Skylight Opera Theatre Announces 2011-2012 Season

Skylight Opera Theatre has announced its 2011-2012 season. The season will consist of seven productions including two World Premieres. The five shows on the main stage have never before been seen in the Cabot Theatre.

Main stage productions are as follows: THE RIVALS (September 16 - October 2, 2011); THE MUSIC MAN (November 18 - December 18, 2011); Edith Piaf ONSTAGE (January 27 - February 12, 2012); DADDY LONG LEGS (March 9 - April 1, 2012); and SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE (May 18 - June 10, 2012).

Studio Theatre productions include: BEYOND THE INGÉNUE (December 30 - January 8, 2012) and THINGS THAT GO DING (April 27 - May 6, 2012).

All productions in Skylight's 2011-2012 season will be presented at the Broadway Theatre Center located at 158 N. Broadway in Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward. Skylight season subscriptions, which range in price from $54 to $295, go on sale Monday, March 7, 2011. Subscriptions can be purchased by calling the Broadway Theatre Center Box office at (414) 291-7800, Monday through Saturday from noon to 6:00 pm. Subscriptions will also be available online at www.skylightopera.com. Single tickets will go on sale to the public on August 8, 2011.

THE RIVALS
September 16 - October 2, 2011 in the Cabot Theatre
Music & Libretto by Kirke Mechem
Directed by Dorothy Danner
Conducted by Richard Carsey

A WORLD PREMIERE will kick off Skylight's new season when we unveil Kirke Mechem's The Rivals. Loosely based on Sheridan's play of the same name, this comic opera is set in Newport, Rhode Island around the turn of the 20th century. An American heiress falls hopelessly in love with a composer and longs for living in "charming poverty." Her aunt, the infamous Mrs. Malaprop, has more traditional aspirations for her and arranges a marriage with a rich and dashing British Naval Captain. As the rival lovers prepare to duel for the heiress' hand in marriage, there is a twist that sends things spiraling into hilarity.

Kirke Mechem (b. 1925) is an American composer whose first opera, Tartuffe, has become one of the most popular operas written by an American. Skylight performed Tartuffe in 2007 and received critical acclaim by many, including the composer himself. Often called the Dean of American Choral Composers, Mr. Mechem has written an extensive list of compositions including choral and orchestral pieces.

THE MUSIC MAN
November 18 - December 18, 2011 in the Cabot Theatre
Book, Music & Lyrics by Meredith Willson
Directed by Bill Theisen
Conducted by Richard Carsey
Choreographed by Pam Kriger

With his fast-talking style, the charismatic "Professor" Harold Hill charmingly convinces River City residents that the answer to all their problems is a boys marching band. Only the town librarian, Marian Paroo, sees Harold for the con man he really is. In spite of that, she begins to fall in love with him as he inadvertently enriches the town with a love of music. Harold, in turn, falls for Marian. Will he risk being caught to win her over? Packed with song after recognizable song, this smash hit musical is absolutely perfect for the whole family.

The Music Man has never been performed at Skylight. This delightful musical is certain to provide family-friendly entertainment for the holiday season.

BEYOND THE INGÉNUE
December 30 - January 8, 2012 in the Studio Theatre
Featuring Niffer Clarke and Richard Carsey

Beyond the Ingénue pays homage to the golden-voiced sopranos Niffer Clarke grew up idolizing. These musical theatre icons endowed the ingénue - the "girl-next-door" - with wit, spine and spirit. As their careers progressed, they also re-invented themselves, and their journeys have inspired Niffer on her own voyage of self-discovery and revelation. Beyond the Ingénue is an evening of glorious music, fun stories, and Niffer's amusing personal tales of touring with Shirley Jones!

Edith Piaf ONSTAGE
January 27 - February 12, 2012 in the Cabot Theatre
Directed by Jim Butchart
Conducted by Paula Foley Tillen

Leslie Fitzwater brings legendary and celebrated French chanteuse, Edith Piaf to life in this dramatic and newly expanded musical revue. Piaf's stormy life was paralleled only by her iconic music. Overcoming an impoverished childhood and successfully fighting a murder charge that threatened to end her budding career, she rose to be the highest paid female performer in the world. Fitzwater embodies Piaf in this captivating evening of song and story.

