Suor Angelica & Gianni Schicchi Program
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University of Southern Maine USM Digital Commons Programs 2008-2009 Season Theatre Programs 2000-2010 3-2009 Two Puccini Operas: Suor Angelica & Gianni Schicchi Program University of Southern Maine Department of Theatre Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/theatre-programs-2008-2009 Part of the Theatre History Commons Recommended Citation University of Southern Maine Department of Theatre, "Two Puccini Operas: Suor Angelica & Gianni Schicchi Program" (2009). Programs 2008-2009 Season. 3. https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/theatre-programs-2008-2009/3 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Theatre Programs 2000-2010 at USM Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Programs 2008-2009 Season by an authorized administrator of USM Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. UNIVERSITY OF [i]m SOUTHERN MAINE The School of Music and the Department of Theatre in collaboration present Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi by Giacomo Puccini Stage Director, Assunta Kent Music Director, Ellen Chickering Conductor, Robert Lehmann Sponsored by Drs. Elizabeth and John Serrage March 13-21, 2009 Main Stage, Russell Hall Gorham Campus Produced by special arrangement with Ricardi. lfL·--- - -- - - . Director's Note Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi by Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924) Once every four years Music and Theatre collaborate on a fully staged opera production- and this time, we offer you the rare Stage Director, Assunta Kent opportunity to sample grand opera in one evening, with Puccini' Conductor, Robert Lehmann Suor Angelica, an exqui ite tear-jerker, and Gianni Schicchi, a laugh Musical Director, Ellen Chickering out-loud comedy. 01·iginally part of the tryptych (IL Trittico) in pired by Dante's Alessandra Turati Divine Comedy, Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi share several Scenic Design: themes and character types underscored by our double-casting. For Costume Design: Kris Hall (Angelica), example, the role of the villainous Princess who comes to wrench away Devon Ash (Schicchi) Angelica' last hopes i shared by the mezzo oprano who al o sing Hair and Makeup Design: Kimberly Stone (on alternating night ) the comic "bad-guy' role of Zita, the aunt Lighting Design: JP Gagnon who controls the fortune and marital future of the young lover in Schicchi. In terms of theme, the operas ru·e a perfectly matched pair. In Cast the tragedy, powerful repressive forces (the Princess aided by the Abbess) have changed the will and force our heroine to relinquish her Suor Angelica: rights. In the comedy, a rogue (rehabilitated from hell!) tricks the (Performing on March 13, 15, 20) greedy forces and redistribute the legacy to give everyone their due, plu a welcome comeuppance for the greediest. And, of cour e, young love prevails! Suor Angelica SarahMawn To look more deeply Puccini presents an ironic commentary The Principessa Jazmin DeRice on the nature of heaven and hell. Angelica is driven to suicide to The Abbess Mary Bastoni escape her heJlish confinement in the peaceful convent finding The Monitor Rachael Braunstein redemption only through death and hope for the afterlife. But Gianni The Mistress of the Novices Christenia Alden-Kinne wins our indulgence for his legal deception becau e of it po itive Sister Genevieve Katherine Hall outcomes: the heavenly bliss of the young lovers and the demonic Sister Dolcina Alauna Butler frenzies of the scheming relatives in their little self-made hell. Sister Osmina, Portress Kristen Stearns But why in the world move Gianni Schicchi from medieval Sister Lucilla Greer Vashon Florence to Portland's West End circa 1927? Puccini drew his title Shannon Connell character from a shyster condemned to Dante's Inferno and thus The Tourieres placed the opera in Dante's world. But Gianni' new job is to Kelsey Ray 'adjust' an old man's will posthumously for hi greedy heir:s who are The Novices Kaitlin McGinley each ilhtminated by the property they desire. A desire for house in Molly Massa Quintole and land in Empoli provide little character in ·ight for Maine The Lay Sisters Alicia Culleton audiences, o I have remapped the opera over the Po11land area. We Erica Wasil all have a en e of the rich older lady who must have the cottage on Blessed Virgin Mary Kelsey Ray Peaks Island and the We t End fashionista who must have the Angelic Child Sebastian Shames townhouse in Boston. And we easily recognize the pompo ity and delusions of grandeur of the fonner mayor of Scarborough! Suor Angelica: (Performing on March 14, 17, 19, 21) Assunta Kent Suor Angelica Stephanie Gilbert The Principessa Alexandra Dietrich (same as above for the other roles) Gianni Schicchi: Artistic Staff (Performing on March 13, 15, 20) Assistant Director Brian Essman Assistant Lighting Design Sebastian Ascanio Gianni Schicchi Daniel Cyr Movement Coach Julie Goell Lauretta Jesslyn Thomas Drarnaturg Calien Lewis Corpse of Buoso Donati Brandon Johnson