For Immediate Release: January 6, 2015

Transcription

1 CONTACT: STEFFANIE BERG MANAGER OF MARKETING 335 W. MIFFLIN ST., MADISON, WI PH: (608) FAX: (608) For Immediate Release: January 6, 2015 Madison Opera Presents Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Madison Opera offers the company premiere of Sondheim s musical thriller in the Capitol Theater Madison, Wis. Madison Opera presents its first-ever production of Stephen Sondheim s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street on February 6, 7, and 8 in the Capitol Theater at the Overture Center for the Arts. The company is building a new production of this thrilling American masterpiece, and the powerhouse cast, Madison Opera Chorus, and Madison Symphony Orchestra will bring this most operatic of theatre scores to life. The show tells of the barber Sweeney Todd, who returns to the gas-lit streets of Victorian London after 15 years of unjust imprisonment to claim vengeance on those who wronged him. He is aided in his murderous activities by Mrs. Lovett, maker of some rather tasty meat pies. One of Sondheim s most renowned works, Sweeney Todd has a stunningly inventive score containing drama, macabre humor, lyrical purity, and an unforgettable final scene. I love this piece, says Kathryn Smith, Madison Opera s general director. It s a true American classic, with a story that is simultaneously dark and comic, and music that ranges from beautifully lyric songs like Not While I m Around to vaudevillian turns like A Little Priest, all with some of the wittiest lyrics ever written. Although it premiered on Broadway in 1979 winning eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical Sweeney Todd has been a staple of opera companies since 1984, when Houston Grand Opera first staged it, followed a few months later by New York City Opera. With a score that is almost entirely sung, it has been described by Sondheim as a dark operetta. Performances: Friday, February 6, pm Saturday, February 7, pm Sunday, February 8, :30pm Capitol Theater at Overture Center Sung in English with projected text That first Houston Grand Opera production was conducted by John DeMain, Madison Opera s artistic director, who will conduct these performances. For me, it is a brilliantly-composed work for the musical theater that has marvelous melodies, incredible lyrics, a unique and thrillingly fascinating story, and a climax that is the stuff of grand opera, says DeMain. I can t wait to conduct our stunning cast in this masterwork for the lyric stage. Box Office: 201 State St., Madison, WI (608) Tickets: $25 - $110 Group discounts available Corey Crider and Meredith Arwady make their Madison Opera debuts as the vengeful barber and the everpractical Mrs. Lovett. Crider has sung leading roles with Lyric Opera of Chicago, Arizona Opera, and the Castleton Festival. Arwady has sung leading roles with San Francisco Opera, the Metropolitan Opera, Houston Grand Opera, and Santa Fe Opera. In the role of the mysterious Beggar Woman, Emily Pulley makes her Madison Opera debut after recent performances at the Metropolitan Opera, Central City Opera, and Opera Theater of St. Louis. Returning to Madison Opera are former Madison Opera Studio Artist Jeni Houser as Johanna, Sweeney s daughter; Daniel Shirley as the young sailor Anthony Hope; and Thomas Forde as the evil Judge Turpin. Three tenors round out the cast. Joshua Sanders, who has been singing with Madison Opera since high school, plays the Madison Opera s Sweeney Todd 1 of 6

2 innocent Tobias Ragg. Jared Rogers makes his debut as the menacing Beadle Bamford. Robert Goderich, a local theatre and opera favorite, plays Sweeney s rival barber, Adolfo Pirelli. Madison Opera is building a new production for the Capitol Theater. Stage director Norma Saldivar, set designer Joseph Varga, costume designer Karen Brown-Larimore, and lighting designer Hideaki Tsutsui are creating a world set in an Industrial-age factory, with the orchestra on stage to bring the action even closer to the audience. Building a new production allows us to take advantage of the Capitol Theater, says Smith. The gorgeous venue is ideally suited to this piece and it is exciting to create something new. The public has many ways to find out more about Sweeney Todd, starting with free one-hour previews at the public libraries in Sun Prairie, Fitchburg, Waunakee, and Madison Central. Opera Novice offers a free presentation on American musicals and American operas, while the Opera Up Close series provides an in-depth discussion of the piece, including a roundtable with Sweeney Todd artists. Related event details and full cast and production information are enclosed. For production photos, to schedule artist interviews, or for more information, please contact Marketing Manager Steffanie Berg at berg@madisonopera.org or CAST AND PRODUCTION TEAM Sweeney Todd... Corey Crider* Mrs. Lovett... Meredith Arwady* Johanna... Jeni Houser Beggar Woman... Emily Pulley* Judge Turpin... Thomas Forde Anthony Hope... Daniel Shirley Tobias Ragg... Joshua Sanders Beadle Bamford... Jared Rogers* Adolfo Pirelli... Robert Goderich Conductor... John DeMain Stage Director... Norma Saldivar* Chorus Master... Anthony Cao Scenic Designer... Joseph Varga* Costume Designer... Karen Brown-Larimore Lighting Designer... Hideaki Tsutsui* Wig and Make-Up Designer... Jan Ross Choreographer...Maureen Janson Fight Director... Jeff Skubal Sound Designer... Buzz Kemper *Madison Opera debut Madison Opera s Production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is sponsored by Johnson Bank, Sally and Mike Miley, and Fran Klos. Madison Opera s Sweeney Todd 2 of 6

