Hey, Opera Goers! Thank you for coming to Opera 5’s“Die Fledermaus!”Ever since we dreamed up this production a year ago, the excitement has only grown! There’s no thrill like watching the party come to life : the dancing, the gambling, the diamonds, the drag... Pull out your cell phones; snap a photo; order a beer! We’re thrilled to have you, and hope you enjoy the show. Want to know what’s in store for you this evening? Check out our world-famous
OPERA CHEATS! We have one for“Die Fledermaus”and many more at Opera 5’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/operafive If you want to join us tonight on social media, here’s our info: Twitter: @OperaFive Instagram @Opera5TO Like us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/operafive
Hashtag #O5FM to join in the fun tonight! Opera 5 grows more and more each year, and we could not have done it without the continued support of audience members like you. You have made it possible for this production to happen, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. If you are interested in becoming more involved with our community, we are always looking for Board Members, volunteers for our shows, and talent for our Opera Cheats. We’d love to put your name here in the program along side all our other amazing support. If you have special talents that you would like to put to use on our team, please contact us at : checkmeout@opera5.ca Finally, we are absolutely thrilled that we are able to produce exciting, new operatic content, and feature some of the brightest up-and-coming talent this world has to offer. Doing so requires a significant amount of financial help. The Opera 5 team is commited to fiscal responsibility and artistic excellence. If you would like to make a donation to help us continue the work we do, please take a look at our Canada Helps profile: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/opera-5/ Thank you, once again, and please enjoy the show! ~The Opera 5 Team
PRODUCTION ARIA UMEZAWA
Role: Director Aria Umezawa is the Artistic Director of Opera 5, and the writer and creator of "Opera Cheats." She has directed for universities and independent companies across North America, including "Pygmalion" at Opera Mcgill, and the North American premiere of "Artemesia" with Helios Opera (Boston, MA). She is participating in this year's Merola Opera Program as the Apprentice Stage Director.
JESSICA DERVENTZIS
Role: Co-Director/Production Manager Jessica Derventzis Select directing credits: The Medium, Le Docteur Miracle, L'Heure Espagnole (Stu&Jess Productions), Our Town (Opera Nuova, Canadian premiere), La Voix Humaine (Little Opera on the Prairie), L’Enfant et les Sortilèges, Candide, Die Zauberflöte (assistant director, Calgary Opera). Up next, Jessica will be directing Die Zauberflöte with Opera Kelowna and working with the Cowtown Opera Summer Academy.
PATRICK HANSEN
Role: Conductor Lyric Opera of Chicago, Florida Grand Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, Tulsa Opera, Opera Memphis, Des Moines Metro Opera, Ash Lawn Opera, Janiec Opera Company, and the Juilliard Opera Center. He is the Assistant Editor of the G. Schirmer“Opera Anthology”series and currently is the Director of Opera Studies at McGill University.
JENNIFER NICHOLS Role: Choreographer
Jennifer Nichols is a Toronto based choreographer and dancer who has amassed an extensive portfolio of work for stage and film. She is the owner of The Extension Room and founder of Extension Method ballet fitness. Jennifer has been a member of the Opera Atelier Ballet since 2008. She has choreographed and performed work for Against the Grain Theatre (Messiah), Canadian Art Song Project (Sewing the Earthworm), The Royal Conservatory (La Belle Helene), FAWN Chamber Creative (Synesthesia IV) and In.Set (Extensions of Us). Jennifer is also choreographer for the CW's hit television show 'Reign' and Co.Artistic Director of Hit & Run Dance Productions.
TREVOR CHARTRAND
Role: Repetiteur Canadian pianist Trevor Chartrand holds an undergraduate degree in piano performance and a Masters degree in Collaborative piano, both from Western University. His keen interest in opera has brought him to Europe many times, and this will be his second year as the pianist and coach for the operas at FAVA. Currently, based in Ann Arbor, Trevor is attending the University of Michigan while earning his Doctorate in Collaborative Piano with Professor Martin Katz.
