CARMEN to Play Dante Hall Theater of Stockton University, 7/31-8/1

Carmen, one of the most well-known and beloved operas of all time, will be performed at the historic Dante Hall Theater of Stockton University in Atlantic City, New Jersey on Friday, July 31 at 8:00 PM and on Saturday, August 1 at 2:00 PM. Produced by The Secret Opera, a young and flourishing opera company, Carmen will be performed fully staged with a chamber orchestra, and will present a new and thought-provoking interpretation of the traditional story of the seductive gypsy, Carmen, and her fateful affair with the jealous soldier, Don José.

Dedicated to exploring opera's socially relevant themes, The Secret Opera hopes that audience members will leave their production of Carmen not just humming the opera's famous melodies, but thinking about the opera in a new way. "We think it's important that opera-goers don't walk out of the theater feeling simply 'entertained,'" says Chelsea Feltman, artistic director and cofounder of The Secret Opera. "We hope they also leave thinking about the characters as they would real people, perhaps seeing them in a different way, and perhaps seeing those in their own lives who they consider to be different from them in a more sympathetic way."

While pure entertainment is not the only goal of The Secret Opera, it is certainly an undeniable aspect of its performances. The cast of Carmen is filled with exceptional, fresh talent. The role of Carmen will be played by Alexis Rodda; Don José by Kyle van Schoonhoven; Escamillo by Shawn Mack; and Micaëla by Elise Brancheau. "This is a great opportunity to show audiences a different side of this story," says Brancheau. "Especially with such well-known characters, it's easy for them to become operatic stereotypes. That's something I'm looking forward to challenging in my interpretation of this role." The singers and chamber ensemble will be led by Maestro Dmitry Glivinskiy, with set design by Amanda Aulicino.

PLAN YOUR LIFE:

CARMEN: Alexis Rodda

DON JOSE: Kyle van Schoonhoven

ESCAMILLO: Shawn Mack

MICAELA: Elise Brancheau

CONDUCTED BY: Dmitry Glivinskiy

July 31, 2015- 8PM

August 1, 2015- 2PM

Tickets for Carmen can be purchased on Stockton University's website at www.stockton.edu/dante. For more information on The Secret Opera, visit its website, www.thesecretopera.com.

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