| 2017 Productions

1Albert Herring

starring CHRISTINE BREWER

What’s a village to do when a May Queen is needed and the purity of their young women is in question? Go against tradition and select the only virgin in the village: a boy – scandalous!

For years, the town leaders, led by the old-fashioned autocrat Lady Billows (sung by Christine Brewer,) have chosen a sweet young maiden to represent purity and virtue at the annual May Day Festival. This year, there isn’t a girl among them without moral blemish. Enter Albert Herring; timid from years living under his mother’s thumb, he is mortified at being named “King of the May.” Thanks to the help of friends who spike his lemonade, Albert throws caution to the wind, resulting in an evening of drunken debauchery. Come morning, Albert is ready to confront the town’s elders in this coming-of-age story. Benjamin Britten’s only true comic opera, Albert Herring explores the themes of innocence lost, social stratification, and Victorian morality, all cast in the composer’s brilliantly witty chamber score.

Click here to meet the cast of Albert Herring

Directed by Tim Ocel
Conducted by Scott Schoonover

Friday, July 7 at 8 pm
Saturday, July 8 at 8 pm
Friday, July 14 at 8 pm
Saturday, July 15 at 8 pm

Presented in English with projected English supertitles.


Carousel

A theatre and opera lover’s dream come true: performances of a beloved Broadway musical, powerfully sung as only Union Avenue Opera artists can, and accompanied by our full orchestra. Revel in the rich music performed as its creators intended. Come see why Carousel has found itself included in the Opera repertory of companies all over the world.

When carousel barker Billy Bigelow and factory worker Julie Jordan fall in love, little do they realize that his rebellious ways could lead to tragedy. Given a chance to make good, is it too little too late, or will a change of heart save Billy and those he loves?  Their achingly relevant story unfolds in one unforgettable song after another: “If I Loved You,” “Soliloquy,” “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” and the robust “June is Bustin’ Out All Over.” Carousel is one of the musical theatre’s most soul-stirring masterpieces! Directed by Broadway’s Ken Page, this vibrant production will be filled with magical moments, soaring choreography, and breathtaking music like never before seen on the Union Avenue Opera stage. It will be easy to understand why, of all the groundbreaking shows they created, Carousel was Rodgers & Hammerstein’s personal favorite.

Click here to meet the cast of Carousel

Directed by Ken Page
Conducted by Scott Schoonover

Friday, July 28 at 8 pm
Saturday, July 29 at 8 pm
Friday, August 4 at 8 pm
Saturday, August 5 at 8 pm

Presented in English with projected English supertitles.


Hänsel und Gretel

A deliciously fun telling of the beloved Brothers Grimm fairy tale that will appeal to audiences of all ages. Though the plot may appeal to children with tuneful and accessible melodies, the orchestrations are sufficiently elaborate to appeal to even the most sophisticated of operagoers.

Once upon a time, two children found themselves lost in a dark forest, until they happened upon a house made entirely of sweets. What happens next…well, that’s the story of Hänsel und Gretel complete with a cackling witch, enchanted fairies, and a gingerbread house. In the dizzying excitement of the witch’s ride and the serene beauty of the children’s evening prayer, Humperdinck’s music magically evokes the contrasting worlds of the story and the perils of growing up! Hänsel und Gretel will be performed in German with English supertitles.

Click here to meet the cast of Hänsel und Gretel

Directed by Karen Coe Miller
Conducted by Kostis Protopapas

Friday, August 18 at 8 pm
Saturday, August 19 at 8 pm
Friday, August 25 at 8 pm
Saturday, August 26 at 8 pm

Presented in German with projected English supertitles.


Friday Night Lecture Series
Know Before You Go

7:00 pm Each Friday night before the performance in the Fellowship Gallery.

Join Union Avenue Opera and Glen Bauer, Ph. D. for our Friday Night lecture series. Dr. Bauer will discuss the opera’s historical importance, guide you through the (sometimes convoluted) plot line, and offer a sneak peak of the music to come.