January 24, 2021 | 6:30Pm Tlaloc Lopez-Waterman Barbara B
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´ La BohemeA Vivid Original Design Production! Artistic Director Steffanie Pearce Music Director Greg Ritchey Stage Director Josh Shaw Assistant Conductor & Chorus Master Brian Holman Set Designer Ardean Landhuis Lighting & Projections Designer January 24, 2021 | 6:30pm Tlaloc Lopez-Waterman Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Center Wardrobe Supervisor Caitlin Durrance The Blagojevic Sponsored -Sazonov Group In Part By: at A Message From The ARTISTIC DIRECTOR For our highly anticipated Barbara B. Mann debut, we present a fresh new look at this most popular Puccini opera. The idea came when I was searching for a poster image. Mindful that Puccini composed the work at the height of the Impressionist movement, I started looking at Paris street scenes of that period and came across Van Gogh’s Terrace Cafe at Night. The painting sparked a vision of the characters in the opera living upstairs from that cafe and coming down to hang out there, just like Van Gogh and the Paris Impressionists would have. A vibrant young creative team from across the United States have been collaborating since October to bring this original design production of Puccini’s most loved grand opera to Southwest Florida. Stage director, Josh Shaw, describing this new production explains, “La Bohème is a timeless story with themes as relevant today, as they were in the original setting. In the late 1880s Paris was filled with a concentration of larger than life artistic characters -- Van Gogh, Gauguin, Toulouse-Lautrec, and others. In our production, we are imagining our bohemian lovers as moving in the same circles as the great Impressionist artists who rebelled against classical subject matter and embraced modernity, creating works that reflected the world in which they lived. The colorful style of Van Gogh offers a vibrant canvas on which to paint Puccini’s masterpiece in a heightened, but believable setting.” Set designer Ardean Landhuis, video projections and lighting designer Tlaloc Lopez- Waterman and costume designers Amanda McGee and myself are using Van Gogh and other great impressionists as muses for our design concepts. Van Gogh’s Café Terrace at Night (1888) actually comes to life in Act 2 when the painting is rendered into the three dimensional set of the Café Momus in the Latin-Quarter of Paris on Christmas Eve. The use of Van Gogh’s dynamic colors carry through the design concept, providing a vivid, artist’s view of the bohemians lifestyle in Paris near the turn of the century. With Regards, Van Gogh portraits which inspired costumes for Rudolpho, Marcello, Colline and Schaunard. LA BOHÈME ACT I | An attic in Paris, December 24, evening. In their shabby attic home, the painter Marcello and the poet Rodolfo complain of the cold. Colline, the philosopher, arrives having failed to sell some books. However, the musician, Schaunard, arrives triumphantly with wood, food, wine and money. They decide to spend Christmas Eve at the Cafe Monmus. Rodolfo decides to stay behind in order to finish some work. Their neighbor, Mimì, knocks and asks Rodolfo to light her candle. After Rodolfo lights her candle she realizes that she lost her key. They search for it until his hand touches Mimi’s hand. “Your tiny hand is frozen,” says Rodolfo and in a beautiful aria tells her that he is a poet who loves life. She, in turn, describes her life as a seamstress. Rodolfo’s friends call out to him. Rodolfo offers his arm to Mimi and they leave together singing of their love to each other. ACT II | Outside the Cafe Momus, later that evening. The Bohemians discover that there is no free table inside the Cafe Momus and they decide to dine outside on the pavement. Rodolfo buys Mimi a bonnet and introduces her to his friends. Suddenly Marcello notices his old flame, Musetta, walking by on the arm of the old yet wealthy Alcindoro. Musetta also notices Marcello and sits close to him, trying to attract his attention. Pretending that one of her shoes is pinching her feet she sends Alcindoro to get a new one and throws herself into Marcello’s arms. As the six merry makers are about to depart, a waiter brings their bill, but they have no money left. Musetta adds their bill to hers and they all leave the happily. ACT III | Outside a tavern. A cold February dawn. Mimì approaches Musetta looking for Marcello. She begs him to intervene on her behalf with Rodolfo as his jealousy has made their life together miserable. She hides when Ro- dolfo comes out of the tavern. He tells Marcello that he has had enough of Mimì and that he cannot stand her flirtations. Marcello reveals the truth: Mimi is very ill and his life of poverty will kill her, which is why they must part. Mimì overhears their conversation and faints. When she