Skylight Opera Theatre Presents Beyond the Ingénue

Skylight presents the premiere of Beyond the Ingénue, featuring Niffer Clarke and Richard Carsey. Coming off Skylight's critically acclaimed production, The Music Man, Clarke and Carsey reunite for a musical theatre piece that pays homage to the golden-voiced sopranos Niffer Clarke grew up idolizing.

Beyond the Ingénue captures the essence of Clarke's idols Julie Andrews, Shirley Jones, and Barbara Cook, who endowed the ingénue - the "girl-next-door" - with wit, spine and spirit. As their careers progressed, they also reinvented themselves, and their journeys have inspired Niffer on her own voyage of self-discovery and revelation.

Full of glorious music from these three women, as well as fun stories, personal anecdotes and impressions from both Clarke and Carsey, Beyond the Ingénue is not only a night full of musical variety, but is also a deeply touching insight into Clarke's personal journey from Ingénue to being a woman who is confident enough to get what she really wants.

It is a story "about giving ourselves permission to move beyond roles that are set for us, to break free of society's set expectations and live in the truth of who we are rather than who we think we should be," says Niffer Clarke.

Not unlike Clarke, Julie Andrews, Barbara Cook and Shirley Jones, are all considered ingénues in their own right, but it is their unconventional approach to their roles that Clarke identifies with. The show includes many classic songs such as "I Could Have Danced All Night", "I Have Confidence" and "The Sweetest Sounds" along with the debut of "Beyond the Ingénue" written for her by Tony-nominated Broadway composer, Jeff Blumenkrantz.

Beyond the Ingénue began in 2009 as a CD project whileClarke was touring with the Hollywood Concert Orchestra's A Night at the Oscars featuring Shirley Jones. Clarke then created a concert version of the CD for a performance in her hometown of Canton, Ohio. With encouragement from several of her colleagues Niffer, Richard Carsey and Bill Theisen are now mounting this new expanded version for premiere in the Studio Theatre. Carsey and Clarke have worked together in Honk! (First Stage), Patience, The Music Man (Skylight Opera Theatre) and are once again reunited for Beyond the Ingénue. Bill Theisen, who directed Skylight's The Music Man will join the duo as director.

"I am thrilled to be working with two such talented performers again. I could not picture any duo better suited to kick off the season's first Studio show!" says Bill Theisen.

Performances of Beyond the Ingénue will take place December 30 – January 8, 2011 in
the Cabot Theatre at the Broadway Theatre Center, 158 N. Broadway in the Historic
Third Ward of Milwaukee. Tickets are $22.50 - $65.50 (plus tax) and can be
purchased in person at the Broadway Theatre Center Box Office or by calling (414)
291-7800 Monday – Sunday from noon – 6:00 p.m. Tickets may be purchased online
at www.skylightopera.com. Group, student, senior and other discounts are available.

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