The GoldenA New Opera Ticket Based on Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Music by Peter Ash – Libretto by Donald Sturrock Commissioned by American Lyric Theater, Lawrence Edelson, Producing Artistic Director and Felicity Dahl The Golden Ticket | 1 Recorded Live at The Atlanta Opera – March 2012 “I’ve heard tell that what you imagine sometimes comes true…” 2 | The Golden Ticket - Roald Dahl the golden ticket A New Opera Based on Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Music by Peter Ash Libretto by Donald Sturrock Commissioned by American Lyric Theater Lawrence Edelson, Producing Artistic Director and Felicity Dahl World Premiere – Opera Theatre of Saint Louis – June 13, 2010 Recorded Live at The Atlanta Opera – March, 2012 The Orchestra and Chorus of The Atlanta Opera Peter Ash, Conductor Lead funding for this recording was provided by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation The Golden Ticket | 3 Cast Charlie .................................................................... Benjamin P. Wenzelberg Willy Wonka/Mr. Know .........................................................Daniel Okulitch Grandma Georgina/Mrs. Gloop ..............................................Kristin Clayton Grandma Josephine/Mrs. Teavee .............................................. Jamie Barton Grandpa Joe ..........................................................................Keith Jameson Grandpa George/Mr. Beauregard ...............................................Jason Hardy Mike Teavee ......................................................................Gerald Thompson Candy Mallow/Squirrel Mistress.................................................Krista Costin Veruca Salt ................................................................................Abigail Nims Lord Salt .................................................................................. David Kravitz Violet Beauregard ................................................................Ashley Emerson Augustus Gloop ......................................................................Andrew Drost Chorus of Gargoyles, Factory Workers, Townsfolk, Oompa Loompas and Turkish Squirrels Original stage direction by James Robinson Revival stage direction by Michael Shell Choreographed by Seán Curran Scenery designed by Bruno Schwengl Costumes designed by Martin Pakledinaz Video designed by Greg Emetaz Lighting by Christopher Akerlind 4 | The Golden Ticket The Atlanta Opera Orchestra Violin Oboe/Oboe d’amore Trombone/Euphonium Peter Ciaschini, Dane Philipsen, Mark McConnell, Concertmaster Principal Principal Helen Kim, Richard Brady, Clarinet/Saxophone Assistant Concertmaster Bass Trombone David Odom, Viola Principal Tuba William Johnston, Donald Strand, John Warren, Principal Principal Bass Clarinet Cello Percussion Jan Baker, Charae Krueger, Michael Cebulski, Alto/Baritone Saxophone Principal Principal Bassoon/Contrabassoon Bass Jeff Kershner Mike Muszynski, Lyn DeRamus, Principal Timpani Principal Chorus of Gargoyles, Factory Workers, Townsfolk, Oompa Loompas John Lawless, Horn and Turkish Squirrels Flute Principal David Bradley, James Zellers, Principal Harp Principal, Original stage direction by James Robinson Susan Brady, Piccolo/Alto Trumpet Revival stage direction by Michael Shell Principal Yvonne Toll, Choreographed by Seán Curran Jeana Melilli, Principal Piano/Celeste/Harpsichord Scenery designed by Bruno Schwengl Piccolo/Alto Michael Spassov Costumes designed by Martin Pakledinaz Hollie Lifshey Kelly Bryant, Video designed by Greg Emetaz Piccolo/Alto/Bass Jonathan Swygert, Personnel Manager Lighting by Christopher Akerlind Trumpet/Flugelhorn Mark McConnell The Golden Ticket | 5 The Atlanta Opera Chorus Chorus Master: Walter Huff Chorus Beverly Blouin Megan Mashburn Elizabeth Stuk Michael Jones Rebecca Blouin Brishelle Miller Laurie Tossing Stephen McCool Melissa Fontaine Laura Porlier Chase Davidson Nathan Munson Jennifer Hamilton Rebecca Shipley Michael Gaare Jason Royal Lara Longsworth Amanda Smolek Grant Jones Iván Segovia Oompa Loompas Michael Arens Gabriel Couret Zachary Heath Stuart Schleuse Kyle Barnes C. Augustus Brandon Odom Zachary Brown Godbee Marc Porlier Soloists Floor Manager ...........................Gabriel Couret Camera Man ............................Nathan Munson Herpes Trout ...............................Michael Jones Mrs. Trout ...............................Lara Longsworth Marvin Prune ...........................Chase Davidson Miranda Grope ........................Rebecca Shipley Salt Worker ...........................Megan Mashburn Oompa Loompa ............................. Marc Porlier 6 | The Golden Ticket The Golden Ticket | 7 Track List CD One - Act One (55’48”) Track # 1 Act 1, Scene 1: Outside the Secret Factory (Mr. Know, Charlie, Gargoyles) 