PRODUCTION JOANNA BLACK
MATTHEWVAILE
JENNEFER LENNON
Role: Stage Manager JoAnna Black is a grad of the UofA and works professionally across Canada. Select opera Stage Management credits; Dead Man Walking, Cendrillion, Carmen (Opera Nuova), Susannah, Dialogues Des Carmelites, Orpheus in the Underworld (HSOF) La Boheme (Opera Belcanto), and apprentice stage manager with Opera Lyra Ottawa and Edmonton Opera. Role: Production Designer Previously with Opera 5: In Pace Requiescat 2013, Offenbach & Hahn 2014 Storybook and Il segretto di Susanna 2015. Other Production Design Credits include: "TEDxToronto 2014: The Choices We Make" & “TEDxToronto 2015:“Threshold”(TEDxToronto & Koerner Hall), "Seussical the Musical" &“Zorba”(Musical Theatre Productions). Costume Designer: Dora Winning This is a Costume Drama (The Dietrich Group & Harborfront World Stage). Role: Lighting Designer Jennifer Lennon is a Toronto-based lighting designer for live performance. Recent design credits include: Bombay Black (Factory Theatre), The Twelve-Pound Look (Shaw Festival), The Enlightenment of Percival von Schmootz (Theatre Sheridan), Old Man and the River (Theatre Direct), Better Angels: A Parable (Call Me Scotty Productions), and Stupidhead! (Disorganized Productions).
RUSSELL WUSTENBERG
Role: Assistant Director/Chorus Growing up on his family's 13 acre farm in Minnesota, Russell Wustenberg's love of loud singing grew unchecked. After finishing his studies at McGill University, he has expanded on his love of all things opera by serving as a full-time stage manager while concomitantly singing and directing.
SORCHA NI CHROININ
Role: Assistant Stage Manager/Assistant Production Designer Sorcha Ní Chróinín is a stage manager, festival coordinator and project manager from Ireland with a specific interest in immersive and interactive theatre. This has led her to intern on Punchdrunk’s ‘Sleep No More’ in New York, and to travel to Toronto to work on this exciting Opera 5 production.
MADELINE YOUNG Role: Administrative Assistant Madeline Young has been classically trained in both piano and violin from a very young age. She has received an Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Music diploma in piano performance, and completed her RCM Grade 10 in violin. She is presently continuing her studies in piano at Kwantlen Polytechnic University under the tutelage of Jane Hayes.
DIRECTOR’S NOTES DIRECTOR’S NOTES “I think there’s been a generational shift in terms of the value of experiences over and above any material goods. People our age don’t talk about what kind of car they drive, but I think they do talk an awful lot about what they did on holiday.” ~Will Dean (Co-Founder and CEO of Tough Mudder) I think it’s safe to say this is not your average“Die Fledermaus.” Plot isn’t the only way through which we can access a show. I think we can get hung up on plot sometimes. Does a coherent narrative really matter if you’ve had an emotional experience? Tonight, you are part of the show. You will help move the plot forward, and you will be able to walk around and check out the action from different angles. This show is surround sound, immersive, and interactive. It truly is a show for all your senses. Long-time lovers of“DieFledermaus”may notice that a few things have changed. Our prince is now an heiress. With audience members being so close, I felt it would be strange to have a pants-role, and not explain why our mezzo is dressed as a man (particularly to those members of the audience who are not familiar with operatic conventions). Yvan has been cut, and replaced with a drag queen, and Frosch has been cut in the interest of time. If you are reading this before the show, I would encourage you to let go of any expectations of what this night might hold. I promise it won’t be scary! We threw this party for you to enjoy. Move around, interact