. Also with Wheeldon, Cinderella costume. Those elements include Twist created the costume in at the Dutch National and San Francisco a larger-than-life mother and father partnership with the Jim Henson ballets and A Winter’s Tale for the Royal and 14 angel marionettes operated Company to make his original design Ballet. Mr. Twist is the sole American by puppeteers from high above the come to life, who he said are the best to graduate from the École Supérieure stage. people to work with in the industry. Nationale des Arts de la Marionnette “Typically, there’s a children’s “They were excited to do in Charleville-Mezieres, France. His chorus on stage as the angels,” he something out there with me, showmanship was spotlighted in New said. ”But with puppets you can make because I tend to do somewhat out York by “The Jim Henson International them fly.” there stuff,” he said. Festival of Puppetry” with his award The most impressive effect Though based on a children’s winning The Araneidae Show. Mr. Twist of them all, however, may be the story, Twist said Hansel and Gretel has taught at leading universities such opera’s antagonist: The Witch. is not directed at kids, though it as Stanford, Duke, While performed by a live singer, is accessible to them. He said the and Brown. He has received an Obie, traditionally a male, the character Drama Desk Award, five UNIMA performance is still a Grand Opera requires an additional three Awards, two Bessie Awards, a New York with incredible music, and that Innovative Theatre Award, a Henry puppeteers to manage the 15 foot everyone can love puppets. Hewes Award, a Guggenheim, a USA costume. Inside, the singer manages “Puppets should not turn adults Artists fellowship and a Doris Duke everything from the waist up, off to the shows,” he said. “They Performing Artist Award. including an oversized prosthetic should turn adults on to puppetry.”

Michigan Opera Theatre www.MichiganOpera.org BRAVO • Spring 2019 11 MICHIGAN OPERA THEATRE ORCHESTRA — HANSEL AND GRETEL

VIOLIN I FLUTE HORN Eliot Heaton+ John Madison+ Laura Larson+ Andrew Pelletier+ Alison Chang+ Concertmaster Principal Acting Principal Principal Principal Laura Roelofs+ Jacqueline Hanson+ Shantanique Moore Garrett Krohn Assistant Scott Stefanko+ Helen Near Carrie Banfield-Taplin+ PERCUSSION Concertmaster Barbara Zmich- Dave Denniston John Dorsey+ Emily Barkakati+ McClellan+ Tamara Kosinksi Principal Kevin Filewych+ James Greer Sally Heffelfinger- David Taylor Henrik Karapetyan+ Julianne Zinn Pituch+ Beth Kirton+ Acting Principal David Ammer+ HARP Andrew Wu+ Yuki Harding Principal Patricia Terry-Ross+ Ran Cheng Nadine Deleury+ Gordon Simmons+ Principal David Ormai Principal Yuri Popowycz Yuliya Kim+ Brian Bowman+ Dan Thomas+ Principal Brittany Lasch+ + Michigan Opera II Andrea Yun+ J. William King+ Principal Theatre Core Victoria Haltom+ David Huckaby Lisa Raschiatore Greg Near+ Orchestra Principal David Peshlakai Christopher Hernacki Molly Hughes+ Detroit Federation of Bryan Johnston+ Francisco Delgado+ Musicians Local #5 Velda Kelly+ Derek Weller+ Principal Matthew Lyon American Federation of Dan Stachyra+ Principal Gregory Quick+ Musicians Jenny Wan+ Clark Suttle+ Jaqueline Nutting Aaron Keaster Melody Wootton Robert Stiles

MICHIGAN OPERA THEATRE ORCHESTRA — THE GRAPES OF WRATH

VIOLIN I VIOLA FLUTE BASSOON TIMPANI Eliot Heaton+ John Madison+ Laura Larson+ Francisco Delgado+ Alison Chang+ Concertmaster Principal Acting Principal Principal Principal Laura Roelofs+ Jacqueline Hanson+ Dennis Carter Gregory Quick+ Assistant Concertmaster Scott Stefanko+ PERCUSSION Anna Bittar-Weller+ Barbara Zmich- OBOE CONTRA BASSOON John Dorsey+ Kevin Filewych+ McClellan+ Alex Hayashi Christian Green Principal Beth Kirton+ James Greer Acting Principal David Taylor Henrik Karapetyan+ Julianne Zinn Sally Heffelfinger- ENGLISH HORN Andrew Wu+ Pituch+ Sally Heffelfinger-Pitch+ HARP David Ormai CELLO Patricia Terry-Ross+ Yuri Popowycz Nadine Deleury+ ENGLISH HORN HORN Principal Mallory Tabb Principal Sally Heffelfinger- Andrew Pelletier+ Yuliya Kim+ Pituch+ Principal /CELESTE VIOLIN II Daniel Thomas+ Carrie Banfield-Taplin+ Tessa Hartle Victoria Haltom+ Andrea Yun+ CLARINET Principal David Huckaby Brian Bowman+ TRUMPET GUITAR/BANJO Molly Hughes+ David Peshlakai Principal David Ammer+ Al Ayoub Bryan Johnston+ J. William King+ Principal Velda Kelly+ BASS Gordon Simmons+ + Michigan Opera Dan Stachyra+ Derek Weller+ Theatre Core Jenny Wan+ Principal Joseph Lulloff TROMBONE Orchestra Jaqueline Nutting Clark Suttle+ Brittany Lasch+ Melody Wootton Greg Sheldon Principal Detroit Federation of Robert Stiles Greg Near+ Musicians Local #5 Bryan Pokorney American Federation of Musicians

12 BRAVO • Spring 2019 www.MichiganOpera.org Michigan Opera Theatre CHILDREN’S CHORUS — HANSEL AND GRETEL

April 4 & 6 Natalie Nikolajevs^ April 10 & 14 Rachel Miltimore^ *Gingerbread Mallory Childs+ Joslyn Phillips* Mallory Childs+ Natalie Nikolajevs^ +Puppeteer Megan DuRocher+ Shreya Pillai^ Stephanie Davidescu^ Joslyn Phillips* ^Chorus of Children Tyler Edwards+ Skylar Reynolds* Megan DuRocher+ Elizabeth Pryer^ Nadim Ezzeddine+ Anna Schultz* Tyler Edwards+ Skylar Reynolds* Members of the Jaeden Footitt+ Keara Schultz* Nadim Ezzeddine+ Anna Schultz* Michigan Opera Jehnya Footitt^ Bridget Shene* Lillian Fellows^ Keara Schultz* Theatre Children’s Ava Kern^ Shayla Taylor^ Jaeden Footitt+ Bridget Shene* Chorus Adam Kerr^ Isabella Vesprini+ Jehnya Footitt^ Piper Teasdale^ Molly Levin^ Natalie Watson+ Elizabeth Garcia^ Isabella Vesprini+ Anika Lopes* Claire Wolfe+ Anika Lopes* Natalie Watson+ Lauren Mattison* Bridgitte Zook* Reed Koesel^ Claire Wolfe+ Rachel Miltimore^ Rebecca Lucksom^ Bridgitte Zook* Lauren Mattison* MICHIGAN OPERA THEATRE CHORUS — THE GRAPES OF WRATH

Soprano Alto Bass Brandy Adams Gregory Ashe Olivia Johnson Matthew Daniels Carol Ambrogio-Wood Brent Doucette Kaswanna Kanyinda Kurt Frank Alaina Brown Camron Gray Madison Montambault Branden C.S. Hood Claire Chardon Richard Jackson, Jr. Kristina Riegle Matthew Konopacki Jenny Cresswell Brandon Motz Tiffanie Waldron David Moan Fidelia Darmakahsih Robert Skylis Antona Yost Paolo Pacheco Sandra Periord Greg Ashe Frank Pitts Heidi Zook Seth Johnson Brandon Spencer Adrian Leskiw Kevin Starnes David Roberts The American Guild of Musical Artists is the offical union of the Michigan Opera Theatre Chorus

Has Your Company Outgrown QuickBooks? Discover Microsoft’s Dynamics 365 Business Central

Call Microsoft’s “Most Responsive” Partner

800.360.6970 www.maskeny.com 100 W Big Beaver Rd, Suite 200 , MI 48084

Michigan Opera Theatre www.MichiganOpera.org BRAVO • Spring 2019 13 The Grapes of Wrath MAY 11-19, 2019

MUSIC Ricky Ian Gordon

LIBRETTO Michael Korie based on the novel by John Steinbeck

WORLD PREMIERE First performed by Minnesota Opera in St. Paul on February 10, 2007

CONDUCTOR DIRECTOR Michael Christie James Robinson

ASSOC. DIRECTOR CHORUS MASTER Richard Gammon Suzanne Mallare Acton

SET DESIGN COSTUME DESIGN LIGHTING DESIGN WIG & MAKEUP Allen Moyer James Schuette Christopher Akerlind DESIGN Joanne Weaver

SUPERTITLES REPETITEUR STAGE MANAGER Dee Dorsey Tessa Hartle Ken Saltzman

This project is supported in part by an award from Elaine Fontana 2019 Spring Opera Conductor Sponsor Season Sponsor

The Grapes of Wrath is a co-production of Michigan Opera Theatre and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis

14 BRAVO • Spring 2019 www.MichiganOpera.org Michigan Opera Theatre THE GRAPES OF WRATH

CAST Mojave, Granma dies during the night, (In order of appearance) but Ma keeps her death a secret until Rosasharn...... Deanna Breiwick they get to California. Upon arriving, Ma Joad...... Katharine Goeldner they are encouraged to see a valley Pa Joad...... Levi Hernandez of green. Ma reveals that Granma has Uncle John...... Robert Orth died during the crossing. Facing an Connie Rivers...... Harry Greenleaf* uncertain future, the family hopes for Ruthie Joad...... Natalie Nikolajevs a better in life in California. Winfield Joad...... Cooper Bush ACT 2 Noah Joad/Prison Guard...... Hugh Russell The Joads continue on to a Al Joad...... Michael Day* Hooverville — a squalid shantytown. Tom Joad...... Tobias Greenhalgh Ma struggles to keep the family Jim Casy...... Geoffrey Agpalo together. Connie regrets leaving Muley Graves/Grampa/Contractor of Oklahoma and storms off, never to Migrant Workers/ Patrol Guard...... Dennis Petersen return. The next day, the Joad men Pete Fowler/Ragged Man/Bill...... Matthew Konopacki get involved with unscrupulous ...... Paolo Pacheco Joe/Pump Guy 1 contractors. A woman is killed in the Fred/Pump Guy 2...... Kevin Starnes struggle, and Tom knocks a deputy Hank/Lou...... Brent Doucette unconscious, violating parole. Casy Senator...... Robert Skylis volunteers to stay behind and take Muley’s Wife...... Madison Montambault the blame as the Joads escape to Granma...... Deborah Nansteel the truck. Noah Joad, feeling himself Man in Suit/Inspector...... Allen Michael Jones* a burden on the family, goes to the Constable/Joe...... Brandon Spencer creek and drowns himself. Traffic Cop/Peach Checker...... Frank Pitts Newly relocated at a clean, A Trucker/Jim...... Matthew Daniels self-policing government camp, the Pump Guy 3...... Richard Jackson Joads feel like people again. Local Mae...... Katherine DeYoung* farm owners send in agitators to Val...... David Moan cause a fight during a hoedown so Bill/Commissary Clerk...... Branden C.S. Hood they can close down the camp, but the croppers remain peaceful. Pa Cropper Woman...... Jenny Cresswell persuades the Joads to go to a new Cropper Husband/George...... Camron Gray farm. They realize that they have Deputy...... Gregory Ashe been brought in as scabs, triggering Cabin Mistress...... Kaswanna Kanyinda a riot outside the camp. Tom meets Washroom Guard...... Seth Johnson up with Jim Casy, now an agitator Jake...... Brandon Motz for farm workers’ rights. When Casy Soprano...... Sandra Periord is bludgeoned to death by a deputy, Boy in Barn...... Bennett Vesprini Tom kills him and goes into hiding. The remaining Joads find work picking *Michigan Opera Theatre Studio Artist cotton and taking shelter in a boxcar. During the rainy season, Rosasharn foreclosed on it. goes into labor, but delivers a stillborn SYNOPSIS Tom and Jim decide to accompany Setting: Oklahoma, Southwestern child. Ma asks Uncle John to go bury the family to California, where fruit United States and California in Moses while Rosasharn recovers to picking jobs are supposed to be plenty. the mid-1930s ease her pain; Uncle John instead Al Joad buys an old truck, and the chooses to cast Moses’ dead body family loads up the few possessions into the river so that everyone can Prologue they can take. Connie and Rosasharn see “the fruits of their blindness.” The sharecroppers recall the dream of a new life and home for The raging river has flooded the devastation of their native Oklahoma Moses, their unborn baby. The next remaining Joads out of their home. lands, brought about by drought and day the Joads bury Grampa, who The truck is swept away in the water, economic depression. has died during the night. The family and Al is lost when he goes after it. then continues their journey down Ma, Pa, Ruthie, Winfield, and a very ACT 1 Route 66. weak Rosasharn seek refuge in a Having been released early from At a diner, the Joads experience barn, where they find a boy and his prison on parole for good behavior, contempt from the truckers and starving father. Ma intuitively knows Tom Joad meets up with Jim Casy, a waitresses when they try to buy only what Rosasharn must do, and ushers lapsed preacher. When they get to the the food they can afford, but the everyone else outside. Rosasharn deserted and destroyed Joad family diner owner and waitress decide to nourishes the starving man with milk farm, they discover that the bank has act out of compassion. Crossing the from her breast.