3 RELATED EVENTS Library Previews Sun Prairie Public Library: Tuesday, January 13, 6:30-7:30pm Central Public Library: Wednesday, January 21, 7-8pm Waunakee Public Library: Tuesday, January 27, 7-8pm Fitchburg Public Library: Wednesday, January 28, 6:30-7:30pm FREE and open to the public Join a Madison Opera staff member for a multimedia look at the history of Sweeney Todd, from its 19 th century Victorian origins to Stephen Sondheim s Tony Award-winning classic, and some insights into Madison Opera s production. Opera Novice: American Operas vs. American Musicals Friday, January 16, 2015, 6-7pm, The Margaret C. Winston Madison Opera Center FREE and open to the public First-time opera-goer? Join Madison Opera for a short, fun, and informative evening examining the relationship between American operas and American musicals. More information available at Opera Up Close: The Sweeney Todd Preview Sunday, February 1, 2015, 1-3pm, Madison Museum of Contemporary Art $20 general admission Join Madison Opera for a behind-the-scenes exploration of Sweeney Todd, including a multimedia look at Sondheim s works and Madison Opera s new production, hosted by Kathryn Smith with commentary from stage director Norma Saldivar, conductor John DeMain, and members of the cast. Pre-Opera Talks Friday, February 6 at 7pm, Saturday, February 7 at 7pm, and Sunday, February 8 at 1:30pm Wisconsin Studio at Overture Center, free to ticket holders Attend an entertaining introduction to Sweeney Todd one hour prior to curtain. Cast, Director, and Conductor Bios Corey Crider Sweeney Todd Recently: Scarpia, Tosca (New Philharmonic Orchestra); Marcello, La Bohème (Arizona Opera, Castleton Festival, Opera on the James); Malatesta, Don Pasquale (Lyric Opera of Chicago); Escamillo, Carmen (Opera Lyra Ottawa; Teatro Petruzelli, Bari); Sonora, La Fanciulla del West (Indianapolis Opera); Cavaliere di Belfiore, Un giorno di regno (Sarasota Opera) Madison Opera s Sweeney Todd 3 of 6

4 Meredith Arwady Mrs. Lovett Recently: Martha, The Gospel According to the Other Mary (English National Opera); Mme. de Croissy, Dialogues of the Carmelites; Kathy Hagen, Champion (Opera Theatre of St. Louis); Fräulein Krone, The Impresario; Death, Le Rossignol (Santa Fe Opera); Mistress Quickly, Falstaff (San Francisco Opera, Oper Frankfurt); Erda, Das Rheingold, Siegfried (Houston Grand Opera, Metropolitan Opera, Oper Frankfurt); Auntie, Peter Grimes (Aspen Music Festival) Upcoming: Schwertleite, Die Walküre (Houston Grand Opera) Thomas Forde Judge Turpin : A Masked Ball Recently: Herr Brentano, Brothers Grimm (Lyric Opera of Chicago Lyric Unlimited); Haiduk and Summergarden Police Officer, The Nose (Teatro dell Opera di Roma); Angelotti, Tosca (Fort Worth Opera, Dallas Opera); Les Miserables (Drury Lane Theatre); Billy Jackrabbit, La Fanciulla del West; Alidoro, La Cenerentola; Jailer, Tosca (Opernhaus Zurich); 1st Soldier / 2nd Servant, Life is a Dream; Oracle, Alceste (Santa Fe Opera) Upcoming: Lurch, The Addams Family (New Theatre Kansas City); Don Basilio, The Barber of Seville (Madison Opera) Jeni Houser Johanna : Acis and Galatea Recently with MO: Cunegonde, excerpts from Candide (Overture 10 th Anniversary) Recently: Frasquita, Carmen; Zerbinetta, Ariadne auf Naxos; Mother/Giant s Wife, Jack and the Beanstalk (Virginia Opera); Josephine, H.M.S. Pinafore (Opera Saratoga); Najade, Ariadne auf Naxos (Fort Worth Opera, Glimmerglass Festival); Gretel, Hansel and Gretel (Opera for the Young) Upcoming: Cunegonde (cover), Candide; Queen of the Night (cover), The Magic Flute (Glimmerglass Festival) Emily Pulley Beggar Woman Recently: Bea, Three Decembers (Des Moines Metro Opera, UrbanArias); Julie, Show Boat (Central City Opera, San Francisco Opera); Minnie, La Fanciulla del West (Eugene Opera); Amahl and the Night Visitors (Musica Sacra Atlanta); The Nose (Metropolitan Opera); Georgetta, Il Tabarro (Opera Theater of St. Louis) Madison Opera s Sweeney Todd 4 of 6