with the people around you, and have a drink on us! I need to express a huge“Thank You”to the production team, in particular, co-Director Jessica Derventzis, and Musical Director, Patrick Hansen for carrying this show across the finish line. I am in San Francisco participating in the Merola Opera Program, and am so lucky to have the best people around me to rely on for support. Their input and creativity has been invaluable to this production. To my partner in crime, Rachel Krehm: Words cannot express how grateful I am for your unending support and trust. Finally, thank YOU for coming out tonight. Opera 5 would not exist without your presence here this evening. Now sit back, relax, and get ready for a truly unique experience. ~ Aria Umezawa Stage Director and Artistic Director of Opera 5
PROGRAM
Presents
Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss II
OPERA 5 TEAM RACHEL KREHM General Director
EVAN MITCHELL Principal Conductor
Libretto by Ruth & Thomas Martin Book by Aria Umezawa
JESSICA DERVENTZIS Production Manager
Director: Aria Umezawa
ARIA UMEZAWA Artistic Director
BOARD OF DIRECTORS VICTORIA NOVAK President
Co-Director/Production Manager: Jessica Derventzis
RON DAVIS CARL DHOLANDAS GEORGE HOFF JAYME MCCOLL GILL SOPHIE TRIMBLE
Musical Director/ Conductor: Patrick Hansen
Choreographer: Jennifer Nichols Stage Manager: JoAnna Black Production Designer: Matthew Vaile Lighting Designer: Jennifer Lennon Repetiteur: Trevor Chartrand Assistant Director: Russell Wustenberg Assistant Stage Manager/Assistant Production Designer: Sorcha Ní Chróinín Administrative Assistant: Madeline Young
CAST
Featuring: (in order of appearance)
Pearle Harbour - Justin Miller Rosalinda - Rachel Krehm Adele - Julie Ludwig Alfred - Justin Ralph Eisenstein - Michael Barrett Dr. Blind - Daniel Denino Dr. Falke - Keith Lam Officer Frank - Geoffrey Penar Ida - Madison Angus Oksana Orlofsky - Erin Lawson SOPRANOS Arianna Ervin Courtney Waldie Jacoba Barber-Rozema Megan Micelli
TENORS Leete Stetson Sheldon Suepaul Tristan Scott
MEZZO-SOPRANOS Dallas Chorley Michaela Dickey Rebecca Russell
Dancers: Drew Berry Lily McEvenue
BARITONES
Danlie Rae Acebuque Kai Lee Russell Wustenberg
Special Guests: Ruby Magnitude Jamie Holmes Orchestra: Violin I: Adam Diderrich Violin II: Amy Spurr Viola: Rachael Abramoff Cello: Robin Howe Bass: Erin MacLeod Flute: Amelia Lyon Oboe: Melissa Scott Clarinet: Nonna Aroutiounian Bassoon: Michael Macaulay French Horn: Courtney Prizrenac Percussion: Etienne Levesque
SYNOPSIS SYNOPSIS Act 1
Gabriel von Eisenstein has always enjoyed a good prank and raging party. At the start of the show, he is at the courthouse contesting a verdict condemning him to five days in prison for pants-ing a police officer. Home alone, Rosalinda, his new wife, is nursing a hangover from a wild costume party. Adele, their maid, receives a letter from her sister, Ida, inviting her join her at a lavish party thrown by Miss Orlofsky. She concocts a story about a sick aunt to play hooky to no avail. Startling Rosalinda, Alfred, her former voice teacher and lover, breaks into her home to woo her, but quickly bolts when he realizes Eisenstein isn’t already in prison. Eisenstein then arrives with his incompetent lawyer, Blind: the sentence was actually extended! Complaining about their troubles, the couple is interrupted by Doctor Falke, Eisenstein’s friend. Alone, the two reminisce about the time Eisenstein told Falke to dress up as a bat for a serious event. He sways Eisenstein into accompanying him to Orlofsky’s party and delay jail until tomorrow. Eisenstein bids adieu to his wife. Alfred immediately reappears and starts seducing Rosalinda…again. As she is about to give in, Officer Frank comes to take Eisenstein into custody. Rosalinda convinces Frank that Alfred is Eisenstein. Alfred is arrested and hauled off to prison.
