April 13-22, 2012
The Merry Widow
Plans are underway for a grand ball at the Paris Embassy of the tiny country of Marsovia, and one guest will be critical to the little nation's future: wealthy widow Hanna Glawari. If the Embassy can't find Hanna another Marsovian to marry, the country will go bankrupt!
All's fair in love and war in Franz Lehár's highly successful comic operetta whose well-loved musical score includes "The Vilia Song," "You'll Find Me at Maxim's", and the "Merry Widow Waltz". Directed by Meredith Bean McMath; Choreography by Kelly Gray; Music Director Cuong Van.
PERFORMANCE DATES
Friday, April 13, 8 pm
Saturday, April 14, 8 pm
Sunday, April 15, 3 pm
Friday, April 20, 8 pm
Saturday, April 21, 8 pm
Sunday, April 22, 3 pmTICKETS
$22 Adults
$17 Seniors
$12 Students
Purchase your tickets at Franklin Park Arts Center either online or by calling 540-338-7973.
LOCATION
Franklin Park Arts Center
36441 Blueridge View Lane
Purcellville, VA
THE CAST
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Melissa Jean Chávez (Hanna Glawari), soprano, is equally at home on the concert and operatic stage. Recent and upcoming opera roles include Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus, Desdemona in Othello, Giulietta in Les contes d'Hoffmann, Adina in L'elisir d'amore, Anna Maurrant in Street Scene, Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro, and Helena in A Midsummer Night's Dream. In the 2010 – 2011 season, Ms. Chávez performed the soprano solos in Handel’s Messiah, and in both the Mozart and Webber Requiem. Recent recital venues include The Barns at Rose Hill, Indiana University, Shenandoah Conservatory, Bowie Performing Arts Center, and Front Royal Presbyterian Church. She will travel to Rappahanock, Virginia as a young artist in the 2012 Castleton Festival. This is her debut performance with the Loudoun Lyric Opera Company. | |
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Gregory Stuart (Count Danilo) was recently a soloist in major premieres of Paul Leavitt's Requiem in Paris & at Lincoln Center, NYC, having previously been a soloist in the world premiere & on the subsequent recording, as well as in the world premiere of Leavitt's Cantata Emmanuel in 2010. This year, he sang on the Symphony of Arlington Broadway Favorites concert and performed on the concert series of the Society of the Cincinnati. He holds a MFA in Classical Acting, and has tread the boards at The IN Series, Studio Theatre, Baltimore Shakespeare Festival, Franklin Park Summer Theatre & at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. But opera is where all his performing skills coalesce. He sang Marcello in La Bohème with Repertory Opera Theatre of Washington and has sung roles with Pittsburgh Opera, Opera Theatre of Pittsburgh & Ithaca Opera, Laurel Highland Regional Theatre & with Colorado Gilbert & Sullivan Festival. | |
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Erin Winker (Natalie Zeta) holds a Master’s in Voice Performance from Westminster Choir College and a Bachelor’s in Voice Performance from Ithaca College. Credits include Fifi in Mlle. Modiste (Victorian Lyric Opera Company), Maguelonne in Cendrillon (Ithaca), Franca in The Light in the Piazza (Westminster), Betty in The Threepenny Opera (The Princeton Festival) and Adèle, Musetta, and Donna Elvira in scene productions. A lover of new music, Erin has originated the opera roles Princess Abyssinia in Abyssinia at Cornell University and Agrippina in Nero Artifex at Princeton University. Oratorio credits include soprano solos in Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Handel’s Messiah, Schubert’s Mass in G, Bach’s Coffee Cantata, Charpentier’s Te Deum, and Orff’s Carmina Burana. She was the first place winner of the advanced upper division of the 2011 NJ NATS competition. She currently sings with the Schola Cantorum at St. Matthew’s Cathedral in DC and teaches voice and piano with Music and Arts. |
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David Merrill (Viscounte Camille de Rosillon) is excited to have the opportunity to perform with the Loudoun Lyric Opera Company. Mr. Merrill received his Masters in Vocal Performance degree from Shenandoah Conservatory, Winchester, VA., December 2010 under the direction of Dr. Byron Jones. He received his Bachelors of Arts degree in Music from Methodist University in Fayetteville, North Carolina under the direction of Dr. David Duke. His most memorable roles have been Sam in the opera Street Scene, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, and Alfred Die Fledermaus. During Mr. Merrill’s studies at Shenandoah Conservatory, he had the privilege of working with renowned pianist, John O'Conor, Maestro Julian Wachner, the director of the Washington Chorus, and Maestro Robert Shafer, the director of The City Choir. Mr. Merrill would like to dedicate these performances to his inspirational mother, his beautiful girlfriend, his family, and his brother and father who have both touched the face of God. |
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Bill Harris (Baron Zeta)
Patrick Philip Becker (St. Brioche)
Tim Griffin (Cascada)
Chanel Wood (Nische)
Peter Seckinger (General Kromov)
Hillary LaBonte (Olga Kromov)
David Chavez (Bogdonavitch)
Michelle Stockard (Sylviane)
Scott Tousley (Pritisch)
Alma Westerberg (Praskovia)
Molly Pinson Simoneau (Zozo)
Kristen Donovan (Lolo)
Katy Hannah (Dodo)
Ashley Herr (Jou-Jou)
Sue Derrow (Frou-Frou)
Delia Zielinski (Clo-Clo)
Archelle Skuce (Margot)
Brandon Scott (Head Waiter)
Faryn Faulconer (Chorus)
Louise Howard (Chorus)
Andrei Naumov (Chorus)
Peter Schweitzer (Chorus)
ARTISTIC STAFF
Stage Director: Meredith Bean McMath
Music Director: Cuong Van
Choreographer: Kelly Gray
Stage Manager: KC Burke
Producer: Pamela Butler
June 22-24, 2012
The Secret Marriage
("Il matrimonio segreto")
