Atlanta Opera To Add Four Public Performances Of RABBIT TALES

The Atlanta Opera has added four performances of its newly commissioned children's opera, Rabbit Tales, to its 2011-2012 schedule. The additional performances will be on Sunday, February 26, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. at the Decatur High School Theatre; Wednesday, March 21, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. at The Atlanta Opera Center; and Saturday, March 24, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at Fulton County Arts & Culture's Southwest Arts Center.

Tickets are $6.00, and can be purchased online at atlantaopera.org. For more information, or for group sales of 25 tickets or more, please call 404.892.3132 or email education@atlantaopera.org.

About the show: "Rabbit Tales is a children's opera with a libretto based on the Br'er Rabbit stories, popularized by Southern author Joel Chandler Harris in the late 19th Century. This production is a contemporary, light-hearted rendering of several story lines from Native American, African, and Cajun Folklore. The libretto is written by Atlanta-based playwright Madeleine St. Romain. The score, composed by Atlanta-based flutist and composer Nicole Chamberlain, incorporates melodies and rhythms from African, Native American and Cajun music, as well as the blues. This production is directed by Park Cofield, with set design by Michael Benedict, and music direction by Michael Spassov. Costume design is by Joanna Schmink."

Rabbit Tales Community Performances

Music by Nicole Chamberlain
Libretto by Madeleine St. Romain
Sung in English
Approximate Running Time: 1 hour

Four Performances

Sunday, February 26, 2012 at 3:00 p.m.
Decatur High School Theatre
310 N. McDonough St.
Decatur, GA 30030
Admission: $6
Tickets can be purchased online at atlantaopera.org.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012, 10:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m.
The Atlanta Opera Center
1575 Northside Dr. N.W.
Bldg. 300, Suite 350
Atlanta, GA 30318
Admission: $6
Tickets can be purchased online at atlantaopera.org.

Saturday, March 24, 2012, 11:00 a.m.
Fulton County Arts & Culture's Southwest Arts Center
915 New Hope Rd.
Atlanta, GA 30331
Admission: $6
Tickets can be purchased online at atlantaopera.org.

Creative Team

Music Director Michael Spassov
Stage Director Park Cofield
Set Designer Michael Benedict
Costume Design Joanna Schmink

Accompanist Catherine Schaefer

Cast

Teenchy Duck Elexa Bancroft, soprano
Sister Fox Elizabeth Claxton, soprano
Br'er Rabbit Wesley Morgan, tenor
King Lion Wade Thomas, baritone

For more information, or for group sales of 25 tickets or more, please call 404.892.3132 or email education@atlantaopera.org. A complete study guide is available at atlantaopera.org.

About The Atlanta Opera
Founded in 1979, The Atlanta Opera is one of the finest regional opera companies in the nation, drawing audiences from the entire metropolitan Atlanta area as well as from the Southeast region. Led by Zurich General Director Dennis Hanthorn, The Atlanta Opera strives to expand the experience of its patrons with memorable and exciting opera performances reflecting the highest musical and theatrical standards, while supporting community and educational programs. The company also works to attract the finest international, national, and regional singers, conductors, stage directors and designers. Each season The Atlanta Opera presents three productions with four performances each at the Cobb Energy Centre.

The Atlanta Opera would like to thank the following for their support of our education and outreach programming. Funding for this program is provided in part by the City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs, and by the Georgia Council for the Arts through appropriations from the Georgia General Assembly; GCA is a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

The Atlanta Foundation
Bank of America Foundation
Bright Wings Foundation
George M. Brown Trust Fund
Mary Brown Fund of Atlanta
Camp-Younts Foundation
City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs
Georgia Council for the Arts
The Goizueta Foundation
JPMorgan Chase Foundation
Abraham J. and Phyllis Katz Foundation
Lois and Lucy Lampkin Foundation
Sara Giles Moore Foundation
Nordson Corporation Foundation
OPERA America
Publix Super Markets Charities
Turner Broadcasting System/Turner Voices
Wells Fargo
Frances Wood Wilson Foundation