SUU Opera Presents Mark Adamo’s Little Women

Published: March 14, 2016 | Read Time: 3 minutes

Based on one of the most beloved works of American fiction, composer Mark Adamo’s Little Women brings author Louisa May Alcott’s heartfelt saga of the March sisters to the opera stage. Southern Utah University’s Department of Music’s Masterworks Series presents this captivating contemporary work that has been hailed by The New York Times as “a masterpiece…[an] unexpected pleasure” featuring singers from SUU Opera. Performances are scheduled for Wednesday through Saturday, March 23 through 26, 2016 in the Heritage Center Theater, 105 N 100 E, downtown Cedar City. Curtain time is 7:30pm. Tickets are General Adult Admission: $10, Alumni with card: $8 and Student/Child: $4. SUU Faculty, Staff and Students are admitted free by presenting a valid ID at the door. To purchase tickets, call (435) 586-7872, Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm or online at www.suu.edu/pva. Tickets may also be purchased at the door.

Commissioned by the Opera Studio of Houston Grand Opera (HGO), Little Women was first performed on March 13, 1998 in a small scale production. The success of this first production led to a main stage production for ten performances in March 2000. G. Schirmer published the opera in May 1998; National Public Radio broadcast the recording of the premiere the following September; and there have been more than 35 distinct productions, professional and academic, domestic and international, since the world premiere including such established American opera companies as Minnesota Opera, New York City Opera and Opera Pacific. The American television premiere took place on August 29, 2001 on PBS's Great Performances (a co-production between Houston Grand Opera and Thirteen/WNET New York), and the world premiere recording of Little Women was released on Ondine in August 2001.

Under the stage direction of Carol Ann Modesitt, Professor and Director of Opera and Voice, and Dr. Lucas Goodrich, Music Director and Conductor with Rebecca Curtis as pianist, the evening promises to be enjoyable for all. The popularity of this contemporary work not only is the opera’s beloved source material but Adamo’s musicality in capturing the March sisters and their story in song. When asked why she chose this opera, Professor Modesitt said, “Mark Adamo’s Little Women reinvents an American classic through the wonders found on the opera stage. The score brings added depth to the plight of the Civil War era setting and releases the emotional journey of Jo March in a way that only opera can do.”

This production features two alternating casts of SUU students performing various roles. Lindsey Lopez and Corlissa Jensen share the pivotal role of Jo March. The other March sisters are portrayed by Caitlin Elmer and Leslie Perkins as Meg, Amanda Gagnon and Jocelyn Taylor as Beth and Michelle Reid and Claire Robinson as Amy, with Madi Davis as Cecilia March and Rebecca Dayley Parkinson in the role of Alma March. As for the men in the sisters’ lives Jordan Sanders and Ben Lieske alternate as Laurie, Ben Cano will play the role of Friedrich Bhaer. Brandon Grayson as John Brooke, Matt Whitchurch sings the roles of Gideon March and Mr. Dashwood. The production includes a quartet of additional women comprised of Andrea Church, Macey Naumann, Shayla Rowley and Kalina Stokes.

Experience this classic American story anew when SUU Opera presents Mark Adamo’s opera version of Little Women.  For more information on the SUU College of Performing and Visual Arts events, please visit www.suu.edu/pva/arts.

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