Uggams and Raines to Star in A Little Night Music, Szot is Don Giovanni for MOT's 2009-10 Season

Stephen Sondheim's Tony Award-winning waltz musical A Little Night Music returns to Michigan Opera Theatre for the first time in over 25 years, and the fall 2009 production will represent the first time since 1992 that Michigan Opera Theatre has presented a musical as part of the main stage opera season. 

Tony Award winner Leslie Uggams and Broadway and soap star Ron Raines have been announced to star as Desiree Armfeldt and Frederik Egerman in the production, set to run November 14-21. No other casting has been announced at this time.

A Little Night Music, the brainchild of Stephen Sondheim and Broadway director/producer Harold Prince, is based on the film Smiles of a Summer Night by Swedish director Ingmar Bergman. With book adaptation by Hugh Wheeler, A Little Night Music is a romantic musical set in 1901 Sweden, filled with infectious waltz melodies that surround the past and present love affairs of an elegant society. Featuring the haunting ballad "Send in the Clowns," the Broadway blockbuster won six Tony Awards and six Drama Desk Awards during its 1973 opening season.

The musical features some of Sondheim's most well-known works, including "The Glamorous Life," "You Must Meet My Wife," "Every Day a Little Death," "Liaisons," "In Praise of Women," and "The Miller's Son." With virtually all of the music in the show written in waltz time, the music symbolizes the ever-changing liaisons between husbands, wives, mistresses, and lovers.

Set in turn-of-the century Sweden, the plot revolves around successful lawyer Fredrik Egerman, who is in an unconsummated marriage with his teenage wife, Anne. Feeling a bit restless, he rekindles an affair with an old flame, actress Desiree Armfeldt, who herself is having an affair with married military officer Count Carl Magnus Malcolm. Complicating matters is Fredrikís teenage son, Henrik, who is in love with his stepmother. The play culminates in a weekend at a country estate where, despite an attempted suicide and a duel, love triumphs.

Returning from her MOT debut staging The Abduction from the Seraglio in 2007 is stage director Dona Vaughn, acclaimed for her work in operetta, musical theater and opera. MOT Assistant Music Director Suzanne Acton, who recently conducted MOT's productions of The Barber of Seville and La Traviata at the Wharton Center in Lansing, will conduct A Little Night Music.

Additional casting for the upcoming season includes Robert Gierlach in the title role in Don Giovanni, alternating with Paulo Szot; soprano Amanda Squitieri as Zerlina; and Jacquelyn Wagner making her MOT debut as Donna Anna, alternating in the role with Ruth Ann Swenson.

Soprano Mary ElizaBeth Williams will perform the role of Tosca in May 2010 Tosca, alternating in the role with Tiziana Caruso.Subscriptions:

New this year, Michigan Opera Theatre is offering a payment plan for subscriptions. If a patron subscribes by March 30, 2009, the subscription cost will be split into four equal payments due at the end of each month, the final payment due on June 30, 2009.

As always, subscriptions are offered first to renewing subscribers. Renewal packets will be mailed February 2009. Subscribers may renew subscriptions online at http://www.MichiganOpera.org. Subscribers enjoy the benefits of priority seating, limited free ticket exchanges and advanced purchase opportunities for some non-subscription events. 2009-10 season ticket subscriptions will be available through Michigan Opera Theatre online at http://www.MichiganOpera.org, as well as through the ticket office. Michigan Opera Theatre will again offer special package discounts for "first-timers," as well a distance discount for new subscribers traveling more than 80 miles to attend performances. The popular "family series" discount will also continue through the 2009-10 season. All subscription information may be obtained by calling the Michigan Opera Theatre ticket office at (313) 237-SING (7464).

Single Tickets:
Single ticket prices will remain unchanged from last season, ranging from $25 - $115 for all opera productions. Single tickets for Michigan Opera Theatreís 2009-10 opera season will become available in August 2009. Single tickets will be available in person at the Detroit Opera House ticket office (1526 Broadway, Detroit, MI 48226), by phone at (313) 237-SING (7464) and through Michigan Opera Theatre's online ticketing at www.MichiganOpera.org. Single tickets will also be available through all TicketMaster outlets, by phone at (248) 645-6666 or online at http://www.TicketMaster.com. For group sales rates, please contact the Michigan Opera Theatre box office.

Michigan Opera Theatre, a non-profit organization, is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and provides programs and services without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, or handicap. Michigan Opera Theatre is supported by private donations, foundation and corporate grants, the State of Michigan through the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs, and by the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal Agency.

2009-10 Michigan Opera Theatre Productions

Giuseppe Verdi's
Nabucco
October 17-24, 2009
Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 18, 20092:30 p.m.
Wednesday, October 21, 20097:30 p.m.
Friday, October 23, 20097:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 24, 2009 7:30 p.m.

Sondheim's
A Little Night Music
November 14-21, 2009
Saturday, November 14, 2009 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, November 15, 20092:30 p.m.
Wednesday, November 18, 20097:30 p.m.
Friday, November 20, 20097:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 21, 20097:30 p.m.
Mozart's
Don Giovanni
April 17-24, 2010
Saturday, April 17, 20107:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 18, 20102:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 21, 20107:30 p.m.
Friday, April 23, 20107:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 24, 20107:30 p.m.

Puccini's
Tosca
May 8-15, 2010
Saturday, May 8, 2010 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 9, 20102:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 12, 20107:30 p.m.
Friday, May 14, 20107:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 15, 2010 7:30 p.m.

 

 

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