Mastering the Class: Pat Rulon Plays Maria Callas in ACT 1's MASTER CLASS

Nashville actress Pat Rulon stars as Maria Callas in Terrence McNally's Master Class, opening tonight, January 20, and running through January 28 at Darkhorse Theatre in a production from ACT 1. Following the run at Darkhorse, the production will be revived in February, for a special two performance run February 10 and 11, appropriately, at Nashville Opera's Noah Liff Opera Center.

Master Class, which Dan McGeachy directs for a second time (previously, he directed  a production for Circle Players), features incidental music by Verdi, Puccini and Bellini, and focuses on Callas and her interactions with three aspiring opera singers during "master classes" conducted by the diva late in her career.

The play is loosely based on Terrence McNally's actual experience of attending a series of master classes given by Maria Callas at Julliard in 1972.  In the play, Maria, alternately dismayed and impressed by the students who parade before her, retreats into recollections about the glories of her own life and career. Included in her musings are her younger years as an ugly duckling, her fierce hatred of her rivals, the unforgiving press that savaged her early performances, her triumphs at La Scala, and her affair with Aristotle Onassis. The play culminates with a monologue about sacrifice taken in the name of art.

An award winning classic, Master Class won both the 1996 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New Play and the 1996 Tony Award for Best Play. At its core it is a lesson in life with the diva Maria Callas-a glamorous, commanding, larger-than-life, caustic and, surprisingly, drop-dead funny pedagogue-holding a voice master class.

Playing opposite Rulon as Sophie, the first soprano, is her daughter Emily Apuzzo, a well-known actress and singer in her own right, who is a member of the Nashville Opera Chorus. Jennifer Whitcomb-Oliva plays Sharon, the second soprano, and L.T. Kirk is cast as Anthony Candolino. John Todd doubles as musical director for Master Class and plays Manny, the accompanist. Patrick Goedicke completes the cast as a stage hand.

With such a small, focused cast and crew, camaraderie abounds as the company immerses itself in "hell week" aka "tech week" prior to this weekend's opening. Yet, somehow, they've pulled themselves away from the hell of tech week to give us some insight into the production.

Pat Rulon is cast in the enviable role of Maria Callas in the production, arguably her biggest challenge in a stage career that has included any number of enviable roles. This time, playing opposite her daughter Emily Apuzzo, may be more special in some ways, in others it's just another day (or night) at the office for the versatile actress who's played roles both classical and contemporary, both dramatic and comedic. One of the region's most versatile theater types, she's certain to attack the challenge of playing the operatic diva with relish and her trademark sincerity and sparkling wit. Read on…

What's been your biggest challenge in bringing Master Class to the stage? I suppose people would expect me to say the lines, memorization. That may be true, but it's a welcome challenge. Speaking Italian? Love it!

What's your favorite Maria Callasism? What advice does she offer to her "students" that strikes most closely to home for you? "Don't think, don't hope, DO!" She pushes them to be the character, don't act. It's all about starting from the inside, "feelings, feelings, feelings". It's all right there, just listen to the music.

Why should people come see Master Class? Come hear my baby sing! Seriously, it's a wonderful cast Dan has put together. Everyone is very connected to this piece and has brought so much to it. Maria Callas, if you don't know about her already, was a fascinating personality, onstage as well as off. She brought opera to everyone, including those who thought they didn't like it. Her personal life was tabloid fodder at the time. Even those who never heard her sing a note knew who she was, and what she ultimately lost.

For tickets, go to www.ticketsnashville.com or visit the ACT 1 website at www.act1online.com.

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