Nevada Opera

Nevada Opera is proud to present “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” a musical play featuring young artists from northern Nevada on Saturday, December 15, 2012 at 5:00 and 7:00 pm. This program is the first production of the newly created Nevada Opera Youth Program.

The performance will be held at the Reno First United Methodist Church. The church is located at 209 West 1st Street at the corner of West Street and the RiverWalk.

Map

The 7:00 performance has sold out! Tickets are still available for the 5:00 performance at $15.00 for Adults, and $10 for children and seniors.

To reserve tickets - which will be held for you at the door - please click here, call Janette at the Nevada Opera office, (775) 786-4046 or visit the Steinway Piano Gallery

The performance, directed by Linda Saxton, is in two parts. The first is a play about the Christmas story. A number of songs are woven into the show.

The play centers around the Herdman family of hellions who decide to be part of a traditional Christmas production at a local church.  Having never heard about the baby Jesus, and the Christmas story, the Herdmans ask countless questions as they see the story through the eyes of children.  Funny and moving, this play is for the whole family.

The second portion of the evening will include such Christmas songs as “Holly Jolly Christmas”, “Silver Bells”, “Oh Holy Night”, and “Santa Claus is coming to Town.”  Selections will be performed as duets, trios, and by the full group both a cappella and accompanied. The songs are chosen to match and develop the skills of each young artist.

The Nevada Opera Youth Program members are ages 10 to 18.  Auditions for this show were held in August of this year. Student experience ranges from musical theater to small group performing as well as private lessons.  Each student brings his/her own unique experience and gifts to the group. By employing older students to create the choreography and asking the more advanced vocalists to pair with the newer, less experienced students we are able to mentor and share valuable lessons in this group.

To view an interview with Monica Harte (and a Reno Gazette-Journal article) please visit

http://www.rgj.com/article/20121230/LIV/312300031

Nevada Opera presented Jack and the Beanstalk, a new opera for the whole family by young Norwegian composer Dan Henry Bøhler. Performed as part of Nevada Opera's Resident Artists Program , the cast included local favorites Julie Lenz, Karen Solaegui-Lyman, and Becky Earl. The performance was enhanced by a fascinating animated backdrop. In addition, The composer joined us for this world premiere of his work.

Click here for photos from the dress rehearsal.

The show was performed twice each day from Jan. 4 through Jan. 6 at Reno Little Theater , 147 East Pueblo Street, Reno. Performances were at 5:30 and 7:00 pm on Friday, January 4th and at 2:00 and 3:30 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets were $20 for adults, $10 for children and seniors. 

Our production ran about 45 minutes and was in 2 acts - no intermission - each with 3 scenes. The first act ends just as the Giant is about to enter.To hear the music of the opera and read the lyrics click here for a 10-part YouTube.

This story highlights the Magic Ants who work for the Giant, Jill the Magic Harp, the mysterious Salesman, Jack, his outrageous Mom and of course the Giant. The Goose makes a few animated appearances as well in this fun-packed show. A picture of one of the costumes we're getting (work-ant) is shown at the right. Our costumes will be without the head piece so they can sing.

Jack’s village is in the middle of a terrible drought. Jack’s mom has sent him to the village to sell their cow Milky-White. In the village, the two merchants tell Jack to give up trying to sell the cow in the middle of a drought just as a mysterious gentleman approaches Jack to offer him a chance to take the cow for the “Sprout of Drought.” The Sprout of Drought thrives in a drought and will help save the village. Jack is so excited he runs home to tell his mom. Jack’s mom however is furious that he gave Milky White the cow away and throws the beans away. The beanstalk grows during the night and Jack climbs it as soon as he sees it. The beanstalk takes Jack to the Giant’s castle where the friendly Ants and the Ant Queen, Pomulere are throwing a party while the Giant is away. It turns out the Giant has taken creatures from all over to work in his castle, including the Ants, the Goose, the Harp, and even Messy Mouse. Jack wants to save them all and gets them to cooperate to save everyone and everyone’s village by fighting the Giant with cooperation. The Giant ends up defeated and Pomulere sends a letter and gold to Jack’s village.

All backdrops in all scenes are animated. The giant is filmed in HD - green screen and appears three times as high as a full grown person . The size of the giant changes his movements. Cinematic techniques are utilized to slow the giant's movements down slightly while keeping his speech and song the same speed as the other singers/actors.

Our cast (if name highlighted click for biography and photo)

Wednesday night (May 15) was Dress Rehearsal. Here are several scenes from  Act I (click photo to enlarge/see caption)

Nevada Opera presents

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Don Giovanni
May 17th and 19th
Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts

and

Giovanni, A Vampire Tale
May 18th, in the Pioneer Underground

Mozart’s Don Giovanni, first performed in 1787, blends comedy, melodrama and supernatural elements and is considered one of the greatest operas ever written.

The story centers on Don Giovanni, an arrogant,  promiscuous nobleman (played by Michael Mayes) who abuses and outrages everyone in the cast. His refusal to repent brings about dramatic events and a supernatural retribution.

Nevada Opera will present 2 versions of this grand opera. The first is the traditional production filled with all the promiscuity, death and fantasy one expects from opera. With beautiful Lighting by UNR’s Michael Fernbach and innovative direction by TMCC professor Paul Aberasturi, this show is a blast to the past. Michael, Paul and Monica all worked together at UNR on theatrical projects when the Puffers ran NVO.  This is a story of small town artists making good and coming home to work together again. This production will prove to have an amazing spirit behind it… a supernatural positive energy!

Our new, abridged version with a Vampire Twist, will be performed on Saturday, May 18th at 12:00 and 3:00 PM at the Pioneer Underground, starring local and locally grown talent from NVO’s P’Opera and Young Artists Program. This version is perfect for all vampire fans and will have new narration written by Paul Aberasturi and Monica Harte.

Don Giovanni, A Vampire Tale will also be more appropriate for the younger audience: kids, tweens and teens as well as those with a passion for the current Vampire Vogue. This will be in a smaller, more intimate (and scarier) setting and will explore Don Giovanni’s character and actions as a Vampire instead of a seducer.

The mainstage and Vampire versions are both concepts developed by Monica Harte, General and Artistic Director.

 Click underlined names for biography and photo

Conductor, Ken Merrill

Pianist, Edward Bak