Michigan Opera Theatre www.MichiganOpera.org BRAVO • Spring 2019 15 THE GRAPES OF WRATH

Suzanne Mallare Acton role debut there last year as Alfredo Cooper Bush (Winfield Joad) (Chorus Master) in La Traviata and has performed Cooper Bush, age 11, is excited to Chorus Master Suzanne Mallare in the company’s be making his professional debut with Acton has received wide acclaim for productions of The the Michigan Opera Theatre. Past her choral direction Barber of Seville, credits include involving more than Emmeline and the Winthrop Paroo 125 productions in world premiere of in The Music Man and seven languages. Shalimar the Clown Young Shrek in Shrek Conducting credits where he created the Musical, both include West Side the role of Gopinath. with the Saline Story, The Music Man, Geoffrey’s role debuts next year High School Drama Pirates of Penzance, include Tamino at Opera Maine, Don Club. He was also The Mikado, Daughter of the Regiment, Ottavio at Michigan Opera Theatre an ensemble member in the Michigan Carmen, La Traviata and Carmina and Nemorino at Sarasota Opera. Opera Theatre Children’s Chorus Burana with The Medium for Michigan He has performed in the Cousin from production of The Secret World of Og. Opera Theatre; My Fair Lady and La Nowhere and Lehar’s The Land of Traviata for Dayton Opera; Smiles with Chicago Folks Operetta Michael Christie (Conductor) The Merry Widow and Madama and The Merry Widow, The Consul, The Barber of Seville and The Ghosts Michael Christie is a thoughtfully Butterfly for Artpark; and Tosca for innovative conductor, equally at Augusta Opera. Ms. Acton is the of Versailles while at Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music. home in the symphonic and opera founding Director of the Michigan worlds, who is focused on making Opera Theatre Children s Chorus. She Last year he was a recipient of the The William Matheus Sullivan the audience experience at his is also the Artistic and Music Director performances of metro Detroit’s Rackham Choir. Musical Foundation Career Grant. He has performed as a soloist in entertaining, the Verdi , Beethoven’s 9th enlightening, and Christopher Akerlind enriching. The New (Lighting Design) Symphony, Bach’s Mass in B Minor and Medelssohn’s Lobgesang. York Times reports, Tony Award-winning lighting “Michael Christie designer Christopher Akerlind has Deanna Breiwick (Rosasharn) is a director open designed more than to adventure 600 theater and American soprano Deanna and challenge,” and The productions Breiwick makes her Michigan Opera Enquirer declares, “If Michael Christie around the world. Theatre debut as Gretel in Hansel and represents the future of music in this His work includes Gretel and will perform Rosasharn country, the future looks promising The Barber of in The Grapes of Wrath with MOT indeed.” Christie was featured in Seville at the later this season. Hailed by The New Opera News in August 2012 as one of Metropolitan Opera York Times for her “sweet sound 25 people believed to “break out and and Appomattox and The Abduction and floating high become major forces in the field in the from the Seraglio at San Francisco notes,” a series coming decade.” At Minnesota Opera, Opera. He is the former Head of of house and role Christie led 24 productions over eight Lighting Design and Director of the debuts encompass years, six seasons as its first-ever Music Design & Production Programs at Ms. Breiwick’s Director (2012-2018) – from staples the CalArts School of Theater as 2018-19 season. of the repertory such as La Traviata, well as the former resident lighting She will return to , , La Boheme, designer at the Opera Theatre of Saint the Metropolitan Fanciulla del West, Arabella, and Das Louis. His awards include two Tonys Opera as a Shadow in Marnie, debut Rheingold to performances of 20th for Best Lighting Design for Indecent Adina in L’Elisir d’Amore with Opera and 21st century operas via Minnesota and Light in the Piazza, the latter of Omaha, debut the role of Cunegonde Opera’s New Works Initiative, which also won a Drama Desk Award in Candide with Des Moines Metro including Bernard Herrmann’s for Outstanding Lighting Design. Opera and Norina in Don Pasquale for only opera Wuthering Heights, the He also received an Obie Award for a house debut with Berkshire Opera world premiere of Kevin Puts’ Silent sustained excellence for his work Off- Festival. Orchestral highlights include Night which won the Pulitzer Prize Broadway. a return to the Charleston Symphony in 2012, the world premiere of Kevin for Handel’s Messiah. Ms. Breiwick is Puts’ The Manchurian Candidate, Geoffrey Agpalo (Jim Casy) a native of Seattle and holds degrees and the world premiere of Paul from The Juilliard School and Mannes Moravec’s The Shining. Geoffrey Agpalo returns to the College of Music. She spent several role of Jim Casy after portraying the years in Europe as an Ensemble preacher in the production’s premiere member of Opernhaus Zürich. of The Grapes of Wrath at the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. He made his

16 BRAVO • Spring 2019 www.MichiganOpera.org Michigan Opera Theatre THE GRAPES OF WRATH

Michael Day (Al Joad) Ricky Ian Gordon (Composer) with ’s Betty Michael Day is the resident tenor Ricky Ian Gordon is a leading writer Allen and Diva Awards. for the Michigan Opera Theatre of vocal music that spans art song, Studio. This season, he performed opera, and musical Tobias Greenhalgh (Tom Joad) the title role in theater. His music Baritone Tobias Greenhalgh Candide as well as a has been performed performs Tom Joad in The Grapes of peasant in Eugene or recorded by Wrath, a role for which he received Onegin. Last season, notable artists such acclaim with Opera Theatre of Saint he sang Spoletta as Renée Fleming, Louis in 2017. Recent work includes in Tosca, Pablo Audra MacDonald, performances at Picasso and F. Scott Kristin Chenoweth , the Fitzgerald in 27 and and , among many Glyndebourne Opera Don Basilio in The Marriage of others. Having composed operas Tour, the Festival Figaro with MOT. Recently, Michael such as 27, The Grapes of Wrath, International d’Art performed the role of Leo Hubbard and Orpheus and Euridice, Gordon Lyrique d’Aix-en- in Regina with Opera Theatre of Saint has emerged as one of today’s most Provence and Vienna Louis. His performance credits also exciting opera composers. State Opera. Tobias include Indiana University Opera Ricky has been a visiting was a Gerdine Young Artist with Theatre, Indianapolis Pro Musica, professor at colleges and universities Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, a Filene Bloomington Chamber Singers throughout the country including Yale, Artist at Wolf Trap Opera, a young and Utah Festival Opera. Michael The Juilliard School, Eastman School artist with Palm Beach Opera and was is a two-time Metropolitan Opera of Music, University of Michigan, a vocal fellow with the Toronto Music National Council District Winner and Michigan State University, and his Festival. He is a recent graduate of winner of the Indianapolis Matinee alma mater, Carnegie Mellon. Among The Juilliard School, from which he Musicale Competition. He holds a his honors are an OBIE Award and the earned both his Bachelor of Music and bachelor’s degree in Music Education Stephen Sondheim Award and many Master of Music degrees. He is a first and Vocal Performance as well as a awards from The National Endowment place winner of the 2013 Liederkranz master’s degree in Voice from Indiana of the Arts, The American Music Competition in the opera division. University. Center and ASCAP. Other accolades include the grand prize in the Metropolitan International Katherine DeYoung (Mae) Katharine Goeldner (Ma Joad) Music Festival Competition, first place Traverse City, Michigan native With an elegant combination of in the Mario Lanza Competition, Katherine DeYoung is the resident warm, rich vocal tone and assured second place in the Oratorio Society mezzo-soprano of the Michigan Opera artistry, Katharine Goeldner is of New York Competition and Theatre Studio. Her Michigan Opera recognized as one of today’s finest third place in the Gerda Lissner Theatre roles this season include mezzo-. Competition. Additionally, he is the Old Lady in Candide Highlights co-creator of Operation Superpower, and Sandman in include Delilah a superhero opera for kids that Hansel and Gretel. in Samson and promotes an anti-bullying stance from Last summer, she Delilah with Virginia early school years. performed as an Opera; Ma Joad apprentice with Santa in The Grapes of Harry Greenleaf Fe Opera. She also Wrath with Opera (Connie Rivers) recently completed Theatre of Saint Louis; Jacqueline Wixom, Michigan native Harry her master’s degree at the University Onassis in JFK in Montreal and Fort Greenleaf is the resident baritone of of Houston where she performed Worth Opera; Amneris in Aida with the Michigan Opera Theatre Studio. Isabella in The Italian Girl in Algiers, Utah Opera; Thirza in The Wreckers for This season, he performs the Captain Gertrude in Romeo and Juliet and Bard SummerScape festival; in Eugene Onegin and performs the Elizabeth Proctor in The Crucible. Her Giovanna Seymour in at roles of Fiorello and favorite role performed is the title role the Metropolitan Opera and Welsh Sergeant in The in Carmen with Opera in the Ozarks. National Opera and Cherubino in Barber of Seville. He Katherine is a District Winner of the The Marriage of Figaro, Ascanio in also performed Dr. 2018 Metropolitan Opera National Benvenuto Cellini, Nicklausse in Pangloss in Candide. Council Auditions and is an alumna of The Tales of Hoffmann, Orlofsky Previous MOT credits Michigan State University. in Die Fledermaus and Schoolboy include Leo Stein in at the Metropolitan Opera. and Man Ray in 27, She was a favorite at New York City Sciarrone in Tosca, Marullo in Rigoletto, Opera where she appeared as Erika Le Bret in Cyrano, Jake Wallace in The in Vanessa, Ruggiero in Alcina, Suzuki Girl of the Golden West, Moralès in in Madama Butterfly, and in the title Carmen and Top in The Tender Land, role of Carmen, and was honored a role he recently reprised with Des

Michigan Opera Theatre www.MichiganOpera.org BRAVO • Spring 2019 17 THE GRAPES OF WRATH

Moines Metro Opera. He has been a Critics Circle Award, and have been Deborah Nansteel (Granma) Studio Artist with the Wolf Trap Opera produced on Broadway and at Mezzo-soprano Deborah Nansteel Company, an Apprentice Artist with , Lincoln Center returns to Michigan Opera Theatre Des Moines Metro Opera and a Young Theater and theaters throughout as Granma in Artist with the . the nation as well as in Europe and The Grapes of He holds a Master of Music degree South America. Michael’s Wrath, following from the University of Cincinnati to operas composed by Stewart performances College-Conservatory of Music and Wallace include Where’s Dick?, of Grace in The is an alumnus of the Michigan State Kabbalah, Hopper’s Wife, Harvey Summer King and La University College of Music. Milk and SuperMax, set to premiere Duegne in Cyrano. in 2020. His opera works have been Highlights from Levi Hernandez (Pa Joad) produced at San Francisco Opera, her career include her Lyric Opera Baritone Levi Hernandez plays Pa Houston Grand Opera, Minnesota of Chicago debut as Gertrude in Joad in The Grapes of Wrath, a role Opera, New York City Opera, Opera Roméo et Juliette, a world-première he performed in 2017 with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, BAM Next performance of Douglas Pew and Theatre of Saint Louis. With a velvety Wave Festival, Carnegie Hall and Dara Weinberg’s opera Penny tone and a stage Disney Los Angeles Symphony Hall. with Washington National Opera’s presence which Michael collaborated with co-lyricist American Opera Initiative and the exudes confidence Amy Powers on the lyrics to the creation of the role of Lucinda in the and charm, he is musical composed world première of the Pulitzer Prize- gaining momentum by , and produced in winning composer Jennifer Higdon’s as a sought after Australia, Korea, Scandinavia, and on adaptation of Cold Mountain at Santa artist on the Broadway in 2015. Fe Opera. Deborah is a graduate of operatic stage. He the University of Cincinnati College- has performed recently with Opera Allen Moyer (Set Design) Conservatory of Music where she Colorado as Marcello in La bohème, Scenic designer Allen Moyer earned an Artist Diploma in Opera and with Chicago Opera Theater as has worked with a range of theater a Master of Music in Voice. Inspector Kildare in Elizabeth Cree, productions in opera, ballet and with Intermountain Opera as Ford in Broadway. His opera credits include Natalie Nikolajevs (Ruthie Falstaff and with the San Diego and Orfeo ed Euridice Joad) Madison operas as Alvaro in Florencia for the Metropolitan Natalie Nikolajevs is a member of en el Amazonas. Previously, he has Opera, Die the Michigan Opera Theatre Children’s performed The Triptych and The Girl Fledermaus for the Chorus (MOTCC) and a frequent of the Golden West at the Metropolitan Canadian Opera performer in mainstage Michigan Opera and the San Francisco Opera Company/ English Opera Theatre productions. She and Madama Butterfly at Houston National Opera recently performed Grand Opera, Arizona Opera plus productions the title role in MOT’s and Chattanooga Symphony & for Santa Fe Opera, San Francisco production of Amahl Opera. He also recently performed Opera, Opera Theater of Saint Louis, and the Night Visitors Handel’s Alexander’s Feast with Music Houston Grand Opera, Scottish and performed in of the Baroque, the Messiah with Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, Seattle MOTCC’s production Northwestern University and Shuisky Opera and New York City Opera. He of The Secret World in Dvorak’s Dimitrij with the Bard also designed the recent premiere of Og. Previous SummerScape festival. of The Count of Monte Cristo for the credits include the Shepherd Boy in Theater St. Gallen in Switzerland. His MOT’s production of Tosca last season Michael Korie (Librettist) ballet credits include the Sylvia for the and a sailor in MOTCC’s production of Michael Korie writes lyrics to San Francisco Ballet and Romeo and H.M.S. Pinafore. Natalie studies dance musicals and librettos to operas; for Juliet: On Motifs of Shakespeare for the at Dearborn Dance Academy and also his work in both he received the Marc Mark Morris Dance Group. Broadway enjoys performing in musicals. Her Blitzstein Award credits include , Lysistra favorite musical theatre roles that she from the American Jones, The Lyons, After Miss Julie, has played are Marie in Rodgers and Academy of Arts Thurgood, Little Dog Laughed, In My Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Molly in and Letters. Writing Life, Twelve Angry Men, The Constant Annie and Iago in Aladdin Jr. Natalie for musical theater, Wife, Reckless, The Man Who Had All would like to thank Suzanne Acton he created the lyrics the Luck and A Thousand Clowns. for always being supportive of her, to composer Scott Off Broadway credits include Giant, her mother for taking her to every Frankel’s music A Minister’s Wife, The New Century, rehearsal and for helping her practice for , Grey Gardens, Far From Passion Play, Mr. Marmalade, The and Michelle Martin for coaching her Heaven, Happiness, Doll and Meet Dazzle, Landscape of the Body, A Few for auditions. Mister Future. Their scores have Stout Individuals, Lobby Hero and This been nominated for Tony and Drama is Our Youth. Desk Awards, received The Outer

