OKC, Ok May, 13 ( The Oklahoma Post) –
The Painted Sky Opera has four productions in the works for its 2022 season! The summer shows include three mainstage productions and one educational production.
This season, big changes are already in place for both the public, staff, and actors as the Painted Sky Opera is switching to summer-based seasons, with some shows still performed in the fall. Previously, the season ran from September to May with few activities in the summer.
Painted Sky Opera is continuing to provide everyday Oklahomans entertaining operas normally reserved for the larger markets of Europe, NYC, or San Fransico. The beautifully orchestrated productions are a sparkling jewel against the red dirt of the vast Oklahoma prairie live arts landscape. Located in the Oklahoma City Metro, the professional opera company maintains a 501(c)(3) certified nonprofit status and relies on the support of patrons to the curtains moving. The staff includes Barbara DeMaio – Executive Director, Rob Glaubitz -Artistic Director, Becky McGuigan – Costume Director, Jan McDaniel – Music Director, Scott Hynes – Technical Director, Jill Burcham – Educational Director, Joe Fitzgerald – Associate Music Director, and finally Lauren Hiemstra – Stage Manager
We had the opportunity to speak with the ultra-talented Artistic Director Rob Glaubitz, who explained the big changes and some of the events that prompted the changes, “The pandemic provided us an opportunity to make a switch to the summer season to allow us to build more momentum by performing our shows closer together and leveraging the strong operatic talent available during the summer months. It also allows us to fill a niche during the summer for fans of OKC Philharmonic and Canterbury Singers with whom we were always competing for audiences when we all offered performances during the Sept-May season” Glaubitz stated.
There are some amazing new performers coming to Oklahoma this summer, as most of the Carmen principals are performing for the first time with Painted Sky Opera. For those yearning for the comfort of familiar faces, Glaubitz reminded us that there may be some recognizable voices, “For PAGLIACCI, we return tenor Joel Burcham who has sung several times for us as the lead in Pagliacci, along with St. Louis-based baritone Jacob Lassetter as Tonio and OCU alum and current Germany-based soprano Bonnie Frauenthal as Nedda. For CARMEN, we feature up-and-coming Dallas-based mezzo-soprano Kayla Nanto in the title role and established tenor John Pickle as her lover Don Jose, along with a host of local and regional singers in the rest of the parts.”
According to Glaubitz, the cast for SCALIA/GINSBURG has not been announced, however, they are thrilled to be back at Oklahoma Contemporary performing this 21st Century American opera about the friendly relationship between Justices Ginsburg and Scalia which developed over a mutual love for opera.
The change in schedule also allows for educational productions such as The Enchanted Forest, that has been an awaited “choose-your-own-adventure” opera. Glaubitz, with his educational background shining through, was exuberant when describing the upcoming production, “We’ll be performing that show 11 times at different Metro Libraries in central Oklahoma in July and may continue performing it in the fall as well. This educational production will feature our newly established Educational Artists who have performed in various locations around OKC in the last few months, including at Science Museum Oklahoma, Genesis Project group home for boys, and Positive Tomorrows which is a high school for un-homed students. Glaubitz is a renowned educator and researcher with the University of Central Oklahoma School of Music located in Edmond, Oklahoma.
While tickets haven’t been released just yet, those productions for the 2022 season include the following
Painted Sky Opera 2022
Three Mainstage Productions
PAGLIACCI on June 11
The tragic tale of a traveling show, an unfaithful wife, and a murderous clown.
Experience Leoncavallo’s masterwork in grand fashion in the Hudiburg Chevrolet Center. When a troupe of traveling actors visits a small town, little do they realize that jealousy and lust will lead their show in directions they never expected. Featuring tenor and PSO favorite Joel Burcham as the clown Canio.
“Put on the costume, and the face in white powder. The people pay, and laugh when they please.” – Canio
CARMEN on July 30
The beloved opera comes to the stage for one night only!
Carmen has entranced audiences with its seductive melodies, its captivating characters, and its thrilling story of obsession and betrayal. Experience the glorious music of Carmen featuring the Painted Sky Opera Orchestra and a stellar cast of singers led by Maestro Jan McDaniel.
“The day I’ll love you? I don’t know! Maybe never. Maybe tomorrow. But not today! That’s for sure!” – Carmen
PAGLIACCI and CARMEN will both be performed at the Rose State College Hudiburg Chevrolet Center
SCALIA/GINSBURG on Sept 9-11.
(Opera Today), and “the kind of opera that should be everywhere” (OperaWire), Scalia/Ginsburg is a one-act operatic comedy by composer-librettist Derrick Wang about the unlikely friendship between U.S. Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Antonin Scalia. Inspired by the Justices’ own words, this “buoyant show with a deeply serious core” (Süddeutsche Zeitung) was first introduced at the U.S. Supreme Court in 2013, ushering in the era of Supreme Court-themed art.
Premiered in 2015 at noted conductor Lorin Maazel’s Castleton Festival and revised for its 2017 production at The Glimmerglass Festival, Scalia/Ginsburg continues to be produced across the United States and abroad, receiving its Australian premiere in 2021 by Orchestra Victoria. OperaDelaware’s 2019 mainstage production of Scalia/Ginsburg, the best-selling show in the company’s 76-year history, has been broadcast on national radio and featured on Live with Carnegie Hall.
Performed with orchestra in English with supertitles.
“Could we please make it a constitutional requirement that no one can be sworn into office in the White House or Congress without having first seen Scalia/Ginsburg?” – The Los Angeles Times
SCALIA/GINSBURG will be performed at the Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center
Educational Production
THE ENCHANTED FOREST
Education is a major part of Painted Sky Opera’s mission.
In this special, choose-your-own-adventure production, kids get to take part in writing their own operatic fairytale, right on stage! The audience decides who will play the royal lead, bumbling best friend, fiery villain, and more! With music by Mozart, Bizet, Puccini, Verdi, and others, kids will learn about operatic music while taking part in the adventure. How will good choices, teamwork, and kindness be used to fight the danger that lurks in this foreboding forest?
This event is held at multiple libraries. Funded in part by Arts Council Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts and the Friends of the Metropolitan Library.
More information can be found on the Official Painted Sky Opera website.
(Writing by Eve Shultz; Editing by Robbie Robertson)
Copyright 2022 The Oklahoma Post
