Festival Opera celebrates legendary women

The complexity, strength, courage, and wisdom of several extraordinary female characters comes to center stage in Utah Festival Opera’s 13th season. For five weeks, all are invited to take part in this exploration of exotic locales and beautiful music. This season’s productions include Giacomo Puccini’s final spectacular drama Turandot, Irving Berlin’s classic western comedy Annie Get Your Gun, Robert Ward’s 1961 adaptation of the dark drama The Crucible, and Wright & Forrest’s comedic romance Kismet.

All four main stage productions will run in repertory July 6th through August 6th allowing patrons to see all productions in a two- or three-day stay in beautiful and historic Cache Valley.

Additionally presented is a classic film festival and concert series coincident with the season. Each event highlights themes, settings, or subject matter pertinent to the season’s productions enabling patrons to experience the full embodiment of each show.

Both single and season tickets are on sale now for the 2005 season. For more information, visit www.ufoc.org or call the Dansante Box Office at 800-262-0074 or 435-750-0300 ext. 106. Tickets are also available in person at the Dansante Box Office at 59 South 100 West, Logan, through ArtTix outlets, and online at www.tickets.com or arttix.org.

Here is the lineup:

TURANDOT: Giacomo Puccini [July 6, 14m, 16, 22m, 27, 29, August 3, 6m]

James Marvel Director; Barbara Day Turner Conductor

The festival season opens July 6 with the spectacular drama Turandot. Who is the ice that sets you on fire? Her name is Turandot, the beautiful Eastern Princess sworn to be possessed by no man. Travel to the China of legend and fantasy as the exiled Prince Calaf endeavors to win her heart. The key lies within the answers to three riddles~but the penalty for failure is death! Can absolute devotion and a paramount sacrifice melt her icy exterior? Find out in Puccini’s final operatic masterpiece. Sung in Italian with projected English titles.

Starring Othalie Graham, Simon Lee, Jennifer Welch-Babidge, Darrell Babidge, Arturo Chacón-Cruz, John Pickle

KISMET: Robert Wright & George Forrest [July 7, 13m, 15, 21, 30m, August 4m, 5]

Dorothy Danner Director; Karen Keltner Conductor

Opening July 7 is Kismet, the Broadway musical of fabled Baghdad. Indulge in an adventurous romp in this epic tale of mirth, mayhem, and romance. A roguish poet assumes the identity of another and embarks on a series of misadventures. Enjoy the soaring music of timeless favorites such as And This Is My Beloved and Stranger in Paradise. The course of true love never runs smoothly, especially amid thieves and con-men, so never leave the outcome to the fickle finger of KISMET! Sung in English with projected English titles.

Starring Kyle Pfortmiller, Lori Brown Mirabal, Terry Hodges, Michael Jones, Katrina Twitty

THE CRUCIBLE: Robert Ward [July 8, 14, 21m, 29m, August 4]

Jack Shouse Director; Karen Keltner Conductor

The Crucible, an impassioned parable of the struggle between good and evil opens July 8. Based on Arthur Miller’s Pulitzer Prize winning play, seventeenth century Salem is grappling with a wave of panic and paranoia as bigoted men and women use the cry of “witch” to destroy those they hate or envy. John Proctor must choose: his principles or his life? Robert Ward’s contemporary operatic masterpiece is an examination of the human conscience –a tale of morality and mass hysteria which finds particular relevance in today’s political and social climate. Sung in English with projected English titles.

Starring Kristopher Irmiter, Carla Rae Cook, Joy Hermalyn, Lori Brown Mirabal, Daniel Cole

ANNIE GET YOUR GUN: Irving Berlin [July 9, 13, 16m, 22, 28, 30, August 3m, 6]

David Gately Director; Barbara Day Turner Conductor

Opening July 9 is Irving Berlin’s exciting western musical comedy, Annie Get Your Gun. They say that falling in love is wonderful?Follow the tempestuous romance of legendary Wild West performers Annie Oakley and Frank Butler. Sharpshooter Oakley does her best to win Butler’s heart, but seems to succeed only in hurting his ego. Witness Annie’s unsophisticated charm doin’ what comes natur’lly in Berlin’s rousing musical, with such memorable favorites as You Can’t Get A Man With A Gun, Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better, and the entertainment industry anthem, There’s No Business Like Show Business. Sung in English with projected English titles.

Starring Joy Hermalyn, Mark Walters, Terry Hodges, Vanessa Schukis, Joseph Specter, Stacy Tavor