18 BRAVO • Spring 2019 www.MichiganOpera.org Michigan Opera Theatre THE GRAPES OF WRATH

Robert Orth (Uncle John) James Robinson (Director) Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Robert Orth has performed over American stage director James Houston Symphony Orchestra, 130 roles in opera and musicals. He Robinson is Artistic Director at Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, was named “Artist of the Year” by both the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Seattle Symphony Orchestra, Toronto New York City Opera where he has mounted produc- Symphony Orchestra, and Vancouver and Seattle Opera. tions including Chin’s Alice in Symphony Orchestra, among others. Highlights include Wonderland (American premiere), The New Orleans Times-Picayune said, John Buchanan Ash’s The Golden Ticket (world “Baritone Hugh Russell also grasped in Summer and premiere), Corigliano’s The Ghosts the theatrical nature of Orff’s work, Smoke broadcast of Versailles (also presented at the nearly stealing the show with a voice nationally on Public Wexford Festival) and that ranged from organ-deep rumbles Television; Adams’ The Death of to flute-like falsetto – and an acting in The Aspern Papers at the Kennedy Klinghoffer and Nixon style that drew roars of laughter as Center; the Lecturer in A Waterbird Talk in China. he captured the bullishness of an in Chicago; the title role in the world Elsewhere, intoxicated medieval abbot.” premiere of Harvey Milk in Houston, James has directed Recent and future engagements New York, and San Francisco; Frank new productions include Candide in concert with in Shining Brow; Owen for Houston Grand Seoul Symphony Orchestra and Utah Hart in the world premiere of Dead Opera (Lucia di Lammermoor, Giulio Symphony and Carmina Burana with Man Walking; Richard Nixon in Nixon Cesare and Abduction from the Kansas City Symphony. in China in St. Louis, and subsequently Seraglio), San Francisco Opera (, in Portland, Chicago, Cincinnati, Il Trittico and L’Elisir d’amore) and the James Schuette (Costume Denver, Vancouver, Toronto, London Canadian Opera Company (Norma, Design) and Berlin; Uncle John in the world Elektra and Nixon in China). For the James Schuette’s recent work premiere of The Grapes of Wrath Santa Fe Opera, he has directed as a set and/or costume designer Minnesota; Stubb in the world new productions of Capriccio, Così includes Chess Match No. 5 with the premiere of Moby Dick, Blazes in The fan tutte and The Rake’s Progress SITI Company, Guess Who’s Coming to Lighthouse in Dallas; Howie Albert in and numerous productions for the Dinner with Asolo Repertory Theatre, the world premiere of Champion in St. New York City Opera (La bohème, Steel Hammer with the Actors Theatre Louis and Simon Powers in Death and Hansel and Gretel and Il viaggio of Louisville and Powers in Dallas. a Reims). His work has also been the SITI Company, seen at the Australian Opera, the The Daughter Dennis Petersen (Grampa) Washington Opera, the Los Angeles of the Regiment Hailed by The Chicago Tribune as Opera, the Seattle Opera, the Royal with Madison a “Wonderfully natural singing actor” Swedish Opera, the Dallas Opera, Opera, Macbeth at through his innate sense of style, the Minnesota Opera and Chicago Glimmerglass Opera, command of languages and superior Opera Theater. Additionally, he has 27 and Emmeline at acting abilities, tenor created productions for the London Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Dr. Sun Dennis Petersen is Symphony Orchestra (Bernstein’s Yat-Sen at Santa Fe Opera and Dolores sought after for a Mass and Honegger’s Jeanne d’Arc Claiborne at San Francisco Opera. variety of operatic au bûcher), the Hollywood Bowl His work has been seen at roles. Dennis is (Amadeus), Carnegie Hall, and the American Repertory Theatre, a tremendously Minnesota Orchestra. American Conservatory Theatre, respected character Actors Theatre of Louisville, Arena tenor, performing Hugh Russell (Noah Joad) Stage, BAM, Berkeley Repertory over 100 roles during his extensive Canadian baritone Hugh Russell Theatre, New York Theatre career, such as Father Greenville continues to receive high praise for his Workshop, Classic Stage, Court in Dead Man Walking, which he charisma, dramatic energy and vocal Theatre, Goodman Theatre, La sang at the opera’s New York beauty. He is widely acclaimed for his Jolla Playhouse, Mark Taper Forum, City premiere; Mime in both Das performances in the operas of Mozart Manhattan Theatre Club, Oregon Rheingold and Siegfried, which and Rossini, and Shakespeare Festival, Playwrights he performed to great acclaim is regularly invited Horizons, Seattle Rep, Signature with Seattle Opera, Lyric Opera to perform with Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, of Chicago, The Metropolitan symphony orchestras Trinity Repertory Theatre, UCLA’s Opera, San Francisco Opera; Herod throughout Royce Hall, Wexner Center, Yale Rep, in Salome which he sang with major North America. Boston Lyric Opera, Houston Grand opera companies such as Minnesota At the center of Opera, Chicago Opera Theatre, Opera and San Francisco Opera. his orchestral Seattle Opera, New York City Opera, Dennis also sang the role of the repertoire is Carl Orff’s popular Washington National Opera and School Master in the Japanese Tour Carmina Burana, which Mr. Russell internationally. of Cunning Little Vixen with the Saito has performed with The Philadelphia Kinen Festival, returning there to sing Orchestra, The Cleveland Orchestra, Goro in Madama Butterfly. Los Angeles Philharmonic, San

Michigan Opera Theatre www.MichiganOpera.org BRAVO • Spring 2019 19 Bennett Vesprini (Boy in Barn) Bennett Ontario Vesprini is an 11-year-old musician, singer and actor. He is homeschooled but also attends the Suzuki Royal Oak Institute of Music. He has been singing and playing the piano SUPPORTING since the age of 5. He also plays the classical and electric THE ARTS guitar as well as the electric bass. He sings a capella in the group “Vesprini Quartet” along with his three siblings. He has been in several commercials and television shows. He is most known for playing Tocho in the Cinemax drama Banshee. He made his theatrical debut in the beloved opera The Summer King, where he sang in the Michigan Opera Theatre Children’s Chorus. His hobbies are Honigman celebrates roller skating, playing games and creating songs. Michigan Opera Theatre’s Joanne Weaver (Wig/Make-up Design) 2018-2019 season Born in England, Joanne Weaver came to the United States in the late 1980s. She began apprenticing with what was then Washington Opera, now Washington National Opera. Ms. Weaver has since designed at many opera companies throughout the U.S., including Glimmerglass Opera, Central City Opera, Sarasota Opera, Lyric Opera of Kansas City and Des www.honigman.com Moines Metro Opera. Her notable Michigan Opera Theatre credits include , Macbeth, The Passenger, Frida, The Merry Widow, , , Cyrano and The Pearl Fishers.

In Memoriam John Dingell Board of Trustees 1999-2019 Michigan Congressman John Dingell was not only a devout public servant but a longtime supporter of Michigan Opera Theatre. He and his wife Debbie Dingell have been strong advocates for more than 25 years, including serving as members of the MOT Board of Trustees since 1999. As the longest-serving member of Congress, with a career spanning nearly 60 years, Congressman Dingell was instrumental in passing laws championing the automotive industry, civil rights, healthcare and the environment. We are grateful for his generous support for our organization and service to our country. Our hearts go out to Congresswoman Dingell during this difficult time. John Dingell, 1926-2019.

20 BRAVO • Spring 2019 www.MichiganOpera.org Michigan Opera Theatre The Grapes of Wrath: Transforming The Great American Novel into The Great American Opera

BY ERICA HOBBS

hile historically a European Wart form, opera has expanded over the years to include works by composers and librettists from around the globe. These operas explore a broader range of human experiences, including American stories ranging from Civil Rights to baseball to life in Appalachia, often sung in English. In The Grapes of Wrath opera, composed by Ricky Ian Gordon with a libretto by Michael Korie, John Steinbeck’s Great American Novel is turned into the Great American Opera. In the midst of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression, the story follows the Joad family on their quest for survival, traveling from drought- ridden Oklahoma to the farms of California. Along with hordes of other migrant workers, the Joads struggle to find work and living wages, constantly on the work, because it is experienced The prologue of the opera, based facing starvation and injustice. in one sitting. on the first chapter of the book which Korie said the novel explores “It’s an accrual of incidents that are provides background information themes of corporate indifference and unbroken and supported by constant on the drought and the Dust Bowl, is the failure of the American dream. music, so it grabs hold of you and presented by the principal characters “When people see the opera, doesn’t let go,” he said. “When you mingled in among the chorus. Another they’re bowled over how true it is, read a novel you can say, ‘This is too example dramatizes the middle Joad even though it took place 90 years much, I need a rest, I’ll come back to brother, Al, buying a lemon of a used ago,” he said. “You realize these it.’ With the opera, you can’t come in truck, reinvented from Steinbeck’s themes are cyclical in America. and out of it, you’re swept up in the background chapter on how car lot Inequities you believe to be resolved whirlwind.” dealers took advantage of desperate turn out not to be.” This is not the first adaptation of migrants. Gordon said the novel is significant, the novel, which also includes a film “It’s a more complete Grapes of because its themes resonate in 1940 and a play in 1990. But Korie Wrath than the play or the film,” he worldwide, even though it is an said the opera is unique in that it can said. American story. provide more context to the story. He Novel, opera or otherwise, Gordon “The story is about people who said the novel includes documentary- said one of the glories and tragedies have very little who are asked to like background chapters, which of The Grapes of Wrath is its utter and give it up by the people who have provide insight into the larger plight of extreme resonance at this moment in a lot. Those who have nothing give the farmers outside of the characters. time. their bodies and their kindness and While these chapters are largely “People never change. There generosity, while those who exploit omitted from other interpretations, are always kind and compassionate them live off of their sacrifices,” he Korie said the opera is able to convey people and always exploitative said. “The story is current, universal these chapters through use of the people.” He said. “It’s the story of and biblical.” chorus, reminiscent of ancient Greek mankind.” Korie said The Grapes of Wrath choruses, and inserting the primary opera offers a compelling perspective characters.

Michigan Opera Theatre www.MichiganOpera.org BRAVO • Spring 2019 21 MICHIGAN OPERA THEATRE CHILDREN’S CHORUS PRESENTS:

The Secret World of Og By Dean Burry Saturday, March 23, 2019 2:30pm

WORLD PREMIERE PHOTO: ROD MILLINGTON FOR SARASOTA OPERA Enwave Theatre of the Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, Canada by Canadian Children’s Opera Company, May 12, 2010

CONDUCTOR DIRECTOR Dianna Hochella Christopher Hazlett

PRINCIPAL CHORUS PREPARATORY CHORUS CHOREOGRAPHER CONDUCTOR CONDUCTOR Jennifer Meeks Dianna Hochella Jane Panikkar SET DESIGN COSTUME DESIGN Donna and Mark Buchalter for Allison White for Sarasota Opera Sarasota Opera ADDITIONAL COSTUME LIGHTING DESIGN HAIR/MAKEUP DESIGN DESIGN Heather DeFauw Elizabeth Geck Suzanne Hanna PROPERTY MASTER STAGE MANAGER SUPERTITLES Monîka Essen Nan Luchini Dee Dorsey

Production Sponsor Student Ticket Sponsor Media Sponsor

22 BRAVO • Spring 2019 www.MichiganOpera.org Michigan Opera Theatre THE SECRET WORLD OF OG

captures the Sheriff just as Peter and Earless arrive. Cast Continuing to play, the siblings disguise Peter as the sheriff, Understudies listed in parentheses. write a note to their sisters to be delivered by Earless, and Penny...... Isabella Vesprini (Alex Beck) make their escape. The Ogs intercept Earless and think the note is in code. Pamela...... Natalie Nikolajevs (Breah Marie Willy) They pretend to be spies in search of infiltrators but run in Patsy...... Rebecca Lucksom (Lillian Fellows) fear when Snavely escapes from Patsy’s pocket. Delighting in their terror, she runs after the Ogs with Snavely in her Peter...... Nadim Ezzeddine (Stephanie Davidescu) hand. Pollywog...... Bridget Shene (Anika Lopes) In the cavern the Ogs discuss the invaders as Peter, Penny, and Pollywog arrive with their hostage, the Sheriff, Yukon King...... Molly Levin (Alex Beck) and demand to know what is going on. Earless Osdick...... Skylar Reynolds (Gabrielle Duso) In the form of a pageant, the Ogs explain that originally the only word they had was “OG”. After discovering a book, Sheriff...... Jaeden Footitt (Nina Georgeff) they stole more and learned to talk like the characters in Deputy...... Nina Georgeff (Natalie Watson) the stories. Their only fear is the Snake People who live up Butcher...... Grace Watson (Nina Georgeff) the river. The children explain they must return home, but the Merchant...... Breah Marie Willy (Megan DuRocher) Ogs worry they will tell others of their existence. While Hook...... Adam Kerr (Shreya Pillai) trying to escape, Peter ‘shoots’ Hook with the toy gun and the Ogs become enraged. Meanwhile more Ogs arrive with Smee...... Lauren Mattison (Joslyn Phillips) news of Snavely, who they think is a Snake Person. The Chief...... Nina Georgeff (Natalie Watson) siblings tell the Ogs they have a secret weapon to defeat the Snake People but will use it only if they are released and Translator...... Claire Wolfe (Anna Schultz) the Ogs stop using the tunnel beneath their playhouse. The Poor Rabbit...... Lillian Fellows (Claire Wolfe) Ogs agree, and Patsy returns with Snavely hidden. With the crisis averted all agree that, while make-believe can be fun, Sad Rabbit...... Shreya Pillai (Gabrielle Duso) the real adventure is life itself. —Synopsis by Sarasota Youth Opera

