WNO's THE LION, THE UNICORN, AND ME to Run 12/14-22 at the Kennedy Center

Washington National Opera (WNO) continues its 2013-2014 season with the world premiere of a new holiday family opera: The Lion, The Unicorn, and Me, December 14-22 in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater.

Based on Jeanette Winterson's award- winning children's book which tells the story of the Nativity from a donkey's point of view, The Lion, The Unicorn, and Me features new music composed by Tony-nominated composer Jeanine Tesori (Thoroughly Modern Millie and Shrek The Musical) and a libretto by the poet J.D. McClatchy. This WNO commission is directed by WNO Artistic Director Francesca Zambello and conducted by Kimberly Grigsby (Broadway's Spring Awakening and You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown) in her WNO debut.

As the world's first Christmas nears, an Angel is conducting a most important interview: who among all the animals can lead Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem? Will it be Lion, fearful ruler of the jungle? Or might it be Unicorn, graceful steed to lovely maidens? It's certainly not Donkey, whose only humble gift is a small but sturdy back. But with the birth of a very special king on the horizon, and one bright star blazing the way to a crowded inn, Donkey soon discovers that miracles can happen anywhere-even right in front of his nose.

Following the sold-out success of last season's Hansel and Gretel, this season's production of The Lion, The Unicorn, and Me continues WNO's commitment to presenting a holiday production for the entire family. Holiday programming for future seasons will be announced at a later date.

Zambello has a long history of bringing works for children and families to the stage, including the world premiere of Rachel Portman and Nicholas Wright's The Little Prince at Houston Grand Opera (later televised as part of PBS's Great Performances), as well as the recent Broadway musical The Little Mermaid. The production team includes set designer Michael Yeargan (WNO's Ring cycle, Tony winner for Broadway's The Light in the Piazza), costume designer Erik Teague (The Glimmerglass Festival's The Flying Dutchman), lighting designer Mark McCullough (WNO's Show Boat and Nabucco), choreographer Eric Sean Fogel (WNO's The Force of Destiny), and resident hair and makeup designer Anne-Ford Coates.

"I think it's important that as our national opera company we present a wide array of new American works, from our new 20-minute operas to bold new works like Moby-Dick to works like The Lion, The Unicorn, and Me that can bring a new generation of opera lovers into the Kennedy Center," said WNO Artistic Director Francesca Zambello. "We will continue to present works for new audiences and families so that they can begin to experience opera in an accessible way."

American composer Jeanine Tesori is known mainly for her award-winning musical theater compositions, including Violet, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Shrek The Musical, and Caroline, or Change. In 2011, her first opera A Blizzard on Marblehead Neck, featuring a libretto by Tony Kushner, had its world premiere at The Glimmerglass Festival.

Librettist J.D. McClatchy is a prize-winning American poet and literary critic. His opera libretti include William Schuman's A Question of Taste; Tobias Picker's Emmeline; Lorin Maazel's 1984, co-written with Thomas Meehan; and Elliot Goldenthal's Grendel, co-written with Julie Taymor. He is also the editor and translator of the highly praised Seven Mozart Librettos: A Verse Translation, published by W.W. Norton in 2010.

Leading the WNO Orchestra in her WNO debut is Kimberly Grigsby, who most recently led the orchestra of Broadway's Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. This is Ms. Grigsby's operatic conducting debut.

The Lion, The Unicorn, and Me also features the debut of WNO's new Children's Chorus, made up of 16 D.C.-area children, under the direction of chorus master William Breytspraak. The opera also features a prominent role written for a boy soprano-Henry Wager, who will make his WNO debut as the Angel.

"I'm proud that we have assembled our own new Children's Chorus for this production, and I have enjoyed working with Henry on his role as the Angel since our workshop this summer," said Zambello. "I love seeing children on our stages and know that they help bring children into our audience."

Other roles in the opera will be performed by members of WNO's Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program, including Jacqueline Echols, Norman Garrett, Soloman Howard, Deborah Nansteel, Patrick O'Halloran, and Wei Wu. Special guest artists include Catherine Martin, Ian McEuen, John Ordun?a, and Lisa Williamson.

