Purchase College Mounts Don Giovanni Production Inspired By The Me Too Movement

From March 22 through March 25, Purchase Opera will present a modern interpretation of Mozart's masterpiece, Don Giovanni, inspired by the "Me Too" movement.

Don Giovanni showcases students from the Purchase College Conservatory of Music's Department of Opera Performance and Vocal Studies-a highly selective program that has won 15 top awards from the National Opera Association, among other national accolades for its acclaimed productions. The opera is directed by Jacque Trussel and features the Purchase Symphony Orchestra under the baton of musical director Hugh Murphy.

The opera tells the tale of a young, arrogant, philanderer who refuses to change his ways and pays the ultimate price. While many productions focus on the comic elements of the bad behavior of the male characters, Jacque Trussel was inspired by the "Me Too" and "Times UP" movements to show how Don Giovanni's actions affect the women around him.

Trussel said, "The subject matter of the opera, womanizing, subjugation, brutality, and general disrespect, seemed perfect to highlight present and ongoing women's issues. Our students are excited to be a part of what we hope will further emphasize the plight of women everywhere, especially at this particular critical moment in our country's history."

This production is focused on historically inappropriate treatment of women. Trussel chose to set the opera in the 1950s when women had to return to their pre-war roles after experiencing a new level of independence during the war. Don Giovanni, which is designed by students in the college's Theatre Design/Technology department, features an all female design team, who collaborated with Trussel on the artistic vision for the opera.

"Not unlike the place we find ourselves today, women were at the core of necessary but difficult change," Trussel said.

Performances will take place in the Recital Hall of the Purchase College Performing Arts Center. The opera is performed in Italian with English surtitles and approximately 3 hours with a 15 minute intermission.

Performances will be held Thursday, March 22 at 7 p.m., Friday, March 23 at 7 p.m., Saturday, March 24 at 7 p.m., and Sunday, March 25 at 1 p.m.

Adult tickets are $20. Discounts are available for Purchase College students and seniors. To order tickets, please visit www.artscenter.org or call 914.251.6200.

This production is made possible with support from The Emily & Eugene Grant Opera Performance and Production Fund; The L. Werlinich Opera Production Endowment; and the Purchase College Foundation.

About Purchase College-SUNY

Purchase College, part of the State University of New York (SUNY) network of 64 universities and colleges, was founded in 1967 by Governor Nelson Rockefeller. His aspiration for Purchase was to create a dynamic campus that combined conservatory training in the visual and performing arts with programs in the liberal arts and sciences, in order to inspire an appreciation for both intellectual and artistic talents in all students. Today, Purchase College-SUNY is a community of students, faculty, and friends where open-minded engagement with the creative process leads to a lifetime of intellectual growth and professional opportunity. For more information about the College, visit www.purchase.edu.

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