Dean Burry, Composer and Librettist SYNOPSIS Composer and librettist Dean Burry was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland and grew up in the town of Gander. enny and Pamela read in their playhouse. Banished In 1998, while working as an educator with the Canadian for painting the windows green, their younger sister Opera Company in Toronto, he was commissioned to write PPatsy sits outside with her snake, Snavely. Pamela The Brothers Grimm. The opera has been seen by over sees a green creature enter through a trap door to steal 165,000 children across Canada since 2001 and has been toys and books but, feeling the others will not believe her, produced in North America and Europe. At well over 500 says nothing. performances, The Brothers Grimm is believed to be the The girls’ brothers, Peter and Pollywog, and Earless (the most performed Canadian opera. cat) and Yukie (the dog) come to play dress up. Without Other major works include The Hobbit for the Canadian them noticing the green creature reappears and takes Children’s Opera Company and Sarasota Opera, The Pollywog and Earless. When Pamela tells them about her Scorpions’ Sting for the Canadian Opera Company, The earlier encounter, the siblings and Yukie descend through Vinland Traveler and Le nez de la sorcière for Memorial the trap door to save them. University of Newfoundland, Pandora’s Locker for The In the tunnel, Penny tells the others to hide while she Glenn Gould School, the CBC serial radio opera Baby investigates. She enters a cavern with mushroom houses Kintyre (released on the Centredisc and Naxos labels in inhabited by green beings that seem to only say “OG!” September, 2014), and Beacon of Light for Rising Tide Though Yukie tries to protect her, she is captured by Theatre. He was recently appointed the Artistic Director of Ogs dressed as cowboys and led to jail. On the way she the Canadian Children’s Opera Company and is a professor spots Earless in a butcher’s cage but is powerless to help. at the Glenn Gould Professional School of the Royal Reunited with Pollywog at the jail, Penny is amazed to hear Conservatory of Music. the Sheriff speaking English. Burry was the 2011 recipient of the Ontario Arts Using a tube of green paint, Pamela and Patsy disguise Foundation’s Louis Applebaum Composers Award for Peter as an Og. He frees Earless but raises suspicion when excellence in the field of music for young people. His most paint rubs off his hands. During their escape, two Ogs recent compositions include Tempest in a Teacup, which named Hook and Smee assume Peter is Peter Pan and call premiered in Guiyang, China, The Bells of Baddeck, The on their ‘pirates’ to capture the pair. Peter pretends Earless Sword in the Schoolyard (VIVA! Youth Singers of Toronto), is the crocodile from the fairytale, and the Ogs flee. the song cycle The Highwayman, and a Montreal Chamber At the jail, Pollywog steals the Sheriff’s keys and frees Music Festival commission of Jacob Two-Two Meets the Penny. It becomes clear that the Sheriff’s gun is only a Hooded Fang featuring Canadian tenor Ben Heppner. toy and the Ogs are pretending. Penny plays along and

Michigan Opera Theatre www.MichiganOpera.org BRAVO • Spring 2019 23 THE SECRET WORLD OF OG

Christopher Hazlett, Director high demand as a collaborative pianist, The Hobbit, H.M.S. Christopher Hazlett has worked as well as directing and conducting Pinafore, Carmen and as a director, assistant director, and for professional and amateur theater Tosca, and is currently producer of theatre companies. a Gingerbread in and opera for Hansel and Gretel. fifteen years. After Nadim Ezzeddine She has also training at Wayne (Peter), a 6th grader performed in 15 State University, he at Power Middle musicals with Kidz worked on a wide School in Farmington Theatre Kompany in Fenton. range of theatre Hills, is enjoying his projects at Detroit- first year at MOTCC. Bridget Shene (Paul) area venues including Performance He looks forward to is a 6th grader in Network Theatre, Jewish Ensemble performing in MOT’s Walled Lake. Bridget Theatre, and 1515 Broadway. He Hansel and Gretel in April. He has has performed in also directed the Roeper School’s performed in the children’s ensemble MOTCC’s Mikado and Theatre Arts program, for which he in St. Dunstan’s production of Oliver! The Hobbit as well directed thirteen plays and musicals. and MuppetBabies Forever! as Meadowbrook Christopher is delighted to be back Theater’s A Christmas at Michigan Opera Theatre, where Molly Levin (Yukon Carol. You might have seen Bridget he has been an assistant director King) is in 8th grade on the American Girl Catalog Cover. for productions of The Barber of at Berkshire Middle Bridget loves to play and dance with Seville, The Marriage of Figaro, and, School. This is her her puggle, Buckeye. most recently, The Summer King. fifth year at MOTCC Other production highlights include where she has played Isabella Vesprini Mary Zimmerman’s Metamorphoses, Fili (The Hobbit), (Penny) is a Twelfth Night, Old Wicked Songs, and Cousin Hebe (H.M.S. homeschooled 8th Candide. Pinafore) and has performed in several grader, who has MOT operas. She plays piano and is on been a member Dianna Hochella, Conductor an ice hockey team. of the MOTCC for three years. She has Dianna Hochella is the Assistant Rebecca Lucksom performed in The Director and Conductor of Michigan (Patsy) is a 9th Mikado and The Hobbit. She has also Opera Theatre’s Children Chorus. grader at Northville performed in MOT’s productions of Ms. Hochella serves as Choral High School. She Carmen and The Summer King. The Director for Clague Middle School in has been singing role of Penny is her first leading role. Ann Arbor, MI. As a member of the with the MOTCC for Michigan Opera Theatre Chorus, Ms. four years and has Alex Beck (Penny understudy, Hochella has performed on the MOT performed in The Yukon King understudy) has main stage productions in the world Mikado, The Hobbit, H.M.S. Pinafore, participated with the MOTCC in The premiere of Cyrano and Margaret and MOT’s La Bohème, Carmen and Very Last Green Thing, The Mikado, Garner. She holds a Bachelor of Music Tosca. Rebecca has taken piano and The Hobbit and H.M.S. Pinafore. degree in music education from violin lessons and plays flute in her She has been a chorus member in Radford University in Virginia and high school band. several main stage performances with a Master of Music degree in vocal MOT. Alex also plays violin and she performance from the University of Natalie Nikolajevs loves listening to music and animals, Michigan. Her passion is teaching and (Pamela) is enjoying especially her three cats. sharing her love of opera and great her second MOTCC singing with young singers. season. She Stephanie Davidescu (Peter previously performed understudy) was born in Montreal, Jane Panikkar, Preparatory in MOTCC’s H.M.S. Quebec (CA) and attended the first Chorus Conductor Pinafore (Sailor, Sir three years of elementary school at Jane Arvidson Panikkar is the Joseph/Dick Deadeye a vocational music program, learning conductor of the Michigan Opera understudy). With MOT, credits to play piano and musical theory. She Theatre’s Preparatory Chorus. include Amahl and the Night Visitors currently lives in Windsor, ON, Canada. Jane is also a professional pianist, (Amahl) and Tosca (Shepherd Boy). This is her second year in MOTCC. She trumpeter, vocalist, music educator She will appear in Hansel and Gretel has performed in A Winter Fantasy and and composer. For the past four years, and The Grapes of Wrath (Ruthie). H.M.S. Pinafore. She hopes to pursue a Jane has been on the music faculty at successful career in acting. Concordia University conducting the Skylar Reynolds (Earless) is a chamber choir, while also maintaining sophomore at Holly High. It’s her Megan DuRocher (Merchant a private voice studio, and performing third year in MOTCC, and she’s understudy) is an 8th grader at and conducting in the area. Jane is in Head Chorister. Skylar has been in Algonquin Middle School. This is

24 BRAVO • Spring 2019 www.MichiganOpera.org Michigan Opera Theatre THE SECRET WORLD OF OG

Megan’s second year with the MOTCC. Megan was in last season’s H.M.S. Pinafore and MOT’s Tosca. She also enjoys playing guitar, bass guitar, and piano. Megan’s voice has also been featured in the movie Bohemian Rhapsody.

Gabrielle Duso (Earless Osdick understudy, Sad Rabbit understudy) is an 8th grade student at Brownell Middle School in Farms. This is her third year in MOTCC. She has enjoyed performing in The Hobbit and H.M.S. Pinafore with MOTCC and MOT productions of Carmen and Tosca.

Lillian Fellows (Poor Rabbit, Patsy understudy). This is her first year with MOTCC. Lillian’s a 7th grader at Brownstown Middle School. She has performed in Camp Rock 2 with AOP. She has been singing with Seaway Choral for four years. Lillian also sings the National Anthem at numerous Woodhaven High School events.

Jaeden Footitt (Sheriff) is 15, homeschooled, and a lifelong Detroiter in Historic Boston-Edison. In his seventh year singing with MOTCC he’s had the lead roles of The Boatswain (H.M.S. Pinafore) and Anika Lopes (Pollywog understudy) Shreya Pillai (Sad Rabbit, Hook Oin (The Hobbit). Outside of the is a 7th grader at Shrine Catholic understudy) is an eighth grader at Opera House, Jaeden is in the pre- Academy. She has been with MOTCC West Middle School in Rochester professional contemporary dance since she was 9 years old. This is her Hills. This is her first year at MOTCC company at ArtLab J. first year in Principal Chorus. Last year and The Secret World of Og is her first Anika appeared in The Summer King. production. Shreya dances and enjoys Nina Georgeff (Chief, Deputy, Outside of school and MOTCC she playing basketball. She is a student Sheriff understudy, Butcher enjoys gymnastics, volleyball, playing council member in her school and also understudy) is a freshman at Berkley piano and volunteering. is a cheerleader. She also learns Indian High School. She has participated in classical dance and music. all of the children’s operas in the past Lauren Mattison (Smee) is a 6th six years and with MOT in La Bohème, grader at The Roeper School. She Anna Schultz (Translator Carmen, and Tosca. She has had the enjoys percussion, piano, and understudy) is a sixth grader at opportunity to record a commercial designing buildings. This is her second Cranbrook. In her four seasons with for Farm Rich. year at MOTCC, where she has played MOTCC, she has been in The Mikado, a sailor in H.M.S. Pinafore. She has The Hobbit, H.M.S. Pinafore, and Adam Kerr (Hook) is a 7th grader at participated in various productions, Tosca. She is thrilled to be part of The Holy Family Regional School. This is such as: Annie, Cinderella, The Lion Secret World of Og as well as Hansel his 3rd season with the MOTCC. Past King, and Comedy of Errors. and Gretel this season. Anna enjoys performances include The Hobbit reading, Irish dancing, singing, and and H.M.S. Pinafore. Adam is looking Joslyn Phillips (Smee understudy) musical theater. forward to his first upcoming main is in 6th grade at Bloomfield Hills stage production, Hansel & Gretel. Middle School. This is Joslyn’s second Grace Watson (Butcher) is a When not performing, he loves to play year with MOTCC. She previously freshman at Berkley High School. the piano, saxophone, and takes vocal participated in MOTCC’s H.M.S. Grace is a third year member of lessons. This summer Adam has been Pinafore. Joslyn also enjoys playing the MOTCC where she has participated in awarded a scholarship and has been piano and singing in the choir for her The Hobbit and H.M.S. Pinafore. She invited to attend BLFAC International church, Kirk in the Hills. has also performed in Carmen and Exchange Program. Tosca with MOT. Grace enjoys playing

Michigan Opera Theatre www.MichiganOpera.org BRAVO • Spring 2019 25 THE SECRET WORLD OF OG trumpet in her school marching band, Chorus of Ogs Production Sponsor playing her guitar, and singing in her Mallory Childs Kyyba school and church choirs. Maureen Conway Stephanie Davidescu Student Ticket Sponsor Natalie Watson (Chief understudy, Ashton Fell Worthington Family Foundation Deputy understudy) has been a Jaeden Footitt member of MOTCC for six years. She Elizabeth Garcia Media Sponsor also enjoys playing piano, clarinet and Ava Kern Jewish News musical theater. Some of her favorite Adam Kerr roles she has performed are Marie Reed Koesel Music Literacy Sponsor (Cinderella), JoJo (Seussical), and Dori Anika Lopes Center for Financial Planning (The Hobbit). Lauren Mattison Eleanor Neds-Fox Scholarship Sponsors Breah Marie Willy (Merchant, Sabrina Palmer Alan and Eleanor Israel Pamela understudy) is a freshman at Joslyn Phillips MOTCC Alumni Troy High School. This is her second Elle Pierre MOT Chorus year with MOTCC, with performances Elizabeth Pryer in The Nutcracker, Tosca, and H.M.S. Shayla Taylor Rossini Sponsors Pinafore. Breah is very excited to be in Piper Teasdle Myke & Tonya Hawkins this year’s children’s opera, The Secret Grace Watson Cheryl and Damon Reynolds World of Og. Jeremiah Williams Lee and Maxine Peck Foundation Wayne State University — College Claire Wolfe (Translator, Poor Oglings (Preparatory Chorus) of Fine, Performing and Rabbit understudy) is a freshman Izabela Atanaskovski Communication Arts at Berkley High School. This is her Cooper Bush second season in MOTCC and she Tala Deeb Gilbert & Sullivan Sponsors will be in Hansel and Gretel this Myla Garceau Knight Global spring. She’s been in Tosca and H.M.S. Hannah Gray Neumann/Smith Architecture Pinafore with the Opera and enjoys Mya Horne singing and running on the track team Cedrick Johnson MOTCC Family Sponsors at her school. Oscar Kotlarz Angie & Rick Armstrong Riya Nambiar The Beck Family Og Searchers: Sarah Nuttle Mr. & Mrs. Eric J. Kerr Abigail Armstrong Reagan Ondra Levin Energy Partners Alex Beck Maria Panikkar Vivienne & John Lucksom Amelia Borys Mark Panikkar The Nikolajevs Family Megan DuRocher Chiara Pirra Jane and Sean Panikkar Gabrielle Duso Madeline Quint Vesprini Chiropractive Life Center Tyler Edwards Joe Roman Lillian Fellows Keara Schultz MOTCC would like to thank the wigs, Nina Georgeff Alexandria Simon hair & make up volunteers from Ava Hawkins Viraj Tathavadekar Paul Mitchell The School, Sterling Heights Mia Martin Sana Wasnik Emma Palmer Shreya Pillai Orchestra Anna Schultz Pianist: Joseph Jackson Natalie Watson Synthesizer: Xavier Suarez Breah Marie Willy Violin: Eliot Heaton Claire Wolfe Percussion: David Taylor Brigitte Zook

Call for Auditions MOTCC is looking for singers age 8-16 with unchanged voices to audition for the 2019-2020 season.

