THE MYSTERY OF THE MAGIC FLUTE, A Musical for the Whole Family Coming Soon!

Fitz&Startz Productions, in collaboration with Opera Ithaca, is bringing a music- and laugh-filled production to Kitchen Theatre Company, 417 West MLK/State Street, in October. The Mystery of the Magic Flute by Rachel Lampert, with music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, plays for four performances only: Saturday, October 21 and Saturday, October 28 at 1pm and 3pm. Tickets are available online at kitchentheatre.org or by phone at 607 272-0570. Adults $12, children (under 14) $8.

Three American girls-Bettina age 15, Anna age 12, and Suz age 9-are off to Salzburg, Austria with their Uncle Wolfie to see the sights and experience going to the opera in Mozart's home town. Uncle Wolfie has told his nieces about a mysterious opera house that is on a street with no name and is not on any map. Can they find it? When Uncle Wolfie turns a corner and disappears and a mysterious door appears, the girls decide to enter. They find a company of opera singers who have been stuck in time for 125 years! Can Bets, Anna and Suz get them out of their time warp? And, how many times must they perform The Magic Flute before the spell is broken? For lovers of music, mysteries and merriment, The Mystery of the Magic Flute is a delight.

Building on their history of creating and producing musicals and plays for audiences of all ages, Fitz&Startz Productions, co-founded by Rachel Lampert and Lesley Greene, continues to develop theatrical experiences that entertain, educate and inspire. Joining forces with Opera Ithaca, The Mystery of the MagicFlute features members of Opera Ithaca's Apprentice Company (Benno Ressa, Ellen Jaskson, Rachel Silverstein, Kathleen Maloney, Nathan McMurphy), graduate student from IC's music department (Joshua Dykes), recent IC graduate Natasha Bratkovski (MM, vocal performance) and long-time Ithaca actor Greg Bostwick. It also features three young newcomers to Ithaca audiences: Saba Weatherspoon, Torianna Payne, and Sparrow Faraday. Co-Founder Lesley Greene is excited for this production because "I get to play the flute and be in the middle of all this gorgeous music!" Director, writer and co-founder Rachel Lampert says, "We have a powerhouse cast of terrific singers who are all charming performers. They will bring Mozart's music to new and returning theatergoers. And, we have Lesley Greene playing the flute!"

The creative team for The Mystery of the Magic Flute includes Travis Knapp, music director, William Gfeller and Ellen Jackson, assistant directors, and stage manager Loren Roth. Sponsorship support for Kitchen Theatre Company's presentation of Theatre for All Ages comes from CFCU Community Credit Union and Agava Restaurant.

Four performances only - Saturdays, October 21 and October 28, with performances at 1pm and 3pm. Reserved seating. Tickets available by phone (607) 272-0570, online at kitchentheatre.org and in person at the Kitchen Theatre Company box office Saturdays and Sundays 12noon-4pm. All performances at Kitchen Theatre Company, 417 West MLK/State Street, Ithaca, NY.

Fitz&Startz Productions grew from the long-time collaboration of Lesley Greene and Rachel Lampeert. They co-wrote their first musical together in 2001 and since then have co-written and/or co-produced over a dozen musicals and plays geared to young audiences and their families. Fizt&Startz Productions works with actors, directors, and designers from our community who share our interest in creating the exciting, educational and always entertaining productions that are enjoyed by three-year-olds, ninety-three-year-olds and everyone in between. (If you are older than 93, please don't hesitate to join us. And, if you are younger than 3, please join us and start getting your theater mojo going.)

Opera Ithaca brings professional opera to Ithaca, New York and the surrounding Finger Lakes and Southern Tier region. Opera Ithaca enriches the local arts community by providing a consistent venue for diverse classical vocal music. Opera Ithaca produces distinctive and highly theatrical productions of diverse operatic and musical theater literature as well as concerts, lecture and education outreach events. Opera Ithaca engages a diverse and multi-generational audience to aid in the longevity of opera as a living art form. Performances: October 21 at 1pm October 21 at 3pm October 28 at 1pm October 28 at 3pm.

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