Central City Opera's 2016 Summer Festival to Feature Two One-Act Pieces

Central City Opera complements its two mainstage productions this summer with two one-act operas-Mozart's The Impresario and John Musto's Later the Same Evening-performed in smaller venues in Central City and in creative spaces in Colorado Springs, Boulder, and Denver. Both of these shorter operas are performed by members of the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists Training Program.

"We introduced the one-act operas last summer as a creative way to add more offerings to our festival and to bring our performances to smaller venues in cities on Colorado's Front Range," said Pelham (Pat) Pearce, general and artistic director of Central City Opera. "By choosing to present these more accessible operas in venues outside of the traditional opera house, we have the opportunity to engage new audience members who might not otherwise attend a full-length opera."

Mozart's The Impresario is a whimsical comedy about a general manager of an opera company and two rivaling divas as they scheme and squabble their way to opening night. This one-act opera, written in German and performed in English, is set in 1948 New York City. The opera is directed by Michael Ehrman, conducted by Aaron Breid, and features members of the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists Training Program and the Central City Opera Orchestra.

Later the Same Evening, by contemporary composer John Musto with libretto by Mark Campbell, imagines the lives of the figures in five Edward Hopper paintings and connects them as characters-both directly and tangentially-on one evening in New York City in 1932. This one-act opera, written and sung in English, is directed by Michael Ehrman, conducted by John Baril, and performed by members of the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists Training Program and the Central City Opera Orchestra.

"We are extremely proud of the work that our young artists do in these one-act operas," said Pearce. It's a reflection of the competitive nature of our training program and our commitment to preparing young singers for roles in major opera houses in the U.S. and around the world."

The Impresario (Der Schauspieldirektor)
Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Librettist: Gottlieb Stephanie
Adaptation: Dwight Bowes and Michael Ehrman

Principal Cast
(in order of vocal appearance)
Madame Tiefgurgle: Danielle Palomares
Betty Braswell: Ashley Fabian
Miss Manley Alice: Anne Light
Placebo Paravotti: Peter Lake
Artemis Overtop: Chad Sonka
Irving D. Geltman: Stephen Clark

Production Credits
Conductor: Aaron Breid

Director: Michael Ehrman

Lighting Designer: Kit Baumer

Wig/Makeup Designer: Liz Printz

Musical Preparation: Eric McEnaney

Stage Manager: Christy Baumeister

Assistant Stage Manager: Emily Grace Mahorney

Performances
July 27, August 3, Central City; Williams Stables Theater, noon
July 28, Boulder; Nomad Playhouse, 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Later the Same Evening

Composer: John Musto

Librettist: Mark Campbell

Production Credits

Conductor: John Baril

Director: Michael Ehrman

Lighting Designer: David Martin Jacques

Wig/Makeup Designer: Liz Printz

Musical Preparation: John Arida

Stage Manager: Marisa Brink

Assistant Stage Manager: Emily Grace Mahorney

Principal Cast
(in order of vocal appearance)

Elaine O'Neill: Regina Ceragioli

Gus O'Neill: Cody Muller

Estelle Oglethorpe: Tatiana Ogan

Ruth Baldwin: Anastasia Malliaras

Ronaldo Cabral: Christopher Kenney

Sheldon Segal: Nathan Ward

Rose Segal: Kaileigh Riess

Thelma Yablonski: Micaëla Aldridge

Jimmy O'Keefe: Michael Anderson

Valentina Scarcella: Anna Whiteway

Joe Harland: Michael Floriano

Performances
July 28, Colorado Springs; Pikes Peak Arts Center, Studio Bee, 7 p.m.
July 30, Denver; Denver Art Museum, 8 p.m.
August 5, Central City; Gilman Studio in the Lanny and Sharon Martin Foundry Rehearsal Center, 7 p.m.

Tickets and Information

Festival show tickets range from $31 to $108, based on availability. Subscribers who purchase both Central City Opera House shows can save up to 25%, along with additional and more exclusive opportunities. One-act opera tickets start at $34 ($31 for subscribers), and group discounts are available for ten or more people. All prices are subject to change, based on availability. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.centralcityopera.org or call the box office, 303-292-6700, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

About Central City Opera
Celebrating its 84th year, Central City Opera is the second oldest professional opera festival in the country, located just 35 miles west of Denver in one of Colorado's official National Landmark Historic Districts. The company continues to present artistically excellent professional opera in its annual summer festival; to offer career-entry training to young singers; to produce education and community engagement programs and to preserve and maintain the Central City Opera House, and 30 other Victorian-era properties.

Summer Festival Sponsors
Central City Opera expresses its sincere gratitude to 2016 Festival sponsors: Citizens of the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District, Avenir Foundation, Inc., Central City Opera House Association Endowment Fund and Lanny and Sharon Martin. Central City Opera also thanks 2016 Festival media sponsors: The Denver Post Community, 5280 Magazine, and 9NEWS.

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