For more information or to schedule an audition, visit motcc.org or contact MOTCC Chorus Administrator, Twannette Nash at [email protected] or (313) 680-6682

26 BRAVO • Spring 2019 www.MichiganOpera.org Michigan Opera Theatre Michigan Opera Theatre Studio Overview

he five resident artists of guest artists and coaches. Tthe Michigan Opera Theatre In its fourth year, supported Studio represent some of the by a major grant from the William “The Michigan Opera most exciting emerging talent in Davidson Foundation, the program Theatre Studio serves opera today. Coming to Detroit serves as a central component from all different areas of the of MOT’s enhanced presence as a central component country, from September to June in the community through our of MOT’s enhanced these young opera professionals productions in the Detroit Opera presence in the gain valuable experience through House, community venues and myriad performance opportunities through recitals and special events. community. The Studio in mainstage and community An important and unique element Artists benefit from the productions and regional outreach of the program is that MOT’s presentations. Throughout their community initiative productions guidance of some of one or two-year residency, Studio are now selected and mounted the leading coaches in Artists benefit from advanced specifically for the Studio Program. individual training and guidance This season, with Studio Artists the opera industry.” from MOT’s Director of Resident filling the leading roles, Leonard — Wayne S. Brown, Artist Programs, American tenor, Bernstein’s Candide and Gian Carlo President and CEO of Richard Leech, and Principal Coach/ Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Michigan Opera Theatre Accompanist, Tessa Hartle, and Visitors represent MOT’s fifth hone their skills through master consecutive season of producing classes and instruction from an opera in community venues. array of world class professionals,

RICHARD LEECH Director of Resident Artist Programs merican tenor Richard Leech is one of the most celebrated of his generation. AFrom the Met to Vienna and Carnegie Hall to the Hollywood Bowl, for more than three decades he made his home on the stages of the world’s great opera houses and symphonies. Also on the voice/opera faculty of Rutgers University though 2018, he recently began as visiting faculty for the University of Michigan. His leadership role with the MOT Studio allows Mr. Leech to utilize all aspects of his broad experience as he oversees the development of some of opera’s most exciting emerging artists and brings their performances to our stage and into our community.

Michigan Opera Theatre www.MichiganOpera.org BRAVO • Spring 2019 27 PROFILES FROM THE PIT

John Dorsey – Principal Percussion orking with Michigan Opera Detroit is watching the city come back WTheatre has been a long-term to life,” he said. “It’s amazing to see the family affair for John Dorsey, Principal transformation from the time I started Percussion with the MOT Orchestra. at MOT in 1982 until now.” John began performing with the John, originally from Texas, began orchestra in 1982. His wife, Dee, playing the drums at age 11. He went followed in his MOT footsteps in 1986, on to earn a Bachelor of Music degree working in the company’s production in Percussion Performance from the office, then as a stage manager and now University of St. Thomas in Houston as a supertitle writer and operator. More before moving to Michigan to earn his than three decades later, all four of the Master of Music degree in Percussion couple’s children have been involved Performance at the University of with MOT, performing on the Detroit Michigan. In addition to performing with Opera House stage in the Michigan MOT, he is the Professor of Percussion Opera Theatre Children’s Chorus or at Eastern Michigan University and as supernumeraries. He said working the principal percussionist of the Ann together as a family has been fun, and Arbor Symphony and Saginaw Bay he has enjoyed seeing the city change orchestras. Outside of performing, John over time. enjoys collecting and restoring vintage “The best part about performing in percussion instruments.

Laura Roelofs – Assistant Concertmaster ichigan Opera Theatre Assistant D.C. She’s been in Michigan playing with MConcertmaster Laura Roelofs has MOT since 2005, which she said has been a professional musician for brought her many wonderful moments. nearly four decades. Her first job was “My absolute favorite moment as a resident artist and instructor — with MOT was the opportunity to in Venezuela. She worked with the perform an on-stage role in Handel’s National Youth Orchestra of Venezuela Giulio Cesare,” she said. “It was a huge (now known as El Sistema), where she challenge to play while moving and helped develop a student orchestra in interacting in character with a world- Ciudad Bolivar. class countertenor, but it turned out to “The founder’s passionate belief be an exhilarating experience.” in musical training for all, regardless Laura holds master’s and doctorate of income or social standing, has degrees in music from Catholic continued to resonate with my own University in Washington. idealism,” she said. “I am proud to In addition to working in the MOT have played even a miniscule part in its Orchestra, Laura is the Associate mission. “ Professor of Violin and coordinator of Venezuela is only one of the many the string performance area at Wayne places Laura has lived. Though born in State University. She is an avid gardener Philadelphia, her family moved around and loves animals, cooking, hikes and a lot while she was growing up, and she historical/genealogy research. spent a lot of time living in Washington

28 BRAVO • Spring 2019 www.MichiganOpera.org Michigan Opera Theatre Michigan Opera Theatre gratefully acknowledges the generous corporate, foundation, and individual donors whos gifts to The David DiChiera Artistic Fund were made before March 14, 2019.

INDIVIDUALS Luisa Di Lorenzo & Joe Skoney Renee Lounsberry Buzz Thomas & Daniel Vander Ley Carl Angott & Tom Ball Elaine Ellison Evan Luskin Patricia Thull Hon. Trudy Duncombe Archer Marianne Endicott Alex May Patti & Elliott Trumbull & Hon. Dennis W. Archer Daniel Enright Mary Mazure Barbara & Mathew Vanderkloot Pauline & Gordon Arndt Andrew Fisher Lisa Meils & William Walsh Linda & Timothy Arr Nancy & Peter Gaess Sarah Mumford Andrea & Kevin Webber Jeffrey Atto Barbara Fisher & William Gould Julia O'Brien Carol & Bradford White Noel Baril & Jeffrey Tranchida Mary Ann & Carl Fontana Sally & Graham Orley Karen & R. Jamison Williams Joe Beason & Nick Dorochoff Barbara Frankel & Ronald Michalak Mary & Charles Parkhill Virginia Berberian Ann & Lawrence Garberding Nicole Patrick CORPORATIONS & Carole & Jere Berkey Sylvia & Gary Graham Christopher Patten FOUNDATIONS Anaruth & Henri Bernard William Greene & Peter McGreevy Lois Pincus & Hon. Avern Cohn Northern Trust Bank Rhonda & Douglas Bonnet Kristina Gregg Michael Poris Community Foundation for Priscilla Bowen Jean & Stephen Hartle Marija Rich Southeastern Michigan Patricia Byrne Rhea Hill Pamela Rowland DeRoy Testamentary Foundation Susan & James Catlette Rita Hoffmeister Deane & Barry Safir Edward C & Linda Dresner Levy Richard Cavaler Anne & Bob Horner Marge & Bill Sandy Foundation Judy & Ed Christian Martin Kagan Mary Schlaff & Sanford Koltonow Fidelity Charitable Fund Judith & Howard Christie Charles Kashner & Gary Wasserman David Schon Herman & Sharon Frankel Foundation Martin Collica Brenda Kee & Wayne Brown Christine Schlesinger Legacy Foundation Carmen & Telmer Constan Francine King Dorienne Sherrod LoPrete Family Foundation Diana & James Cornell Colin Knapp & Frank Kong Mona & Matthew Simoncini The Eugene & Marcia Applebaum John Craib-Cox Nancy Ann & Arthur Krolikowski Bettye & Lee Smith Family Foundation Ann & Stephen Cybulski William Kupsky & Ali Moiin Kendall Smith The J. Addison & Marion M. Bartush Dodie & Larry David Ellen & James Labes Loretta Snyder Family Foundation Kevin Dennis & Jeremy Zeltzer Lizabeth & Chak Lai Janet Stevens United Jewish Foundation Cristina DiChiera & Neal Walsh Mado Lie Angela Theis Lisa DiChiera & John Kane Jacqueline & William Lockwood Beverly Thomas

Michigan Opera Theatre www.MichiganOpera.org BRAVO • Spring 2019 29 EDUCATION COMMUNITY &PROGRAMS

TOURING ENSEMBLE Last season the Michigan Opera Theatre Touring Ensemble presented Summer more than 70 performances to students, seniors and adults throughout the state of Michigan, bringing opera to over 17,000 individuals. Programming Performances are 30-60 minutes in length and include a Q&A session with the cast immediately following the production. Our 2019 touring Summer Serenade season includes a variety of performances; call today to bring opera to Michigan Opera Theatre hosts your community! outdoor Grand Opera concerts throughout the Metro Detroit area. I, Too, Sing America Recent concerts include venues such as Grand Circus Park, the By Chris Jakob with poetry Grosse Pointe War Memorial and by jessica Care moore the . (Grades 6-12) This new multi-media performance incorporates Operetta Workshop video, live song, narrative Operetta Workshop is perfect for and poetry to highlight the young people ages 13 to 18 who want stories and achievements to gain experience and direction in of African-American artists singing, acting, stage movement, and athletes who defied healthy vocal technique and audition limitations and paved the way for integration in their fields. (Subjects: skills. Taught by experienced opera American History, Humanities, English Language Arts, Arts Education – and theatre professionals, Operetta Music and Theatre) Workshop will run July 8- 26, 2019 and culminate with a final performance at Jack and the Beanstalk the Detroit Opera House. Arranged by John Davies with compositions by Sir Arthur Sullivan (Grades K-6) Create & Perform When Jack sells the family A two-week program from July 29 – cow to a mysterious man for August 9, 2019 in which young people a handful of beans, he has no ages 8-12 create their own stories, idea what kind of adventure music compositions and dances, JACK & THE awaits him! When the beans culminating in a final performance in BEANSTALK take root and a magical stalk our Black Box Theater. Participants grows to the sky, Jack will in the Create & Perform program discover a land of giants, a get to take part in all aspects of golden hen and an important mounting a new production and JACK & THE lesson about treating other will build their skills as performers, BEANSTALK people with kindness. Michigan composers, designers, directors and Opera Theatre’s new production sets the story in the ancient West crew members while they write and African Mali Empire and tells the tale through music from the operettas perform an original opera. Children of Sir Arthur Sullivan. This new twist on an old favorite is a must-see bring their ideas and watch as they for children of all ages! (Subjects: World History, Humanities, English come to life in this unique, hands-on Language Arts, Arts Education — Music and Theatre) summer experience!

To learn more about any of these programs e-mail [email protected].

30 BRAVO • Spring 2019 www.MichiganOpera.org Michigan Opera Theatre GREAT LAKES CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL

Before she takes the Festival by storm, Christine Goerke will conquer New York, defy the gods, and save the world.

The Metropolitan Opera is calling Christine Goerke‘s debut as “Brünnhilde” in the Ring Cycle “the Wagnerian Event for the Ages.” Such is the talent of one of the opera world’s most luminous and acclaimed sopranos. Fresh from that triumph, her star will shine during the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival for one brilliant night. June 29th at Seligman Performing Arts Center. One magnificent talent. One night only. One memory that will stay with you for a lifetime. Don’t miss it. Order your tickets today. The Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival runs June 15-30 at venues throughout metropolitan Detroit. For tickets or more information, call 248 559-2097 or visit greatlakeschambermusic.org.

Saturday • june 29 • 8 p.m. Seligman Performing Arts Center

Michigan Opera Theatre www.MichiganOpera.org BRAVO • Spring 2019 31 Michigan Opera Theatre Donor Honor Roll Michigan Opera Theatre gratefully acknowledges the generous donors for their cumulative life-time giving. Their support has played a key role in the establishment of Michigan Opera Theatre since its founding in 1971 along with the building of the Detroit Opera House. Their leadership has and continues to play an integral part in the company’s viability, underwriting quality opera and dance performances, alongside award-winning community and educational programs.

$10,000,000 and above Ford Motor Company Fund $7,500,000 and above $5,000,000 and above General Motors Foundation Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US LLC Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs The Kresge Foundation

$2,000,000 and above Mr.† & Mrs. Douglas Allison William Davidson Foundation McGregor Fund Mr. & Mrs. Lee Barthel Mr. & Mrs. Herman Frankel The Skillman Foundation Community Foundation John S. and James L. Knight Foundation The State of Michigan for Southeast Michigan Lear Corporation Mr. & Mrs. R. Jamison Williams

Marvin, Betty and Joanne Danto Dance Endowment & Marvin and Betty Danto Family Foundation

$1,000,000 and above Mr. & Mrs. Robert A. Allesee DTE Energy Foundation Mrs. Linda Dresner Levy Mr.† & Mrs. Eugene Applebaum Mrs. Margo Cohen Feinberg & Mr. Edward Levy, Jr. AT&T & Mr. Robert Feinberg JPMorgan Chase Bank of America Mrs. Barbara Frankel Masco Corporation & Mr. Ronald Michalak National Endowment for the Arts Mandell & Madeleine Berman † Foundation Samuel & Jean Frankel Mrs. Sam Williams Mr. & Mrs. John A. Boll, Sr. Hudson-Webber Foundation Matilda R. Wilson Fund Covisint Mrs. Danialle & Mr. Peter Karmanos Contributors to Michigan Opera Theatre Michigan Opera Theatre gratefully acknowledges the generous corporate, foundation, government, and individual donors whose annual cumulative contributions were made between July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2018. Their generosity is vital to the company’s financial stability, which is necessary to sustain MOT’s position as a valued cultural resource.