Intermission Act 2
At Oksana Orlofsky’s party, Adele and Ida reconnect and invent a cover story for Adele that she is an actress, named Olga. Eisenstein arrives and mistakes Adele for his maid. She laughs off his bold accusation and humiliates him in front of the entire party. Despite this, Eisenstein seduces her. Falke helps Rosalinda sneak into the party disguised as a rich Texan forced to wear a mask, just in time to witness their tryst. Vowing revenge for his unfaithfulness, Rosalinda has Falke introduce them. Eisenstein falls for this elusive foreigner and tries to seduce her, but she steals his watch instead. The crowd begins chanting for Rosalinda to take off her mask, but Orlofsky, having none of it, encourages her to sing a song to prove she is actually Texan. The party escalates with waltzing, flirting, and a toast to oursponsor for the evening. The party whirls, the clock strikes 6:00am, and the soirée is broken up.
Act 3
As Frank crawls back to the jail, Adele and Ida follow, hoping for his help sponsoring Adele’s acting career. He dismisses them just as Eisenstein arrives, ready to start his sentence. Frank is completely baffled: he has already arrested Eisenstein with his wife! The real Eisenstein is furious, but decides to see if he can catch his wife and her lover in this mix-up. He dresses up as his lawyer, Blind, and when Rosalinda arrives (and Alfred manages to finagle his way out of his cell)“Blind”tries to get a confession out of them. It works. Eisenstein reveals his disguise. But just as quickly, Rosalinda turns the tables and reveals that she was his mysterious Texan. Orlofsky and Falke pop in, revealing that tonight’s events have all been part of Falke’s revenge for the“bat”prank Eisenstein pulled on him so long ago. Everyone celebrates their mutual misbehaviour with a final toast to an epic party.
CAST PEARLE HARBOUR Role: As Herself
Pearle Harbour is all-American World-wartime gal, born on [information withheld]. During the war, she served as a stewardess aboard top-secret missions, including [information withheld], and even [information withheld]! Since crash-landing in Canada in late 2014, she has performed at Theatre Passe Muraille, VIDEOFAG, The Wrecking Ball, and The Comedy Bar. Follow her at facebook.com/thepearleharbour.
RACHEL KREHM
JULIE LUDWIG
JUSTIN RALPH
MICHAEL BARRETT
Role: Rosalinda Soprano Rachel Krehm has been praised for her“lovely radiant voice” (Opera Canada). Highlights this season include a Family and Pops shows with the Kingston Symphony Orchestra, Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen with the Las Vegas Young Artists Orchestra, Mahler 2 with Canzona Chamber Players Orchestra and Mozart’s Regina Coeli with the Kingston Chamber Choir. Role: Adele Soprano Julie Ludwig is a versatile performer, praised for her interpretations of soubrette and lyric coloratura repertoire. Highlights during the 2015-16 season include Musetta in La Bohème with the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, Amalia in Abigail Richardson's The Perfect Screw with the Hamilton Philharmonic, and Mozart's Vespers with the Bach-Elgar Choir. www.julieludwig.com Role: Alfred Originally from Ottawa, tenor Justin Ralph has worked as a soloist for many companies, including Toronto Operetta Theatre, Opera in Concert, Opera York, and Opera 5. Recent engagements include Kekikako in Offenbach's Ba-Ta-Clan (Opera 5), Gabriel in The Nativity with the GTPO, and Marius in Les Miserables with the Sudbury Symphony. Role: Eisenstein Born in Newfoundland, tenor Michael Barrett has been featured from one side of Canada to the other. Highlights include Messiah (Newfoundland Symphony), Spalanzani in LES CONTES D’HOFFMANN (COC and Edmonton Opera) and the role of Quint in TURN OF THE SCREW (Against the Grain Theatre). He is an alumnus of the University of Toronto’s Opera Division.
DANIEL DENINO Role: Dr. Blind Daniel Denino, returns to his first operatic role in Opera 5's Die Fledermaus. Denino first performed Dr. Blind with Opera York in 2012, while simultaneously completing his first year at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Music. Denino studied under Dr. Darryl Edwards and graduated from the program in 2015.
CAST KEITH LAM Role: Dr. Falke Described as“a suave, fine grained baritone�by the Boston Globe, Keith Lam was recently seen in the role of Melisso in Handel's Alcina at Koerner Hall. He had previously performed at the Banff Summer Music Festival, the Brott Music Festival and the Highlands Summer Festival.