The Lion, The Unicorn, and Me previews on Saturday, December 14 at 2 p.m. and opens on Saturday, December 14 at 7:30 p.m.; other dates are Sunday, December 15 at 2 p.m.; Friday, December 20 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, December 21 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, December 22 at 2 p.m. Visit WNO's website for complete production details, casting information, and artist biographies.

WNO's 2013-2014 season also includes the East Coast premiere of Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer's Moby-Dick, a revival of Donizetti's comedy The Elixir of Love, and a new English- language production of Mozart's classic The Magic Flute. A performance of The Magic Flute will be simulcast to Nationals Park in May as part of M&M'S Opera in the Outfield. A second season of the American Opera Initiative will continue WNO's efforts to commission new American works with performances in November of three new 20-minute operas and in June with the world premiere of An American Soldier by Huang Ruo and David Henry Hwang.

The show runs Saturday, December 14 at 2 p.m. • Saturday, December 14 at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, December 15 at 2 p.m. • Friday, December 20 at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, December 21 at 2 p.m. • Saturday, December 21 at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, December 22 at 2 p.m.

Tickets start at $34 and are available at the Kennedy Center Box Office, by calling (202) 467- 4600 or (800) 444-1324, or online at www.kennedy-center.org. Subscription packages for the 2013-2014 season are also available and can be purchased at (202) 416-8500 or at www.kennedy-center.org.

The Lion, The Unicorn, and Me Related Programs and Events:

Preview: The Lion, The Unicorn, and Me
Monday, December 2 at 6 p.m., Kennedy Center Millennium Stage
Enjoy an free preview of musical highlights from The Lion, The Unicorn, and Me on the Millennium Stage featuring members of the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program.

Artist Q&A: The Lion, The Unicorn, and Me
Saturday, December 14-following the 7:30 p.m. performance, Terrace Theater
Join WNO Artistic Director Francesca Zambello for a wide-ranging discussion with the artists of the production. This event is free to patrons presenting a ticket from any performance of The Lion, The Unicorn, and Me.

Meet the Artists of The Lion, The Unicorn, and Me
Following the matinee performances on Sunday, December 15 in the North Atrium Foyer and Saturday, December 21 and Sunday, December 22 in the Terrace Gallery
Immediately following select matinee performances, the audience is invited to meet the artists of The Lion, The Unicorn, and Me in costume and purchase holiday snacks. Bring a camera and take photos with your favorite characters from the opera.

ABOUT WASHINGTON NATIONAL OPERA: Washington National Opera (WNO) is one of the leading opera companies in the United States. Founded in 1956 and now an affiliate of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the company boasts numerous artistic highlights, including world premieres, commissioning of new works and new productions, international tours, and performances by some of opera's most admired artists. WNO productions have been heard around the world, through radio and television broadcasts on WETA-FM, NPR, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, and PBS, as well as through audio and video recordings.

WNO recently launched the American Opera Initiative, a comprehensive new commissioning program that brings contemporary American stories to the stage while fostering and developing the talents of new American composers and librettists. WNO contributes to the future of opera through two other signature artist-development programs: the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program is a leading resident-training program for artists on the verge of international careers, and the WNO Opera Institute nurtures the ambitions of high-school-age singers and pianists from across the nation during an intensive three-week summer program.

WNO's education and access initiatives include year-round programs in public schools throughout the region; Generation O, a popular discount-ticket initiative for young people; and a variety of lectures and discussions for every production on the season calendar. Among the most popular of WNO's community programs is M&M'S Opera in the Outfield, which brings free, live simulcasts of opera to Nationals Park for thousands of opera fans as well as new audiences.

For more information about Washington National Opera, visit www.kennedy-center.org/wno. Visit www.facebook.com/WashingtonNationalOpera for behind-the-scenes news, special offers, and advance notice of events. Follow @dcopera on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news, offers, and more.

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