FOUNDATION, CORPORATE, $25,000 - $49,999 $5,000 - $9,999 Detroit Zoological Society & GOVERNMENT SUPPORT John S. & James L. Knight AVL Michigan Holding Corporation Grand Circus Park Development Foundation DMC Sinai-Grace Hospital Assoc. $500,000+ Community Foundation for Ralph L. & Winifred E. Polk Midtown Mansion LLC United Jewish Foundation Southeast Michigan Foundation Keith Elementary School PNC Bank Henry E. & Consuelo Wenger Ilitch Holdings, Inc. $250,000+ National Endowment for the Arts Foundation Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Lear Corporation Worthington Family Foundation The Samuel L. Westerman Sigmund & Sophie Rohlik Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher MGM Grand Detroit Foundation Foundation Foundation Masco Corporation Foundation The Karen & Drew Peslar Foundation Lee & Maxine Peck Foundation Mandell L. & Madeleine H. Berman Matilda R. Wilson Fund Louis & Nellie Sieg Fund 4th Wall Theatre Company Foundation World Heritage Foundation John A. & Marlene Boll Foundation Autoliv The Fred A. & Barbara M. Erb Family Barris, Sott, Denn & Driker, PLLC $100,000+ Foundation $1,000 - $4,999 Detroit Edison Public School Ford Motor Company Fund Centiero Corporation Academy McGregor Fund $10,000 - $24,999 Detroit Rotary Foundation William Davidson Foundation The Dolores & Paul Lavins Hudson-Webber Foundation Young Woman’s Home Association The Wetsman Foundation Foundation The Rattner & Katz Charitable Arts Midwest Gulf Coast Community Foundation General Motors Corporation Foundation Grosse Pointe War Memorial Esther & George Jaruga Charitable AbbVie, Inc. Vanguard Charitable Foundation $50,000 - $99,999 Michigan Humanities Council Josephine Kleiner Foundation The Kresge Foundation Allen Harold Abramson Trust Northern Trust Bank Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Real Integrated James & Lynelle Holden Fund Affairs Fifth Generation, Inc. Detroit Industrial School Penske Corporation The Gilmour-Jirgens Fund J. Ernest & Almena Gray Wilde Fund

32 BRAVO • Spring 2019 www.MichiganOpera.org † Deceased Michigan Opera Theatre INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT Mr. & Mrs. Harvey Freeman Mr. James Rose Jr Mr. & Mrs. Eugene W. Blanchard Dr. Glendon M. Gardner Mr. Alan E. Schwartz Mr. & Mrs. Donald J. Bowerman $100,000+ Mr. Allan D. Gilmour Mr. & Mrs. Mark Shaevsky Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Bright Mr. & Mrs. Lee Barthel & Mr. Eric Jirgens Mrs. Arlene C. Shaler Mr. & Mrs. Thomas E. Brown Jr Mr. & Mrs. Peter Karmanos Mrs. Lori Goldman Mr. & Mrs. Frank Sonye Mr. & Mrs. David Camp Mr. & Mrs. Paul Lavins Mr. Robert Hage Mrs. Anne Stricker Mr. & Mrs. Brian C. Campbell Mr. Edward Levy, Jr. Dr. Devon Hoover Mr. Ronald F. Switzer Mr. & Mrs. Philip Campbell & Mrs. Linda Dresner Levy Mr. & Mrs. Addison Igleheart Mr. & Mrs. Joel D. Tauber Mr. & Mrs. Peter Cooper Mr. & Mrs. Matthew Simoncini Mr. & Mrs. Kent J. Jidov Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Terrell Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Cornelsen Mr. Anthony L. Soave Mrs. Ellen Kahn Dr. Lorna Thomas Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Corrigan Mr. Richard A. Sonenklar Ms. Shelly Kasprzycki Mr. Norman Thorpe Mrs. Patricia Cosgrove & Mr. Gregory Haynes Mr. & Mrs. John D. Lewis Mr. & Mrs. John P. Tierney Ms. Maryann S. Cromwell Mr. & Mrs. R. Jamison Williams Mr. & Mrs. Robert Lutz Mr. Al Timm Mr. & Mrs. Ethan Davidson Mr. Donald Manvel Mr. Herman W. Weinreich Mr. Anthony Delsener $50,000 - $99,999 Ms. Mary C. Mazure Mr. & Mrs. Eric H. Winter Mr. Cameron B. Duncan Hon. & Mrs. Avern L. Cohn Mr. & Mrs. Xavier Mosquet Drs. Dana Zakalik & John Weber Mr. George Evans Ms. Joanne Danto Mr. & Mrs. James B. Nicholson Mrs. Mary Lou Zieve Mr. & Mrs. Paul E. Ewing & Dr. Arnold Weingarden Mr. Jonathan Orser Mr. & Mrs. Lloyd C. Fell Mr. & Mrs. Herman Frankel Dr. Charlotte $2,500 - $2,999 Mr. John Fleming Mr. & Mrs. William H. Powers Jr & Mr. Charles Podowski Dr. & Mrs. J.E. Austin Mr. James Forbes Mr. Stephen R. Polk Ms. Debra Bernstein-Siegel Dr. Yvonne Friday $20,000 - $49,999 Prof. Sara A. Pozzi Ph. D Ms. Carolyn M. Blackmore & Mr. Stephen Black Mr. & Mrs. Richard Alonzo Mr. & Mrs. Jon Rimanelli & Dr. Nicholas C. Bell Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence Garcia Mr. John M. Chase, Jr. Mrs. Carolyn L. Ross Mr. Jim Bonahoom Mr. Thomas M. Gervasi Mrs. Gloria A. Clark Mr. Ankur Rungta Mr. Charles D. Bullock Mr. Lawrence Glowczewski Dr. David DiChiera & Ms. Mayssoun Bydon Dr. & Mrs. Thomas E. Carson Ms. Janet Groening Marsh Mr. & Mrs. Carl B. Fontana Mrs. Barbara Saperstein Mr. & Mrs. Paolo Cavallari Mr. & Mrs. Samuel Haberman Mrs. Barbara Frankel Dr. Gregory Stephens Mr. & Mrs. Jerry D’Avanzo Ms. Nancy B. Henk & Mr. Ronald Michalak Mrs. Dorothy Alice Tomei Mr. & Mrs. Walter K. Dean Mrs. Fay B. Herman Mr. David M. Hempstead, Jr Dr. & Mrs. Stanley H. Waldon Ms. Carolyn Demps Mrs. Doreen B. Hermelin Marvin, Betty and Joanne Danto Dance Endowment & Marvin and Betty Danto Family Foundation Mr. John Jesser Ms. Virginia Webster-Smith Mr. & Mrs. Oscar Feldman Mr. Daniel Howes Mr. Alphonse S. Lucarelli Mr. Bret Williams Mr. & Mrs. Robert Z. Feldstein & Ms. Margarite Fourcroy Mrs. Susanne McMillan Mr. Charles L. Wilson, Jr. Dr. & Mrs. Robert Folberg Mr. & Mrs. William C. Hufford Dr. Ali Moiin & Dr. William Kupsky Dr. & Mrs. Ned Winkelman Dr. & Mrs. Clifford Furgison Ms. Dawn Imesch Mr. Gary L. Nielsen Dr. Lucia Zamorano Mr. & Mrs. Keith E. Gifford Mr. & Mrs. Alan Israel Mrs. Ruth F. Rattner Mr. & Mrs. Tom Goldberg Mr. & Mrs. Richard J. Jessup Mr. & Mrs. Roy S. Roberts $3,000 - $4,999 Dr. Judie R. Goodman Mr. David Kinsella & Mrs. Joyce Urba Mr. & Mrs. C. Thomas Toppin Mr. & Mrs. Robert A. Allesee Mr. & Mrs. David Handleman Dr. & Mrs. Edward Klarman Mr. & Mrs. Jesse Venegas Dr. Harold M. Arrington Dr. & Mrs. Gerhardt A. Hein Miss Aleksandra Krsteva Mr. & Mrs. James M. Balcerski Mr. & Mrs. Norman D. Katz Mr. & Mrs. Al LaCroix $10,000 - $19,999 Mr. & Mrs. Richard Bingham Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Klein Mr. & Mrs. Chak Lai Dr. Lourdes V. Andaya Mr. & Mrs. G. Peter Blom Dr. Mark Kolins Dr. & Mrs. Stephan J. Loginsky Ms. Susan Bartush-Cugliari Mr. Gene Bowen & Ms. Maria B. Abrahamsen Mr. Stephen H. Lord Mr. Wayne S. Brown Mr. & Mrs. Bob Brasie Mr. Gale Kramer Mr. John Lovegren & Ms. Brenda Kee Dr. Lynne Carter Ms. Mary Kramer & Mr. Daniel Isenschmid Mr. Kevin Dennis Ms. Joanne Clark Mr. & Mrs. Andrew S. Levin Ms. Lea Luger & Mr. Jeremy Seltzer Dr. Mary Carol Conroy Mr. Daniel T. Lis Ms. Denise Lutz Ms. Margo Cohen Feinberg Drs. Laura & Jeffrey Corrigan Ms. Carol Lytle Mr. & Mrs. Steven Marlette & Mr. Robert Feinberg Mrs. Virginia Curatolo Dr. & Mrs. Stephen Mancuso Hon. & Mrs. George G. Matish Mrs. Elaine Fontana Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence N. David Ms. Florine Mark Mr. & Mrs. John L. Mayer Mr. & Mrs. Dean Friedman Ms. Christy Dickinson Ms. Kate Levin Markel Ms. Mary McGough Mr. & Mrs. Richard Goetz Mr. & Mrs. Josh Eichenhorn Mr. Benjamin Meeker Ms. Patricia A. McKanna Mr. & Mrs. Michael Kratchman Mr. Michael Einheuser & Dr. Meredith L. Korneffel Ms. Evelyn Micheletti Mr. Cyril Moscow Mrs. Betty J. Fisher Jr Dr. Lisa Meils Mr. & Mrs. Eugene Miller Mr. & Mrs. Paul Ragheb Dr. & Mrs. Saul Forman Mrs. L. William Moll Ms. Faye Alexander Nelson Dr. & Mrs. Bernard Rubin Mr. & Mrs. Burke Fossee Dr. & Mrs. Van C. Momon, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Walter Newgeon Mr. William H. Smith Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Giancamilli Ms. Lynn Moody Mr. David W. Osborne Mr. David C. Stone Dr. Raina M. Ernstoff Hansell Mrs. Barbara Nickles & Ms. Suzanne Mallare Acton Mr. Richard D. Ventura & Mr. Sanford Hansell Mr. Daniel J. Pienta Ms. Anne Parsons Mr. & Mrs. Paul C. Hillegonds Mrs. Concetta V. Ross Mr. & Mrs. Mark Peterson $5,000 - $9,999 Mr. & Mrs. Derek Hodgson Dr. & Mrs. Hershel Sandberg Miss Alma M. Petrini Ms. Denise Allen Mr. William Hulsker Dr. Barbara & Mr. Laurence Schiff Mr. Richard A. Polk Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Ammann Mrs. Stephanie Germack Kerzic Mr. & Mrs. Kingsley Sears Dr. & Mrs. Lori Rapp Dr. & Mrs. Thomas Anderson Ms. Ida King Ms. Susan Sills-Levey Mr. & Mrs. Rip Rapson Ms. Paula Autry Ms. Mary B. Letts & Mr. Michael Levey Dr. Monique Reeves Mr. & Mrs. Mark A. Baun Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Liebler Mrs. Lila Silverman Ms. Cheryl Reynolds Mr. & Mrs. Paul Blizman Mr. Loreto A. Manzo Ms. Mary Anne Stella Mr. James Rodgers & Mrs. Kathleen Mrs. Betty Bright Hon. Jack Martin Mr. David P. Sutherland Brozowski-Rodgers Mr. Robert Brown & Ms. Bettye Arrington-Martin Dr. Jeffrey V. Tranchida Mr. & Mrs. George Roumell, Jr. & Mrs. Geraldine Ford-Brown Mr. & Mrs. Phillip D. Minch & Mr. Noel Baril Mr. & Mrs. William Sandy Mrs. Ilse Calcagno Mr. & Mrs. Donald Morelock Dr. Margaret Winters Ms. Debbe Saperstein Ms. Christina Carroll Mr. & Mrs. Allan Nachman Mr. & Mrs. Ed Schulak Mr. & Mrs. James Ciroli Ms. Juliette Okotie-Eboh, Ph.D. $1,000 - $2,499 Mr. Gary Schwarcz Mr. Thomas Cohn Mr. & Mrs. Peter B. Oleksiak Ms. Nina Abrams Mrs. Rosalind Sell Ms. Julia Donovan Darlow Mr. & Mrs. Graham A Orley Dr. & Mrs. Joshua Adler Mrs. Cynthia B. Shaw & Hon. John C. O’Meara Drs. Caroline & Wallace Peace Drs. Ali & Hannan Alhimiri & Mr. Tom Kirvan Mr. Mark Davidoff Ms. Susan Peslar Ms. Deborah L. Anthony Mr. Terry Shea Mr. Douglass Mr. & Mrs. Brock E. Plumb Mrs. Chacona Baugh Ms. Martha Gibiser Shea & Dr. Shauna Ryder Diggs Mr. & Mrs. W. James Prowse Mrs. Kelley Beck Mr. & Mrs. Michael Smith Mr. Peter A. Dow Mr. Wade Rakes II Mrs. Cecilia Benner Ms. Christie Song Mrs. Marianne Endicott Mr. Kenneth Robinson Mr. Stanislaw Bialoglowski Mr. & Mrs. Gabriel Stahl Dr. Marjorie M. Fisher & Mrs. Marcia Gershenson Mr. & Mrs. Maurice S. Binkow Ms. Tiffany Stano

