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STAGE TUBE: Behind-the-Scenes of WNO's THE LION, THE UNICORN AND ME at the Kennedy Center

By: Dec. 09, 2013
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Washington National Opera (WNO) continues its 2013-2014 season with the world premiere of a new holiday family opera: The Lion, The Unicorn, and Me, December 14-22 in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. Check out a behind-the-scenes look below!

Based on Jeanette Winterson's award- winning children's book which tells the story of the Nativity from a donkey's point of view, The Lion, The Unicorn, and Me features new music composed by Tony-nominated composer Jeanine Tesori (Thoroughly Modern Millie and Shrek The Musical) and a libretto by the poet J.D. McClatchy. This WNO commission is directed by WNO Artistic Director Francesca Zambello and conducted by Kimberly Grigsby (Broadway's Spring Awakening and You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown) in her WNO debut.

Leading the WNO Orchestra in her WNO debut is Kimberly Grigsby, who most recently led the orchestra of Broadway's Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. This is Ms. Grigsby's operatic conducting debut.

The Lion, The Unicorn, and Me also features the debut of WNO's new Children's Chorus, made up of 16 D.C.-area children, under the direction of chorus master William Breytspraak. The opera also features a prominent role written for a boy soprano-Henry Wager, who will make his WNO debut as the Angel.

Other roles in the opera will be performed by members of WNO's Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program, includingJacqueline Echols, Norman Garrett, Soloman Howard, Deborah Nansteel, Patrick O'Halloran, and Wei Wu. Special guest artists include Catherine Martin, Ian McEuen, John Ordun?a, and Lisa Williamson.

Tickets start at $34 and are available at the Kennedy Center Box Office, by calling (202) 467- 4600 or (800) 444-1324, or online at www.kennedy-center.org. Subscription packages for the 2013-2014 season are also available and can be purchased at (202) 416-8500 or at www.kennedy-center.org.

For more information about Washington National Opera, visit www.kennedy-center.org/wno. Visit www.facebook.com/WashingtonNationalOpera for behind-the-scenes news, special offers, and advance notice of events. Follow @dcopera on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news, offers, and more.



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