Local Singers Cast in New Opera By ‘Wicked’ Composer

Séance on a Wet Afternoon will have its world premiere in Santa Barbara on Sept. 26

By Marylove Thralls | Published on 06.23.2009

  • E-mail
  • Print this page Print
  • Comments (2)
    • Share

Opera Santa Barbara has announced the final cast selections for award-winning composer Stephen Schwartz’s opera Séance on a Wet Afternoon, which will have its world premiere in Santa Barbara on Sept. 26.

The opera is based on a 1964 film by Bryan Forbes and novel by Mark McShane. Schwartz wrote both the music and libretto for the new opera.

New York City Opera star Lauren Flanigan, who has performed the role of Myra Foster since the early workshops of Séance, will lead the cast, which also includes one of opera’s most versatile baritones, Kim Josephson (Bill). Hila Plitman (Mrs. Clayton), John Kimberling (Mr. Clayton), Craig Hart (Inspector Watts), Caroline Worra, Michael Marcotte, Kelsey Lee Smith (Adriana), and Aaron Refvem (Arthur) sing principal roles. Santa Barbara residents in the cast include Benjamin Brecher (Mr. Cole), Deborah Bertling and Tom Hurd (ensemble). Madeline Marquis understudies the role of Adriana. The ensemble also includes Danielle Bond, Julie Davis, Eric Carampton, Andrew Fernando, Gabriel Manro, Darla Mattern, Jesse Merlin, Victoria Robertson, Jennifer Wallace and Bray Wilkins.

The sets for Séance on a Wet Afternoon are being created by Tony Award-winning designer Heidi Ettinger, with lighting design by David Lander and costumes by Alejo Vietti. Opera Santa Barbara Music Director Valery Ryvkin will be conducting. Scott Schwartz, son of the composer and a well-known theatrical director, will serve as stage director for the opera, with Matt Williams as choreographer. Michael Jackowitz is executive producer of the opera.

At the New York City Opera’s VOX New Works Showcase in May, where a segment of the new opera was performed, Schwartz said he knew instinctively that the story of Séance on a Wet Afternoon was right for opera and not musical theater. “It is moodier and more introspective, and maybe the orchestra is the largest character,” he said.

The opera tells the story of Myra, a “medium” who with her husband, Bill, attempts to carry out The Plan that will make her famous. The Plan is inspired by her deceased son, Arthur, and involves the kidnapping of a young girl who Myra — through her psychic powers — will find.

Additional performances of the opera will be Oct. 2 and Oct. 4 (matinee). All performances will be at The Granada, 1214 State St. in Santa Barbara.

Click here or here for information about the opera, or to see an interview with the composer and audio clips from the opera.

Tickets will be released for sale to the public on July 31 and can be purchased from The Granada box office at 805.899.2222.

— Marylove Thralls represents Opera Santa Barbara.

Comments

Noozhawk's comments are moderated, but by posting here you accept your responsibility to follow our rules.

  1. No abusive, defamatory or libelous attacks. In plain English: No personal attacks.
  2. No vulgar or discriminatory language.
  3. If you do not follow these rules, don't be surprised if your comment is removed.
  4. Please use the Report Abuse button on offensive comments.
  5. Share what you know, ask about what you don't. Give us your eyewitness accounts, observations, background and history. Tell us what else you want to know about the story.
  6. Stay on the topic, PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK, and forgive people their spelling errors.

Noozhawk's intent is not to limit the discussion of our stories but to elevate it. Thank you for your respectful participation. Click here for our complete Terms of Use.

Comments are moderated, and will not appear until they've been approved.

You must be a registered user to comment. Create a user account

Log in




Auto-login on future visits

Forgot your password?

» Marylove Thralls on 06.25.09 @ 12:15 PM

Thanks, NOOZHAWK!  We appreciate your letting Santa Barbara know about this amazing new opera by one of the most celebrated musical theatre composers of our time. We will certainly keep you posted as we get closer to the opening as there are a lot of wonderful public events being planned around this momentous occasion.


» Howard Green on 07.14.09 @ 09:41 AM

Attended the VOX New Works Showcase in NY City to hear the segment of Seance on a Wet Afternoon was the highlight of the Friday Evening session. 

Immediately went to NetFlix to order the movie version to see the base version for the Opera. Suggest all music and drama lovers take time to study the source material, as well as other Steven Schwartz productions, to appreciate the task at hand.

Opera Santa Barbara is committing a lot to this premiere and audiences will benefit from preview study!  Will be really worth your time, no matter how much you dig in!

Having this illustrious crew here will be a highlight of the theatrical and musical seasons.


More Local News »

Michele Cohen: Dave Wakeling Still Singing with Upbeat Energy

Venerable English Beat fueled by a Street Team of fans spreading the word

Jeff Moehlis: ‘One Reporter’s Opinion’ of Mike Watt and The Missingmen

The legendary Minutemen bassist and his new bandmates play a high-energy show at the Mercury Lounge

Gerald Carpenter: From B to Z, Camerata Pacifica Plays the Gamut

Violinist Catherine Leonard, cellist Ani Aznavoorian and pianist Hugh Tinney team up for two concerts on Friday

Margo Kline: Philharmonique Brings International Flair to Granada

With 141 instrumentalists delivering the works of Ravel, the evening left quite the Impression

Margo Kline: UCSB Professors Launch ‘Bach Project’

Helen Callus and Derek Katz perform the first of three spring concerts

Weather: Fair 59.0º


© Malamute Ventures LLC 2007-2010 | ISSN No. 1947-6086

Web Design & Development by PixelFive