Michigan Opera Theatre www.MichiganOpera.org BRAVO • Spring 2019 33 Mr. Scott E. Stinebaugh Ms. Ruth U. Hansen Mr. & Mrs. Tony Ventimiglia In memory of Michael F. Machi Ms. Cathy L. Talifer Ms. Gerri Harmer Mr. & Mrs. Karl P. Walby Ms. Andrea Bercich Mr. & Mrs. Robert Taubman Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey K. Haynes Prof. Michael Wellman Dr. Gretchen M. Thams Ms. Barbara Heller Mr. Jay F. Williams In memory of Sandy Short Mr. & Mrs. Gerrit Vreeken Mr. Paul Hogle Mr. Eric Winter Charles & Diana Edwards Mr. William Waak Mr. Paul Horn Ms. Nicole Withers Mr. & Mrs. Lewis Wagner Mr. & Mrs. Mario Iacobelli Mrs. Cathy C. Wood In memory of Christine Mrs. Fern Walch Ms. Connie Wineman Jacob Mr. David D. Woodard Strumbos Mr. Gary L. Wasserman Ms. Karin Johnson Ms. Kathryn Woodyard Ms. Sarah Deson & Mr. Charles A. Kashner Mr. Raynard Jones Ms. Cindy P. Frenkel Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Way Dr. Anthony Kales IN TRIBUTE Mr. & Mrs. William Wetsman Mr. William P. Kelly In memory of Robert Sweeten Mr. & Mrs. William Wetsman Mr. & Mrs. Eric Kerr In memory of Dr. Stewart G. Ms. Medina M Topalian Mr. & Mrs. John A Wise, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Steve Kesler Delbert & Dr. Eldora C. Delbert Mr. Gary Wozniak Mr. & Mrs. Justin Klimko Mr. Robert Delbert In memory of Frank Tarzia Mr. & Mrs. David J. Zmyslowski Mr. Gregory Knas Linda Bischak Etter Mr. Robert C. Koch In memory of David Denn Bill & Susan Scott $750 - $999 Mr. James C. Kors James H & Constance Wineman Mr. & Mrs. Frank Brzenk & Ms. Victoria J. King Family Philanthropic Fund, Connie In honor of Beth Kirton Mr. Daniel Greenberg Mrs. Barbara Levin Wineman Jacob PEO Chapter X Mr. Stephen Hodge Mr. & Mrs. William D. Lockwood Mrs. Rebecca L. Kennedy Mr. Peter M. Lundberg In memory of Phyllis In honor of Barbara Mr. & Mrs. Harvey Kleiman Mr. & Mrs. Matthew Mattison Hefflefinger Kratchman’s birthday Mrs. Meria Larson Ms. Ewa Matuszewski Stephen & Lynn Franko Joshua & Marjorie Yaker Ms. Margaret MacTavish Mr. & Mrs. Patrick G. McKeever Mr. Jeffrey D. Marraccini Mr. & Mrs. James McLennan In memory of Lois Jones Mr. & Mrs. George Nicholson, III Mr. & Mrs. Brian Meer Andrew & Eleanora Soves Dr. Stephen W. Ragsdale Mrs. Sally B. Mikat Mr. Zon Shumway Mrs. Stephanie Miltimore Mr. & Mrs. Allan Stillwagon Ms. Barbara Mitchell Mr. David Wash Mr. & Mrs. Manuel Moroun Dr. & Mrs. Christopher D. Wilhelm Mr. & Mrs. Chuck Moss Drs. Stephen & Barbara Munk $500 - $749 Dr. Brian Murphy Mr. & Mrs. Michael Alberts & Mrs. Toni Sanchez-Murphy Michigan Opera Theatre Mr. & Mrs. Michael F. Alioto Dr. Iuliana Niculescu Mr. & Mrs. James W. Allen Ms. Lois Norman Mrs. Melanie I. Ameloot Mr. Ronald Northrup Mr. & Mrs. Robert L. Anthony IV Mr. & Mrs. William E. Ohlsson Jr Mr. Theodore J. St. Antoine Ms. Linda Orlans Mr. & Mrs. Robert Appel Mr. & Mrs. David K. Page B R AVO Hon. Dennis Archer Mrs. Jennifer L. Pajak & Hon. Trudy Duncombe Archer Ms. Margot Parker MAGAZINE Mr. & Mrs. Rick Armstrong Drs. Taft & Sherida Parsons Ms. Geraldine Atkinson Ms. Haryani Permana Ms. Neveen F. Awad Mrs. Margo Pickl Ms. Allison Bach Dr. & Mrs. Peter J. Polidori Mrs. Jennifer L. Barber Mr. Garrod S. Post Mr. & Mrs. Nigel Beaton & Mr. Robert A. Hill REACH METRO Ms. Carol Bedient Mrs. Janet Pounds Mr. & Mrs. William Betz Esq Mr. Dale Price DETROIT’S BEST Ms. Kanta Bhambhani Mr. & Mrs. Morton Raban Ms. Barbara A. Blanock Ms. Paula Rausch Mr. & Mrs. Richard Bowlby Mr. Dennis C. Regan AUDIENCE! Mrs. Renee D. Bradley & Miss Ellen M. Strand Mr. Keith Brunini Mr. & Mrs. William Remer Ms. Susan Cameron Mr. & Mrs. Benjamin D. Rhodes Dr. Marlene S. Chavis Mr. & Mrs. David Richards Mr. & Mrs. Brandt Crutcher Ms. Diane Riding Reserve your space in Mrs. Abha Dearing Mr. Bernardo A. Rojas Dr. A. L. DiLorenzo Mr. & Mrs. Charles Rooney Bravo magazine now Dr. Donald Ditmars Mr. & Mrs. Arthur J. Rose Ms. Mary J. Doerr Mrs. Alexander Rota for the 2019-2020 season Ms. Tiffany Douglas Mr. & Mrs. Barry Safir at the Detroit Opera House Mr. & Mrs. Eugene Driker Ms. Amy Sauve Mr. & Mrs. Vijay H. D’Souza Dr. Karen L. Saxton Mr. Alex Erdeljan & Mr. Wade Gora Dr. Fern R. Espino & Mr. Tom Short Mrs. Claus Schaefer Mr. Charles Ferrell Mr. & Mrs. Morton L. Scholnick Dr. Julie B. Finn Mrs. Helen T. Slater & Dr. Bradley Rowens Ms. Beth Smith Mr. Michael Flores Dr. Terry Smith-Glaser Mr. & Mrs. Daniel M. Fox Mr. & Mrs. Dante Stella Ms. Catherine C. French Dr. Mildred Ponder Stennis Ms. Sharlene F. Gage Mr. Nicholas Stubblefield Mrs. Nicole Gainey Mr. & Mrs. Lee Tavoularis Dr. & Mrs. Byron P. Georgeson Ms. Amanda M. Teeter Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Gilmore Mr. & Mrs. Andre D. Tenner echopublications.com Mr. & Mrs. William R. Goudie Mr. & Mrs. Horace Tiggs, IV Ms. Giacinta A. Gualtieri Mr. & Mrs. Paul Tomboulian or call (248) 582-9690 Dr. Bradley S. Haas, MD Mr. Patrick Tortora Dr. Jamie Hall Mr. John M. Toth

34 BRAVO • Spring 2019 † Deceased www.MichiganOpera.org Michigan Opera Theatre AVANTI SOCIETY Ensuring the Future Imagine a gift that outlives you, allowing future generations Avanti Society Members are Invited: to experience and enjoy the world of opera and dance. That’s To an exclusive annual Avanti Society event, previews and the goal of the Avanti Society, Michigan Opera Theatre’s other special events. Michigan Opera Theatre is honored that Planned Gift Recognition Program. so many patrons have chosen to declare their membership in the Avanti Society and designed a small lapel pin for The Italian word “avanti” means “ahead,” or “forward.” The members to wear proudly at Michigan Opera Theatre events. Avanti Society at Michigan Opera Theatre represents a designated group of friends of Michigan Opera Theatre AN AVANTI FOR TOMORROW who have made plans to include the organization in their The growth of Michigan Opera Theatre’s permanent estate plans — whether by will, trust, insurance, or life income Endowment Fund ensures the growth and future vitality of arrangement. Membership in the Avanti Society is open to all. one of the region’s greatest cultural assets. You are invited to create your own legacy — your Avanti — through Michigan In thanks for their generous support, Avanti Society Opera Theatre. members are given special benefits and recognition for their heartfelt commitment to Michigan Opera Theatre. To make your gift, contact Angela Nelson-Heesch, Director of Development, at 313.237.3416 Avanti Society Members are Recognized: or [email protected] In “Bravo” opera and dance program books and the Annual Report.

AVANTI SOCIETY MEMBERS In recognition of their foresight and commitment, Michigan Opera Theatre profoundly thanks and recognizes the membership of the Avanti Society.

Mr. & Mrs. Robert A. Allesee # Dr. & Mrs. Charles H. Duncan* † Mr. John Jickling Mrs. Frank C. Shaler* Mr.† and Mrs. Doug Allison Mrs. Charles M. Endicott* # Mr. & Mrs. Robert Klein# Mr. Stephan Sharf † Mrs. Adel Amerman* # + Mr. & Mrs. Herb Fisher* Mrs. Josephine Kleiner † Ms. Laura Sias Dr. Lourdes V. Andaya* Mrs. Anne E. Ford † Mr. & Mrs. Erwin H. Klopfer* # Mr. & Mrs. Harold Siebert Mr. & Mrs. Agustin Arbulu* Ms. Pamela R. Francis*† Mr.† & Mrs. Daniel Kolton Mrs. Marge Slezak Mr.† & Mrs. Chester Arnold* Ms. Barbara Frankel & Mr. Ronald Misses Phyllis & Selma Korn*† Dr. Anne Sullivan Smith Mr. & Mrs. Lee Barthel Michalak* # Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Krolikowski* Ms. Phyllis Funk Snow* Mr. & Mrs. J. Addison Bartush*#† Mr. & Mrs. Herman Frankel* # Mr. Max Lepler & Mr. Rex Dotson Mr. † & Mrs. Richard Starkweather*#+ Mr. & Mrs. Brett Batterson* Mrs. Rema Frankel* # † Mr. Philip Leon † Mr. Stanford C. Stoddard Mr.† & Mrs. Mandell Berman Mr. & Mrs. Harvey Freeman Mr. Stephen H. Lord Dr. Jonathan Swift † Mr.† & Mrs. Art Blair* Mrs. Jane Shoemaker French Ms. Jane McKee* & Mr. Thomas A. St. Charles* Mr. Robert Bomier Dr. & Mrs. Byron P. Georgeson* Drs. Orlando & Dorothy Miller* Mr. Ronald F. Switzer* Mr. & Mrs. Richard Bowlby Priscilla R. Greenberg, Ph.D.* # Ms. Monica Moffat Mr. Edward D. Tusset* Mr.† & Mrs. Roy E. Calcagno* Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Hagopian & Mr. Pat McGuire Mr. † & Mrs. George Vincent*#+ Dr. & Mrs. Thomas E. Carson Mr. Lawrence W. Hall* Demetra & Theodore Monolidis† Mrs. Susan Weidinger Dr.† & Mrs. Victor J. Cervenak* Mr. & Mrs. Jerome Halperin* Drs. Stephen & Barbara Munk Mr. Herman Weinreich Mr. Daniel Kolton Ms. Heather Hamilton Miss Surayyah Muwwakkil Mrs. Amelia H. Wilhelm* # & Ms. Mary Christner Mrs. Charlene Handleman Mr. Jonathan F. Orser Mr. & Mrs. Walter P. Work* Miss Halla Claffey † Mr. Kenneth E. Hart* Ms. Julie A. Owens Mr. & Mrs. Larry Zangerle Ms. Kathy Coburn Mr. & Mrs. Eugene L. Hartwig* Mr. Dale J. Pangonis* Mr. & Mrs. George M. Zeltzer* † Prof. Kenneth Collinson Dr. & Mrs. Gerhardt A. Hein Mr. & Mrs. Charles A. Parkhill Mr. & Mrs. Robert C. Comstock# † Ms. Nancy B. Henk Mr. Richard M. Raisin* Avanti Logo & Pin Design Dr. Robert A. Cornette* # Mrs. Fay Herman Mrs. Ruth F. Rattner* # Ms. Monica Moffat & Mr. Pat Dr. Cindy Hung & Mr. Jeremy Crites Mr. & Mrs. Derek Hodgson Ms. Deborah Remer McGuire Mrs. Mary Rita Cuddohy † Mr. Andrew Howell Dr. Joshua Rest Ms. Mattie Cunningham † Ms. Carol Howell Mr. & Mrs. James Rigby* Keys: Mr.† & Mrs. Tarik Daoud* # Dr. Cindy Hung* Mr. Bryan L. Rives * Founding Members Mr. & Mrs. Marvin I. Danto † Drs. Heidi & Dale Jacobs Ms. Patricia Rodzik* # Touch the Future donors Mr. Thomas J. Delaney Ms. Kristin Jaramillo* Ms. Joanne B. Rooney † + Avanti Society Sponsors Dr. David DiChiera # † Mr. Don Jensen & Mr. Leo Dovelle Mr.† & Mrs. Giles L. Ross † in Italics = deceased members Mrs. Karen V. DiChiera* # Mr. John Jesser † Aphrodite & George Roumell Mr. & Mrs. Walter Dissett Mr. Patrick J.† & Mrs. Stephanie Ms. Susan Schooner* Membership as of August 2018 Ms. Mary Jane Doerr # Germack Kerzic Drs. Heinz & Alice Platt Schwarz*

Michigan Opera Theatre www.MichiganOpera.org BRAVO • Spring 2019 35 Historic Path to a Bold Future The Campaign for Michigan Opera Theatre

Pursuant to a comprehensive strategic plan, the Board and Trustees of Michigan Opera Theatre have launched a Historic Path to a Bold Future campaign to invest $50 million in exceptional artistic experiences, broad-based community initiatives, enhanced institutional efficiencies, and facilities improvement. This campaign is designed to ensure that the David DiChiera legacy thrives beyond his tenure by positioning MOT for continued artistic success and community engagement well into the future. The following individuals, businesses, and foundations have declared their initial leadership gifts to the campaign. As of October 31, 2018, more than $25.7 million has been committed.