DADDY LONG LEGS
March 9 - April 1, 2012 in the Cabot Theatre

From the Tony and Olivier award-wining director of Les Miserables and the creators of Jane Eyre.

Presented by Skylight Opera Theatre
In association with Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, The Gem Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Rubicon Theatre Company, TheatreWorks, David Elzer and Executive Producer Michael Jackowitz

Music & Lyrics by Paul Gordon
Book by John Caird
Based on the Novel by Jean Webster
Directed by John Caird

Jerusha Abbott's prayers seem answered when the generosity of an anonymous gentleman, known only to her as "Daddy Long Legs," enables her to move from orphanage to university. Through her grateful letters, Jerusha shares her life with her mysterious benefactor as she grows into an intelligent, independent New American Woman and discovers a budding romance with a wealthy young suitor. Yet there is one startling fact that Jerusha has yet to uncover - one that will change her life forever. Daddy Long Legs is destined to be deeply adored and cherished by audiences of all ages for years to come.
Skylight is proud to be a part of the WORLD PREMIERE consortium for this new production. Daddy Long Legs has drawn critical acclaim nationally and has started collecting awards, including the recent win of three Ovation Awards (Book for an Original Musical - John Caird; Score for an Original Musical - Paul Gordon; Lead Actress in a Musical - Megan McGinnis).
George Heymont of The Huffington Post recently had this to say about Daddy Long Legs, "Whereas 2003's Wicked may have been the most successful musical of the first decade of the 21st century, I'd be willing to bet that, in this century's second decade, Daddy Long Legs will become much more deeply adored and cherished by women of all ages."

THINGS THAT GO DING!
April 27 - May 6, 2012 in the Studio Theatre

Featuring Michael "Ding" Lorenz, Ray Jivoff and Jamie Johns

Featuring an unbelievable collection of vintage, vaudeville percussion novelties known as Ding's Dynasty, highbrow meets lowbrow in this zany and highly entertaining show. 'Ding' and the 'Not Quite Ready for the Skylight Pit' Orchestra offer virtuosic and often ill-advised versions of works by such musical luminaries as Bizet, Liszt and of course, Gilbert and Sullivan. You have never heard the classics like this before!

Things That Go Ding! is an expanded remount of the wildly popular 2009-10 Skylight Cabaret show of the same name.

SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE
May 18 - June 10, 2012 in the Cabot Theatre

Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by James Lapine
Directed by Bill Theisen
Conducted by Richard Carsey

Inspired by Georges Seurat's famous painting, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, Stephen Sondheim's musical Sunday in the Park with George is one of the most critically acclaimed musicals of our time. Brimming with beauty and light, Sunday is a deeply moving love story that connects the past to the future through passionate and intensely personal struggles that are not unlike ones we all face at different times in our lives.

Skylight is pleased to be the first professional music theatre company in Wisconsin to fully stage this challenging visual and musical masterpiece. Artistic Director Bill Theisen is delighted to bring a Sondheim musical to Skylight's 2011-2012 season. "I have wanted to bring Sunday to the Cabot Stage since my first year as Artistic Director and I'm thrilled we are finally able to make that happen!" said Theisen.

ABOUT SKYLIGHT OPERA THEATRE

Skylight Opera Theatre is a nationally recognized producer of the full spectrum of Music Theatre.

Skylight is proud to be a cornerstone member of the United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF), which provides major annual financial support. Through community support of the United Performing Arts Fund, UPAF Member and Affiliate Groups are able to provide education and outreach to over 400,000 children, provide over 2,000 live performances and reach over 1,000,000 people every year.

Skylight is also supported in part by grants from the Wisconsin Arts Board, the City of Milwaukee Arts Board, and Milwaukee County CAMPAC. Skylight is a member of OPERA America, Visit Milwaukee, Historic Third Ward Association, Theatre Wisconsin, and Cultural Alliance of Greater Milwaukee and is a cultural partner of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra's Arts in Community Education (ACE) Program. This theatre is an equal opportunity employer. Except in plays where race itself is an issue, casting is based on ability, not race.

To post a comment, you must register and login.