Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
June 20, 2001
Classic American story opens Central City Opera
Regional premiere of Adamo's `Little Women' opens June 30
Central City Opera's 69th season begins at 8 p.m. on June 30 with the regional premiere of "Little Women" by American composer Mark Adamo, based on the classic novel. The company's 69th season, June 30-Aug. 12 will also feature the first production by an American company of Benjamin Britten's "Gloriana" and a revival of Giacomo Puccini's "La Boheme."
The Rocky Mountain premiere of "Little Women" will be one of the first professional productions since the work's highly popular debut at Houston Grand Opera.
Based on the beloved novel by Louisa May Alcott, the opera follows the four March sisters as they learn about love, loss, and growing up. Jo, though the most outspoken and daring of her sisters, struggles to face the inevitable changes of life.
"Little Women" is composer Mark Adamo's first opera; he is now Composer-in-Residence at New York City Opera and is writing two new operas under commission from Houston Grand Opera. He will attend the opening night performance of the play on June 30.
Central City Opera's cast for "Little Women" features talented young singers and several artists from the original Houston Grand Opera productions. Stacey Rishoi makes her Central City debut as Jo March. Also making her first Central City Opera appearance is Jane Dutton as Meg. Past members of the company's Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists Training Program in the cast include Courtenay Budd as Amy and original Houston cast members Chad Shelton as Laurie and Daniel Belcher as John Brooke. Also reprising their roles from Houston are Gwendolyn Jones as Alma March, Katherine Ciesinski as Aunt Cecilia March, and Chen-Ye Yuan as Friedrich Bhaer, all in their Central City Opera debuts. Jan Opalach returns as Gideon March. Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Young Artist Tina Milhorn sings the role of Beth.
John Baril, who has led several Central City Opera productions including "La Traviata" in 2000 and "Street Scene" in 1999, will conduct "Little Women" for the first half of the season. Noted conductor and accompanist Ted Taylor will conduct the remainder of the performances. Joshua Major will direct his first mainstage production for Central City Opera. Scenic designer Vincent Mountain, who collaborated with Major on "La Traviata" at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis last season, will design his first production for Central City Opera.
With this production of "Little Women," Central City Opera and the Girl Scouts-Mile Hi Council have begun a program for young women to earn a Central City Opera patch.
The purpose of the patch is to introduce Girl Scouts to opera as an art form and to the history of Central City Opera. Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes and Seniors will have the opportunity to attend a performance of "Little Women" as the primary requirement for the patch. In special recognition of this exciting new program, Central City Opera has dedicated its July 4th matinee performance of "Little Women" to Girl Scouts; tickets are $10 for Girl Scouts and $15 for their parents and troop leaders.
Central City Opera, the nation's fifth-oldest opera company, performs every summer in the historic Central City Opera House, built in 1878 in a small mountain mining town 40 miles west of Denver.
Tickets for the 2001 season, June 30-August 12, may be purchased through the Central City Opera box office at 303-292-6700 or 800-851-8175.
Visit www.centralcityopera.org for more information.
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