$1 Million and above $100,000 - $249,999 Sarah and Doug† Allison AVL — Don Manvel William Davidson Foundation Avern Cohn, Lois Pincus and Thomas Cohn Ford Motor Company Mary Rita Cuddohy† Danialle and Peter Karmanos Gretchen and Ethan Davidson John S. and James L. Knight Foundation DeRoy Testamentary Foundation Lear Corporation Barbara Frankel and Ronald Michalak Linda Dresner Levy and Edward Levy, Jr. Alphonse Lucarelli The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Ali Moiin and William Kupsky Ruth F. Rattner $500,000 - $999,999 Maureen and Roy Roberts Floy and Lee Barthel Mona and Matthew Simoncini Sharon and Herman Frankel Anthony Soave Karen and R. Jamison Williams $50,000 - $99,999 $250,000 - $499,999 Elizabeth and James Ciroli Joanne Danto and Arnold Weingarden Gloria Clark Marvin and Betty Danto Foundation Cameron Duncan Ann E. Ford† Michael Einheuser Rema Frankel† Aviva and Dean Friedman Richard Sonenklar and Gregory Haynes Kristan and John Hale Donna and Bernard Rubin Ankur Rungta and Mayssoun Bydon Yesenia and Jessie Venegas World Heritage Foundation-Prechter Family Fund † = Avanti Society

36 BRAVO • Spring 2019 www.MichiganOpera.org Michigan Opera Theatre Administration & Staff

Wayne S. Brown MICHIGAN OPERA THEATRE STUDIO SAFETY AND SECURITY President and Chief Executive Officer Tessa Hartle, Studio Principal Coach/ Darrin Cato, Stage Door Officer Accompanist A.M. Hightower, Control Center Officer Stephen Lord Michael Day, Tenor Lt. Lorraine Monroe, Supervisor Principal Conductor Cheyanne Coss, Soprano Newbold, Control Center Officer Harry Greenleaf, Baritone Katherine DeYoung, Mezzo-soprano DETROIT OPERA HOUSE David DiChiera (In Memoriam) Allen Michael Jones, Bass PARKING CENTER Founder and Artistic Director Emeritus Paul Bolden, Event Supervisor for Parking TOURING ARTISTS OF COMMUNITY Robert Neil, Manager PROGRAMS DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS Soprano: Clodagh Earls Richard Leech, Director of Resident Artist PRODUCTION Mezzo-Sopranos: Aja Dier, Olivia Johnson Programs Tenor: David Moan ADMINISTRATION Rock Monroe, Director of Safety and Security, : Branden C.S. Hood, Elizabeth Anderson, Production Coordinator DOH and DOHPC DeVonte King and Artistic Administrator Laura Nealssohn, Interim Director of Pianist: Joseph Jackson Kathleen Bennett, Production Administrator Marketing Percussionist: Marwan Aman-Ra Ken Saltzman, Stage Manager Angela Nelson-Heesch, Director of Nan Luchini, Hailli Ridsdale, Assistant Stage Development MICHIGAN OPERA THEATRE Managers David W. Osborne, Director of Production CHILDREN’S CHORUS STAFF Christine Elliott, Production Assistant Frankie Piccirilli, Chief Development Officer Suzanne Mallare Acton, Director Andrea Scobie, Director of Education MUSIC Dianna Hochella, Assistant Director, Patricia Walker, Chief Administrative Officer Suzanne Mallare Acton, Assistant Music Principal Chorus Conductor Arthur White, Director of External Affairs Director and Chorus Master Jane Panikkar, Preparatory Chorus Molly Hughes, Orchestra Personnel Manager Conductor ADMINISTRATION Jean Posekany, Orchestra Librarian Twannette Nash, Chorus Administrator William Austin, Executive Assistant Tessa Hartle and Jean Schneider, Repetiteurs Timothy Lentz, Archivist and Director, Joseph Jackson, Principal Chorus Allesee Dance and Opera Resource Library Accompanist TECHNICAL AND DESIGN STAFF Bryce Rudder, Senior Librarian, Allesee Dance Maria Cimarelli, Preparatory Chorus Daniel T. Brinker, Technical Director and Opera Resource Library Accompanist Monika Essen, Property Master and Scenic Rachel Kret, Intern Artist PATRON SERVICES Surtitles: Dee Dorsey Heather DeFauw, Assistant Lighting Designer Development Christine Elliott, Assistant Stage Manager and Assistant Technical Director Jocelyn Aptowitz, Patron and Community Jehnya Footitt, Production Assistant Intern Kevin Neuman, Assistant Technical Director Relations Coordinator and Dance Captain Dee Dorsey, Supertitle Operator Hilary Blevins, Manager of Foundations Shane O’Connor, Technical Assistant Christy Gray, Development Administrator COMPUTER SERVICES Colin Knapp, Manager of Donor Engagement Chris Farr, Network Administrator COSTUMES Assia Likomanov, Director of Corporate John Grigaitis, Information Technology Suzanne M Hanna, Costume Director Relations and Special Events Manager Rosemarie Di Rita, Wardrobe Mistress Sonya Thompson, Development Resource Susan A. Fox, First Hand Coordinator DANCE Maureen Abele, Margaret Bronder, Rachele Wright, Manager of Individual Giving Kim Smith, Dance Coordinator Emily Christianson, Kristina Hales, Mary Ellen Shuffett, Patricia Sova, Stitchers Marketing/Public Relations FINANCE MAKEUP AND HAIR Mitchell Carter, Website Coordinator James Andrews, Controller Elizabeth Geck, Assistant Wig and Makeup John Grigaitis, Photographer Kimberley Burgess, Rita Winters, Designer Michael Hauser, Marketing Manager Accountants Erica Hobbs, Communications Manager Hansel and Gretel: Erika Broderdorf, Laura R. Nealssohn, Communications Shannon Schoenberg, Dayna Winalis, DETROIT OPERA HOUSE Consultant Erin Puffpaff, Carol Taylor, Paige Parks HOUSE MANAGEMENT Jon Rosemond, Group Sales Associate Grapes of Wrath: Erika Broderdorf, Randy Elliott, House Manager Kristine Clifton-Higgins, Dayna Winalis, Ticket Office Jessica Wood, Erin Puffpaff, Carol Taylor, Tunisia Brown, Patron Services Associate, FACILITIES MANAGEMENT Julia Marsh Ticketing Manager Johnny Benavides, Building Engineer Evan Carr, Keontay Carter and Jon Jesse Carter, Senior Building Engineer STAGE CREW Rosemond, Patron Services Associate, Dennis Wells, Facilities Manager John Kinsora, Head Carpenter Ticketing David Bradley, Building Maintenance Frederick Graham, Jr., Head Electrician Pat McGee, Head Propertyman EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY CATERING AND SPECIAL EVENTS Chris Baker, Head of Sound PROGRAMS Holly Clement, Events Manager Mary Ellen Shuffett, Head of Wardrobe Mark Vondrak, Associate Director of Kate Mahanic, Associate Director of Sales, Robert Martin, Head Flyman Community Programs Detroit Opera House Gary Gilmore, Production Electrician Tiiko Reese-Douglas, Events Assistant IATSE Local #38, Stage Crew IATSE Local #786, Wardrobe

Michigan Opera Theatre www.MichiganOpera.org BRAVO • Spring 2019 37 General Information

PHOTOGRAPHY, RECORDING & COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES Photography or recording during any performance is strictly prohibited. You are welcome to take photographs in the lobby before or after a performance and during intermission. As a VOLUNTEER ASSOCIATION courtesy to our guests, please switch all electronic devices to silent mode and refrain from using them during the performance.

Greetings from the MOT Volunteer Association. IN CASE OF EMERGENCY Doctors and parents are advised to leave their seat location (located on ticket) and our emergency number, (313) 237-3257, I have been a music lover for many years and with their service or sitter in case of an emergency. Please Michigan Opera Theatre is very important to me. observe the lighted exit signs located throughout the theater. Our MOTVA volunteers provide the company a In the event of an emergency, please remain calm and walk – tremendous level of support. We have over 700 do not run – to the nearest exit. Our ushers are trained to lead members who serve as ushers, tour guides, and you out of the building safely. A trained Emergency Medical Boutique volunteers. Our Divas and Divos provide Technician (EMT) is onsite during most events. Please see an artist hospitality, and the Opera League and Dance usher or staff member to contact the EMT. Council members host parties to celebrate events RESTROOMS such as opening night performances. Last year our Ladies’ restrooms are located off the Ford Lobby (Broadway members logged almost 20,000 volunteer hours. Street entrance), down the stairs; and on the third floor (Madison Bravi! Street entrance) – press “3R” on the elevator to reach this facility. Gentlemen’s restrooms are located under the Grand Staircase If you are hearing about our and also on the third floor (Broadway Street side) – press “3” on volunteer programs for the first the elevator to reach this facility. All third floor restrooms are time and you would be interested wheelchair accessible. A unisex, wheelchair accessible restroom is located in the Cadillac Opera Café. in joining us, please give us a call. Volunteering is a great way NO SMOKING to meet other interesting and The Detroit Opera House is a smoke-free facility. involved patrons. Membership information is located on USHERS the MOTVA web page at Ushers are stationed at the top of each aisle. If you have a question michiganopera.org/get-involved/volunteers/ or concern, please inform an usher, who will contact management. or call Colin Knapp at (313) 965-4271 or email If you are interested in becoming a volunteer usher, please call [email protected]. Colin will be happy to the House Manager at (313) 237-3252. speak with you and connect you with a volunteer LOST & opportunity to meet your needs. Lost and Found is located in the Safety and Security Department. Please see an usher if you have misplaced an article, or call I offer my sincere thanks to all of our current (313) 961-3500 if you have already left the theater. Items will be volunteers. You are THE BEST! held in Lost and Found for 30 days.

Sincerely, SERVICES Concessions stands are located on all levels. Please note that food and drinks are not permitted in the auditorium at any time. Coat Check is located at the Guest Services desk in the Vincent Lobby (Madison Street side). Please note that the Detroit Opera Terry Shea, President, MOTVA House does not accept responsibility for any personal articles that are not checked at the coat check.

MOTVA Committees, Chair(s) IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION Dance Films, Larry Glowczewski Website...... www.MichiganOpera.org Divas and Divos, Helen Arnoldi-Rowe EMERGENCIES...... (313) 237-3257 Opera House Tour Guides, Myrna Mazure Opera League, Dodie David Michigan Opera Theatre...... (313) 961-3500 Publicity, Annette Marchesi General Information...... (313) 961-3500 Secretary, Nancy Moore Lost and Found...... (313) 961-3500 Special Events, Gwen Bowlby, Don Jensen & Curtis Posuniak Ticket Office...... (313) 237-7464 Ushers, Kathie Booth Theater Rental Information...... (313) 961-3500 Detroit Opera House Fax...... (313) 237-3412 Past Presidents Steven Marlette, Dodie David, Press and Public Relations...... (313) 237-3403 Betty Brooks, Gloria Clark Herman Frankel | Opera House Parking Center...... (313) 965-4052

38 BRAVO • Spring 2019 www.MichiganOpera.org Michigan Opera Theatre THE INSPIRING STORY OF A BOY BORN TO DANCE, WITH MUSIC BY ELTON JOHN GET YOUR TICKETS! SEASON RUNS APRIL – NOVEMBER

Othello Private Lives Henry VIII Little Shop of Horrors Mother’s Daughter The Merry Wives of Windsor The Neverending Story Nathan the Wise stratfordfestival.ca The Front Page The Crucible Birds of a Kind BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL | BOOK & LYRICS BY LEE HALL | MUSIC BY ELTON JOHN ORIGINALLY DIRECTED BY STEPHEN DALDRY DIRECTOR AND CHOREOGRAPHER DONNA FEORE WITH NOLEN DUBUC, DAN CHAMEROY, BLYTHE WILSON, MARION ADLER, STEVE ROSS. Season Partners PRODUCTION SUPPORT IS GENEROUSLY PROVIDED BY THE HARKINS & MANNING FAMILIES IN MEMORY OF Production & Program Sponsor JIM & SUSAN HARKINS, AND BY RIKI TUROFSKY & CHARLES PETERSEN PRODUCTION CO-SPONSORS: ENBRIDGE; RBC ROYAL BANK Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life Photo: Nolen Dubuc

Michigan Opera Theatre www.MichiganOpera.org BRAVO • Spring 2019 39 35+ showrooms | one destination

BAKER FURNITURE

RJ THOMAS, LTD.

VIRGINIA TILE PINDLER HICKORY CHAIR INTERIOR DESIGN SHOWROOM

FURNITURE | FABRICS | WALLCOVERINGS | BEDDING | FLOORING | RUGS | LIGHTING | TILE | KITCHENS | ARTWORK | ACCENTS

1700 Stutz Drive | Troy, MI 48084 | 248.649.4772 M - F | 9AM - 5PM | Evenings and weekends by appointment | Everyone welcome michigandesign.com