GEOFFREY PENAR Role: Officer Frank Geoffrey Penar is a bass baritone hailing from Burlington, VT. He appeared last with Opera 5 in their premiere of the opera Storybook by Darren Russo. Recent Credits include Papageno with Pacific MusicWorks, Guglielmo with Peoria Symphony, Tarquinius with Green Mountain Opera and Count Almaviva with Hubbard Hall Opera.
MADISON ANGUS Role: Ida Soprano Madison Angus studies under Lorna MacDonald. This fall, Madison will begin her Masters degree at the Faculty of Music (UofT). Select roles include Armida- Rinaldo (AEDO), First WoodspriteRusalka (HSOF), Barbarina- Le nozze di Figaro (HSOF). Soloist engagements include Yearnings of the Heart (Arts & Letters Club), Songs of Nuit (Scotiabank Nuit Blanche), and the Stars of Tomorrow concert (Muskoka Opera Festival).
ERIN LAWSON Role: Orlofsky Praised for her coloratura to die for (Hamilton Spectator), mezzo-soprano Erin Lawson attracts attention on opera and concert stages across Canada. Alumnus of Calgary Opera's Emerging Artist Program and Pacific Opera Victoria's Resident Artist Program, she has captivated audiences in repertoire ranging from Handel to new works with her engaging stage presence.
JUSTIN MILLER Role: Pearle Harbour Justin Miller is a Dora-nominated actor, writer, and solo performer. He is the founder and co-artistic director of Pearle Harbour Presents, and is currently in residence with Theatre Passe Muraille. Selected credits include: The Pitchfork Disney, Precisely Peter; BIRTH, Pandemic Theatre; Hedwig & the Angry Inch, Centre for Drama. Upcoming: Pearle Harbour's Sunday School (Sept 8-17).
THANK YOUS SPECIAL THANKS TO... the Canadian Actors’Equity Association for their generous support; all the Opera 5 volunteers ; the City ofToronto through theToronto Arts Council; the Ontario Arts Council, an agency of the Government of Ontario; the Bel Canto Foundation, and the Elizabeth Krehm Memorial Fund.
OUR DONERS $5,000+ Ontario Arts Council Toronto Arts Council Dawn Davis Suzanne Gayn $1,000 - $4,999 The Bel Canto Foundation The Elizabeth Krehm Memorial Fund Jonathan Krehm Rachel Krehm and Evan Mitchell Atelier Rosemarie Umetsu $500 - $999 Aria Umezawa and Steve Aylward George Hoff and Patricia Collis Janet Croken William Krehm $100 - $499 Elaine Aylward Walter and Danita Buczynski Connie Davis Simon Christopher Dew David Mitchell and Heather Ferguson Janet Graydon James Ireland BlairRadbourne and Kerry Joel Joan and Peter Joel Karen Lavut Amelia Lyon Janice Payne and Russell Lyon Sanford Mandel Amarjit Manhas Roger Moore Christopher Mokrzewski Miriam Perkell Madeleine S. Ray Hermann Rivadeneira Sam Zalkow
UNDER $100 David Abramsky Kate Applin Bilan Balbas Cynthia Chen Robin Davis Patrick Delaney Tom Diamond David Diston Jenna Douglas Jesse Fine-GagnĂŠ Gregory Finney David Fletcher Catherine Gordon Nadia Potts Gomez and Harold Gomez Dana Gregoire Daphne Harris Ali Khachan Adam Krehm Carl Lyons Andrew Mahony Ian McAndrew Miranda Morningstar Wilmari Myburgh Catherine Payne Samantha Pickett Atia Pokorny Rebecca Russell Gianmarco Segato BarbaraTowe Wayne Umetsu Rui Umezawa AlainaViau Peter Zhang
Make-Up Artists: Jazmin Cassell: https://creativefreedomfx.wordpress.com/ Nadia Ouellet: www.nadiaouellet.com. Allana Stevenson: www.instagram.com/allana_stevenson/ Joshua Murray: Facebook.com/joshuageorgemakeup