Rhymes With Opera Presents RUMPELSTILTSKIN

Rhymes With Opera, the NYC-based ensemble of performers and composers recently featured on the cover of Opera News, will present their 10th-Anniversary mainstage production, the world premiere of the chamber opera Rumpelstiltskin, in four performances on May 11, 12, 18, and 19, 2018 at the 124 Bank Street Theatre in the West Village.

To celebrate their 10th Anniversary of creating and producing brand-new chamber operas, Rhymes With Opera chose one of the oldest fairy tales in western culture. The story of Rumpelstiltskin, collected by The Brothers Grimm, dates as far back as the 17th century. A mysterious creature makes a bargain with a young woman to grant her the power to turn ordinary straw into gold. In return, Rumpelstiltskin asks for her first-born child. When she refuses, Rumpelstiltskin gives her a seemingly impossible way out: "find my name, and you may keep your child..."

But this isn't your grandma's fairy tale.....In Rhymes With Opera's new production, themes of greed, bargaining, magic, and unconditional love combined with elaborate costumes, queer drag culture, and loud makeup transform A VERY OLD story into a new, modern opera. Laine Rettmer, Rumplestiltskin director says, "What first struck me when reading John Clum's libretto was the contemporary queerness in the text, (in his version the character of the witch vacillates freely from female to male) and toys with the classical structure of the story. These flashes of impulse led me to begin this production in the spirit of the San Francisco performance troupe, The Cockettes, whose glitter, exuberance, bending, and daring have enchanted me ever since I was a teenager."

For this world premiere, the fantastical character of Rumpelstiltskin grapples between the two sides of their personality, and will be portrayed by two singers simultaneously. In fact, this unique take on Rumpelstiltskin's duality is very much reflected in the opera's creative process: the music is a unique collaboration by Rhymes With Opera co-artistic directors Ruby Fulton and George Lam, with an original libretto by Chicago-based John Clum.

This world premiere production of Rumpelstiltskin features Rhymes With Opera ensemble members Elisabeth Halliday (Woman/Rumpelstiltskin), Bonnie Lander (Girl/Queen), Robert Maril (Man/Rumpelstiltskin), and guest artist Timothy Stoddard (Witch/Father/King). Rumpelstiltskin's production team includes Laine Rettmer (director), Luke Miller (choreographer), Ryan Leitner (costume designer), and Conrad Chu (conductor), who will lead the Rhymes With Orchestra.

What is it about the Rumpelstiltskin story that has made it last for over 4,000 years? Come see Rhymes With Opera's world premiere and become part of the magic in this modern interpretation of a classic fairytale!

Ticket Link HERE: https://www.artful.ly/store/events/9622