Rehearsal Accompanists Kathleen Scott (Suor Angelica) Relatives of Buoso Donati: Claudia Tornsa ( Gianni Schicchi) Zita Alexandra Dietrich Rinuccio John Coons Production Staff Gherardo Brian Tingdahl Stage Manager Florence Cooley Nella Michelle Rawding Assistant Stage Managers Jacqueline Cascella, Sarah Dube Gherardino Sebastian Shames Technical Director Perry Fertig Betto David Delano Carpenters Stage Craft Practicum, Julian Bones, Simone Joseph Murphy Florence Cooley, Brietta Hopkins, DJ Hutchins, Marco Daniel Pendergast Jeffrey Toombs, Emily Waller La Ciesca Mary Bastoni Scenic Painter Annie Boissevain Master Spinelloccio Richard Sherman Costume Director Kris Hall Arnantio di Nicolao, the Notary Roger Marcotte Stitchers Costume Practicum, Hannah Brown, Pinellino Dominic Rozzi Joelle Clingerman, Connie Hall, Alexis Handy, Guccio Justin Roux Brandon Johnson, Kevin Lynch, Michael Lynch, Desiray Roy Gianni Schicchi: Master Electrician Jeffrey Toombs (Performing on March 14, 17, 19, 21) Electricians Lighting Practicum, Neal Morton, Danny Gay Sound Engineer Colin Whitely Gianni Schicchi Joshua Miller Properties Supervisor Krista Lucht Lauretta Mary Clark Properties Construction Jacob Cote, Calien Lewis Relatives of Buoso Donati: Zita Jazmin DeRice Production Crew Rinuccio George Eisenhauer Light Board Operator Darren Brown (same as above for the other roles) Deck Crew Head Torn Wyatt Deck Crew Clarissa Bergeron-Lawrence, Brian Essman, Jonathan Longo Hair and Makeup Katherine Smith, Jessica Staggs Each production will run an hour. Wardrobe Kaitlin Bonanno, Laura Collard, Jennifer Rothbart There will be a twenty minute intermission. Administrative Staff Please, no photos are allowed during the performance. Theatre Promotions Director/Photography Troy Bennett Also please turn off beepers and phones as a courtesy to the Music Promotions Director Mary Snell actors and other audience members. Arts Events Director Ernrnanuelle Chaulet Administrative Assistant Lil Campbell Box Office Managers Krista Lucht Molly Handville-Derrig Graphic Design Leigh Raposo Program Franklin Kendrick .. Suor Angelica heaven, Sister Angelica concocts and drinks poison. She is then struck by the An Italian convent, late 1600s. Early Evening. fear that she has committed a mortal sin that will prevent her from seeing her son in the afterlife and she pleads with the Virgin for salvation. A celestial choir Sister Angelica and two lay sisters are late for chapel. The Monitor is heard and Angelica sees a vision of the Blessed Virgin with her child. , chides them for not doing penance as Sister Angelica has done. After dispensing penance for other infractions against the religious community's rule, the Gianni Schicchi Monitor announces that it is a festival and the sisters may "play a while." Florence. Originally set in the time of Dante (ca.1299), written in 19l8. Our production is set in Portland's West End, The nuns rejoice as Sister Genevieve points out the beautiful golden circa 1927. Morning, residence of Buoso Donati. sunlight that "will set our font aglowing, a miracle sent from Our Lady." The golden fountain signifies, as the Mistress of the Novices explains, "a special act The greedy relatives of the wealthy Buoso Donati gather at his deathbed of clemency that will bless the sisters," but it also marks a year's passing, to mourn his passing and, more importantly, to investigate the details of his during which Sister Bianca has died. Sister Genevieve suggests that they pour will. Each relative is hoping for a particular bit of property-- rich older Auntie some of the golden water onto her tomb, while Sister Angelica fashions a Zita wants the cottage on Peaks Island, Cousin Simone, the former mayor of memorial wreath. Scarborough feels entitled to any property there, the couple with a child want the camp on Sebago, the pretentious couple with no kids wants the townhouses in During their free time, some of the sisters confess they still long for Boston, and the drunken brother-in-law wants income-producing farmland near "innocent" pleasures-Sister Genevieve for the lambs she used to tend and Sister his favorite roadhouse in Topsham. But there are rumors that the old man has Dolcina for sweet things to eat. Sister Angelica denies she has any-such desires, left.nearly everything to a monastery (in Kennebunk). If, however, the will has but the others know she desperately longs for some word from her family. For not been filed with a notary, there is still hope for the relatives, who begin a seven years she has heard nothing from them, and the other nuns speculate that frantic search for the document. she was a princess, banished to the convent for reasons they have been unable to discover. Young Rinuccio finds the will and makes Zita promise to let him marry his beloved Lauretta, if everyone gets "plenty of money." With high Soon alms-collecting nuns (the tourieres) arrive, distributing the food expectations, they read the will, which proves the rumors were true; the relatives they have gathered. One of them mentions that a magnificent coach bearing a rant against the Friars and finally shed genuine tears.