5’26” p.28 2 Act 1, Scene 2: Pale Green Blues (Charlie, Grandma Georgina, Grandma 4’59” p.30 Josephine, Grandpa Joe, Grandpa George) 3 Act 1, Scene 3: Countdown to Battle (Mike Teavee, Candy Mallow) 4’28” p.32 4 Act 1, Scene 4: Veruca Loses Her Nut (Veruca Salt, Lord Salt, Factory Workers) 2’46” p.34 5 Act 1, Scene 5: Fit or Fat? (Augustus Gloop, Candy Mallow, Violet Beauregard) 4’00” p.35 6 Act 1, Scene 6: Dreams and Ambitions - Charlie’s Song - 4’30” p,37 “There they are…” (Charlie) 7 Act 1, Scene 6: Interlude - Night Into Dawn 2’51” p.38 8 Act 1, Scene 7: Happy Birthday, Charlie (Grandpa Joe, Grandma Josephine, Grandma 3’32” p.38 Georgina, Grandpa George, Charlie) 9 Act 1, Scene 8: Chocolate Geniuses (Mr. Know, Charlie, Gargoyles) 1’36” p.39 10 Act 1, Scene 8 continued: The Inventing Duet - “Something round…” 2’41” p.40 (Charlie, Mr. Know) 11 Act 1, Scene 9: Veruca’s Ticket (Lord Salt, Veruca Salt, Factory Workers) 3’13” p.41 12 Act 1, Scene 10: Charlie’s Heart Stands Still (Gargoyles) 2’05” p.43 13 Act 1, Scene 11: A Wonka Welcome (Townsfolk, Candy Mallow, 3’52” p.44 The Five Lucky Winners of The Golden Tickets) 14 Act 1, Scene 11 continued: Wonka’s Aria and Act 1 Finale - “Yes, it’s me!” (Willy 9’41” p.47 Wonka, The Five Lucky Winners of The Golden Tickets, Townsfolk, Gargoyles) 8 | The Golden Ticket CD Two - Act Two (61’58”) 1 Act 2, Scene 1: Inside the Secret Factory (Willy Wonka, Charlie, Grandpa Joe, 5’47” p.49 Augustus Gloop, Mrs. Gloop, Violet Beauregard, Mr. Beauregard, Mike Teavee, Mrs. Teavee, Veruca Salt, Lord Salt) 2 Act 2, Scene 1 continued: Gussie Goes Swimming - “Mummy Yummy” 7’57” p.50 (Augustus Gloop, Mrs. Gloop, Willy Wonka, Oompa Loompas) 3 Act 2, Scene 2: Where are we? (Willy Wonka, Charlie, Grandpa Joe, 5’06” p.55 Violet Beauregard, Mr. Beauregard, Mike Teavee, Mrs. Teavee, Veruca Salt, Lord Salt, Oompa Loompas) 4 Act 2, Scene 3: Goodbye Violet - “The Inventing Room” (Willy Wonka, 3’07” p.58 Charlie, Violet Beauregard, Mike Teavee, Veruca Salt, Oompa Loompas) 5 Act 2, Scene 3 continued: “It’s Three-Course-Meal-Gum!” (Willy Wonka, 5’58” p.60 Violet Beauregard, Mr. Beauregard, Charlie, Grandpa Joe, Mike Teavee, Mrs. Teavee, Veruca Salt, Lord Salt, Oompa Loompas) 6 Act 2, Scene 4: Bubblevision (Willy Wonka, Charlie, Grandpa Joe, Mike Teavee, 5’00” p.63 Mrs. Teavee, Veruca Salt, Lord Salt, Oompa Loompas) 7 Act 2, Scene 4 continued: “I want to be demagnified!” (Mike Teavee, Willy Wonka, 6’28” p.65 Mrs. Teavee, Grandpa Joe, Charlie, Veruca Salt, Lord Salt, Oompa Loompas) 8 Act 2, Scene 5: Two Bad Nuts (Willy Wonka, Veruca Salt, Lord Salt, Charlie, 6’03” p.68 Oompa Loompas, Squirrel Mistress, Squirrels) 9 Act 2, Scene 6: Only One Left (Willy Wonka, Charlie, Oompa Loompas) 1’29” p.72 10 Act 2, Scene 7: Up and Out 3’20” p.73 11 Act 2, Scene 7 continued: “I Can Fly!” (Charlie, Willy Wonka) 2’10” p.73 12 Act 2, Scene 8: Here Comes Charlie! (Grandma Georgina, Grandma Josephine, 3’39” p.74 Grandpa Joe, Grandpa George, Willy Wonka, Charlie) 13 Act 2, Scene 9: Charlie’s Chocolate Factory (Willy Wonka, Charlie, Augustus 5’55” p.76 Gloop, Violet Beauregard, Mike Teavee, Veruca Salt, Lord Salt, Grandma Georgina, Grandma Josephine, Grandpa Joe, Grandpa George, Squirrels, Oompa Loompas) The Golden Ticket | 9 The Golden Ticket From the Page to the Stage The Golden Ticket, a new opera based on me away. Not only was the music beautiful Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate and theatrical, it ingeniously used many Factory,” was commissioned by American traditional operatic conventions to help portray Lyric Theater (ALT) and Felicity Dahl – but different characters. What a wonderful way getting to its triumphant premiere was far to introduce young audiences to opera! I felt from easy. Lawrence Edelson, Founder and the piece needed further development, but it Producing Artistic Director of ALT, discusses The was exactly the type of piece that ALT should Golden Ticket’s journey from a sparkle in the be championing — both to support gifted eyes of composer Peter Ash and librettist composers and librettists, and to bring new Donald Sturrock, to the world premiere at audiences to opera. Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and recording at Shortly thereafter, I met with both of them The Atlanta Opera. in London. We went through the entire Around the same time ALT was being formed libretto and score, talked very openly about in 2005, an ambitious American composer the challenges of the piece, and discussed and British librettist were sending out a sample where revisions might be appropriate. They recording of excerpts from a new opera introduced me to Roald Dahl’s widow, Liccy, called The Golden Ticket. About a year later, I whose passion for the project further fueled discovered this operatic version of Charlie