comes to her senses, her and Rodolfo agree to stay together until spring. Musetta argues that she cannot stand Marcello’s jealousy. Rodolfo and Mimì leave hand in hand. ACT IV | The attic, early summer. Marcello and Rodolfo are trying to work, but without any success. Both are alone and neither can forget the memory of his love. Colline and Schaunard come in with some food, but this time only bread and herring. They improvise a meal and fool around and dance. Musetta bursts in telling them that Mimì is very ill. Rodolfo rushes outside and brings Mimì in. Musetta tells them how Mimì expressed one wish only, to come and die near Rodolfo. Colline goes to pawn his coat and bring a doctor. The others give Rodolfo time with Mimì. Alone with each other, Mimi recalls their first meeting, their short spell of happiness, their dreams and their love. She thanks her friends as they return and closes her eyes. As Musetta prays for Mimì’s health, Schaunard discovers that Mimì is dead and Marcello tries in vein to comfort Rodolfo. CAST Rodolfo, a poet ....................................................................................Peter Lake Mimì, a seamstress .............................................................................Sara Tucker Marcello, a painter ................................................................... Kenneth Stavert Musetta, a singer ........................................................................ Chelsea Lehnea Schaunard, a musician ..............................................................Andrew Pardini Colline, a philosopher ..................................................................Tyler Putnam Benoit, their landlord .......................................................Andrew Allan Hiers Alcindoro, a state councillor ...........................................Andrew Allan Hiers Parpignol, a toy vendor .......................................................Christopher Waite Custom House Officer ...................................................... Salomon Cardenas Tollgate Officer/Sergeant ...........................................................Joseph Brauer CHORUS Soprano I Tenor I Christina Clements* Christopher Waite* Marie Talley Salomon Cardenas Aurora Badia Tenor II Soprano II Leo Williams* Lauren Davis* David Brown Erika Ramirez Emma Jones Baritone Joseph Brauer* Alto I Nancy Saint Pierre* Bass Ardean Landhuis* Daniela Magura Fernando Gonzales Alto II Lydia Howery* Brie Schafer * Denotes Section Leader SUPERNUMARIES Rich Man .................................................................................................Alex Blagojevic Rich Lady .................................................................................................. Carol Fabiano Maitre D’ .......................................................................................Greg Wojciechowski Waiter ............................................................................................................ Jeff McCann Children ................................................. Basia Howery, Winter Talley & Aria Vasquez PRODUCTION STAFF Artistic Director................................................................................... Steffanie Pearce Music Director & Conductor................................................................ Greg Ritchey Stage Director ..................................................................................................Josh Shaw Production Manager .................................................................... Sherrie Dee Brewer Stage Manager ........................................................................................Jeremy Phillips Assistant Stage Manager & Props Master .................................... Carson Gilmore Assistant Conductor & Chorus Master ...........................................Brian Holman Set Designer ....................................................................................... Ardean Landhuis Lighting, Video, Projections Designer ..........................Tlaloc Lopez-Waterman Wig, Hair, Makeup Designer .............................................................. Erma Sandora Wardrobe Supervisor ........................................................................Caitlin Durrance Production Assistant .................................................................................Marie Talley Supertitles .........................................................................................................Josh Shaw ORCHESTRA Flute/Piccolo ............................................................................................... Beth Larsen Oboe ............................................................................... Bradley Shoemaker- Webster Clarinet 1* ...........................................................................................