Theater

THEATER Maryland Opera returns with ‘Ritorna Vincitor’

Ed Davis

Tenor Dinyar Vania as Alfredo and soprano Jennifer Forni as Violetta in La Traviata.

Maryland Opera’s fifth season opens with “Ritorna Vincitor!” featuring a return to fully staged productions with Act 2 of Die Fledermaus plus famous entrance arias and scenes at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12 at the Church of the Redeemer on Charles Street in North Baltimore. Tickets are $50.

The program features selections from Aida, Tannhäuser, Roméo et Juliette, Il barbiere di Siviglia, La fille du regiment, Turandot, and the complete Act 2 of Die Fledermaus. From the ebullient “Largo al factotum” to the universal song of togetherness, “Brüderlein und Schwesterlein,” the program will celebrate Grand Opera and the triumph of the human spirit. All selections will be staged in the acoustically and visually exquisite sanctuary at Church of the Redeemer.

An internationally acclaimed cast includes sopranos Amy Shoremount-Obra and Kimberly Christie, mezzo-soprano Chrystal E. Williams, tenor John Pickle and baritone Eric McKeever.

Stage and musical direction for all selections is by Maryland Opera’s artistic director James Harp, long known for excellence in operatic performances and musical outreach in the Mid-Atlantic area.

“I’m so excited for this program featuring arias celebrating rebirth and unbridled joy concluding with perhaps the most celebratory music of all time — Act 2 of Die Fledermaus,” Harp said. “We will regale you with waltzes, polkas, exotic costumes, intrigue and high notes galore.”

Tickets are available at maryland opera.org, by calling 484-678-6041 and at the door on the day of the performance. Seating is limited, so advance ticket reservations are recommended. Free parking is available at the Church of the Redeemer parking lot adjacent to the building and across Melrose Avenue. Church of the Redeemer is at 5603 North Charles St., Baltimore.

2022|23

S E A S O N

NOVEMBER 12, 2022 NOVEMBER 13, 2022

THE MARYLAND THEATRE

SPONSORED BY:

Symphony No. 29 is lled with light-hearted charm and elegance. A perfectly composed symphony that lls you with joy. Additional works by Stravinsky and Von Weber will be performed featuring Beverly Butts on Clarinet.

OPEN CALL

GROUP EXHIBITION WINTER ARTISTS MARKET

Deadline: November 11th Artists are invited to submit their work to be displayed at the FACArt Center at 5E 2nd St, Frederick, MD for our annual winter showcase. Work must be for sale and must be less than $200 per piece. Asmall inventory will be held to refresh pieces as they are sold. There is no submission fee. All media and themes are invited Please submit your work via SlideRoom Ouestions? Email FACArt Center Coordinator,SJWiegand: wiegand@frederickartscouncil.org https: //frederickartscouncil.slideroom. com/#/permalink/program/70053

Slovo Theater Group

Courtesy photo

Ukrainian, American theater troupe to present ‘Mothermotherland’ at FCC

Ukrainian and American performers will bring their tour of “Mothermotherland” to Frederick Community College on their way to the Kennedy Center this week.

The free event will be held at 3 p.m. Nov. 11 at the Jack B. Kussmaul Theater at FCC.

“Mothermotherland,” created this summer by Slovo Theater Group, is an original devised theater performance developed over five weeks by Ukrainians in exile with playwright Audrey Rose Dégez. The performance is based on the artists’ personal experiences and the war in Ukraine and takes inspiration from Mykoly Khyvylovy’s 1924 novella “I am (a Romantic).”

Pittsburgh-born and Paris-based playwright Audrey Rose Dégez applied to residency Slovo, an artistic residency in Kharkiv. The Russian invasion on Feb. 24 rendered the original project idea impossible, but a group of private funders made it possible for Dégez to bring the project to America.

On July 13, she left her home and husband in France and returned to her Motherland with her 6-month-old daughter, Lili Maritchka, to prepare for the project. On Aug. 14, she was joined by actress and puppeteer Daria Holovchanska; actress and PR manager Yuliia Linnik; actor and director Maksym Panchenko; actress, director and organizer Olesia Zakharova; and artist, dancer and linguist Veronika Shuster, and since then, the group has created an original performance in the styles of Les Kurbas, Jacques Lecoq and post-documentary theater.

“We’re not getting up on stage and addressing the current war,” Dégez said. “But at the same time, just the fact that being a Ukrainian theater group, people are learning about Ukrainian culture and are being reminded of the invasion.”

This event is presented free of charge by the FCC Arts Center. Donations to the theater company are welcome at the event. For more information, contact Arts Center director Tabetha White at twhite@frederick.edu or 301-624-2827.

Shepherd to hold open auditions for ‘Urinetown: The Musical’

Shepherd University School of Music will hold auditions for its upcoming production of “Urinetown: The Musical” from 4 to 6 p.m. Nov. 14 and 15 in the Frank Arts Center W.H. Shipley Recital Hall. Director kb saine will cast three male-presenting, five female-presenting and 10 non-gender-specific actors of all races, ages and abilities. Auditions are open to Shepherd students, faculty and staff, as well as community members.

Winner of three Tony Awards, three Outer Critics Circle Awards, two Lucille Lortel Awards, and two Obie Awards, “Urinetown: The Musical” is a hilarious musical satire of the legal system, capitalism, social irresponsibility, populism, environmental collapse, privatization of natural resources, bureaucracy, municipal politics and musical theater itself. Hilariously funny and touchingly honest, “Urinetown” provides a fresh perspective on one of America’s greatest art forms. A comedic musical set in a society where private bathroom usage is outlawed, “Urinetown” takes us to a town where citizens must pay for the “privilege to pee.”

Rehearsals will be Mondays through Thursdays from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., with some weekend and evening rehearsals closer to opening night. Performances will take place Feb. 10 to 12, 2023, in the Frank Arts Center Theater.

Prepared monologues are encouraged but not required. All those auditioning should provide a headshot and resume, if possible. Audition forms will be provided for everyone. Readings from the text will be provided. To reserve an audition time, fill out an online form at http://forms.gle/Xeps5i2ofMKjXsS39

Audition questions may be directed to kb saine at ksaine@shepherd.edu. Those interested in technical roles should contact Chase Molden at cmolden@shepherd.edu.