A sneak peek at rehearsal

Tenor Hak Soo Kim, as Prince Ramiro, surrounded by
cast members.

Step-father (Don Magnifico), played by bass-baritone Stefano de Peppo and Tisbe (nasty step-sister) played by mezzo-soprano Melissa Treinkman

Sarasota Opera artists are busy rehearsing for our upcoming production of Rossini's version of Cinderella, La Cenerentola!

There's a wonderful energy and chemistry among cast members - it's sure to be a fantastic and fun production!
Add the lavish costumes and beautiful scenery - and you have - OPERA.

We open October 29 - check out our web site  and get your tickets while they are still available. This opera is suitable for the entire family. We hope to see you there.
P.S. Keep checking this blog - more photos to come.

Cinderella and her prince

La Cenerentola (Cinderella) played by mezzo-soprano
Heather Johnson pleads with step-sisters Clorinda played
by soprano Abla Lynn Hamza and Tisbe



Step-sisters seek comfort from their father.
All photos by Patricia G Horwell



Check out our own Jeff Ellis in this week's Sarasota Observer!

Jeff Ellis, our Director of Production, is featured in Backstage Pass in this week's edition of the Sarasota Observer. Here's the video (youtube) that was posted on the Observer's web site.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQS56tDuNqM&feature=player_embedded

You can read a teaser for the story at: http://www.yourobserver.com/news/longboat-key/A-and-E/092920108154/Jeff-Ellis-on-the-set-of-The-Crucible-VIDEO

Pick up a copy of the paper for the rest!

Construction of Crucible Set Continues

As the opening of La Cenerentola,this year's Fall Opera selection, approaches, set designers and builders are continuing construction of a completely new set for the premiere of Robert Ward's Pulitzer prize-winning opera, The Crucible. This Winter Festival production will feature the first set ever built 'in-house' by the Sarasota Opera technical team and marks the beginning of a new American Classics Series, designed to highlight some of America's greatest operatic contributions.

Recently, the work has been centered on the construction of the bedroom scene, which will be used in Act I, Scene 1 of the production. Yesterday morning, the team had nearly completed the bare construction of the set. By the afternoon, they had successfully completed and assembled the framework, quickly disassembling it to begin the painting process.

To the left is the image of the completed set. It is very much a work in progress, however this completed framework marks a major milestone in the construction process. 

 

On the right is another view of the completed bedroom structure. Although, the scenic material is now free-standing and physically complete, it must enter the decoration stage. In the photograph below, the individual components are spread across the floor of our very own William E. Schmidt Opera Theater, receiving their first coat of paint.

 

  Keep checking the blog for more photos and updates on the construction process!

Work continues on set for The Crucible

The crew at Sarasota Opera House continues work on building the set for our Winter Opera Festival presentation of Robert Ward's Pulitzer Prize winning opera, The Crucible, based on Arthur Miller's Tony Award winning play of the same name. The opera ushers in our ongoing American Classics Series, which will highlight great American works

Building a set is quite complicated. Here, the bedroom from Act 1, Scene 1 of this winter's production of The Crucible is nearly done. Once the "room" is completed (later today) it will be disassembled for painting!

Here, Jim Florek and Karle Murdock painting pieces of The Crucible set on the stage of the William E. Schmidt Opera Theater of the Sarasota Opera House. 

The Building of the Set for The Crucible

For the first time ever, the crew at Sarasota Opera is building a set for a mainstage opera, in-house! It takes a lot of room and time as well as many crew members to build a set, says our Director of Production, Jeff Ellis. When completed, this will be the set used in our Winter Festival production of Robert Ward's Pulitzer prize winning opera, The Crucible, based on Arthur Miller's Tony Award winning play of the same name. Here, on-stage, our painters apply a finish to several pieces of the set.

Below, is the "bedroom" - the walls have been put together (soon to be taken down) in our shop just to make sure it all works. Visit this blog occasionally to follow our progress with the set. Crew will be working on it regularly until we open our Fall Opera, La Cenerentola, Oct. 29. We'll resume construction after the Fall Season closes Nov. 10. Check back for more photos!

Get 'em while it's hot!

Because of the high demand for tickets to our Fall production of La Cenerentola (Cinderella) and our 2011 Winter Opera Festival, we have decided to open our online sales early.
However, if you choose to buy your tickets in person or by phone, you'll have to wait until September 1 for the Fall Season and October 1 for the Winter Festival.
Get a jump on your fellow opera lovers and get your tickets while they are still available!
Subscriptions are now available at the Box Office, 61 N. Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34236 or call (941) 366-8450, ext. 1

For single tickets go to: www.SarasotaOpera.org

Apprentice Artist Applications Due Soon!

A reminder to Sarasota Opera Apprentice Artist hopefuls: applications are due by August 15.

Sarasota Opera will hold the annual auditions for its Apprentice Artists Program this fall in Chicago on Sept. 11, Sarasota on Sept. 13, and NYC on Sept 16-19 with callbacks on Sept. 20

The program seeks singers who are serious about having careers as soloists in opera and desire further development in their craft. Singers will be able to apply through www.yaptracker.com, an online audition manager for young artists and emerging professionals. There is no membership fee to use this service.