5 Daniel Shirley Anthony Hope : Acis and Galatea Recently with MO: Candide, excerpts from Candide (Overture 10 th Anniversary) Recently: Steuermann, Der Fliegende Holländer (Michigan Opera Theater); Nanki-Poo, The Mikado (Opera Memphis); Eurimaco, Il Ritorno d Ulisse in Patria (Boston Baroque); Will Tweedy, Cold Sassy Tree (Sugar Creek Symphony & Song); Tybalt, Roméo et Juliette (Florida Grand Opera, Intermountain Opera); Prunier, La Rondine; Pang, Turandot (Florida Grand Opera); Indian Scientist, The Last Savage (Santa Fe Opera) Upcoming: Macheath, The Beggar s Opera (East Carolina University); Soloist, Carmina Burana (Alabama Symphony) Joshua Sanders Tobias Ragg : La Traviata Recently with MO: Solo Inmate, Dead Man Walking; Ensemble, Acis & Galatea Recently: Wolf Trap Opera Studio Artist; Don Basilio, Le Nozze di Figaro (La Musica Lirica); Albert Herring, Albert Herring; Parpignol, La Bohème (UW-Madison) Upcoming: Tamino, Die Zauberflöte (UW-Madison); Wilhelm, The Ghosts of Versailles; Don Curzio, Le Nozze di Figaro (Wolf Trap Opera) Jared Rogers Beadle Bamford Recently: Alfredo, La Traviata; Lensky, Eugene Onegin; Don Ottavio, Don Giovanni (Theater Bremen); Tamino, Die Zauberflöte (Musiktheater im Revier); Narraboth, Salome (Cedar Rapids Opera) Robert Goderich Adolfo Pirelli : A Masked Ball Recently with MO: A Peasant, The Daughter of the Regiment Recently: The Fantasticks, Les Miserables, She Loves Me, Great American Songbook (Four Seasons Theatre) Madison Opera s Sweeney Todd 5 of 6

6 John DeMain Conductor, Madison Opera Artistic Director : The Magic Flute Recently with MO: Fidelio, Dead Man Walking, The Daughter of the Regiment Recently: Show Boat (San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Washington National Opera); Carmen, Aida (Virginia Opera); Lost in the Stars, The Music Man (Glimmerglass Festival); Porgy & Bess (Seattle Opera) Upcoming: The Barber of Seville (Madison Opera) Norma Saldivar Stage Director Recently: Esperanza Rising (First Stage Milwaukee); As You Like It (Door Shakespeare); Wings (Skylight Opera); The Dig (Renaissance Theatreworks); The Cradle Will Rock; Summer and Smoke; The Grapes of Wrath (UW-Madison). Executive Director, UW- Madison Arts Institute; producer, Wisconsin Film Festival. ### Madison Opera is a non-profit professional opera company based in Madison, Wisconsin. Founded in 1961, the company grew from a local workshop presenting community singers in English-language productions to a nationally recognized organization producing diverse repertoire and presenting leading American opera singers alongside emerging talent. A resident organization of the Overture Center for the Arts, Madison Opera presents three productions annually in addition to the free summer concert Opera in the Park and a host of educational programming. Madison Opera s Sweeney Todd 6 of 6