Greater Worcester Opera presented a double-bill of comic one act operas at the Historic Warner Theatre at Worcester Academy (81 Providence Street, Worcester) on June 10 and 11 (8:00 PM) and June 12 (2:00 PM), 2011, with a special encore presentation on Thursday, June 23 (7:30 PM) at the Eagle Hill Cultural Center in Hardwick, MA.  Puccini’s brilliant one-act opera Gianni Schicchi concerns a family squabble over inheritance, and features the iconic title character as well as the beloved soprano aria “O Mio Babbino Caro”, in a traditional performance style.  In Gilbert and Sullivan’s one-act gem Trial By Jury, a jilted bride sues her fiancé for breach of contract, and in our contemporized version (which maintains the original libretto and music) the courtroom is in an uproar over this “Celebrity Divorce”! GWO is delighted to have brought this stylistically contrasting duo to both the Warner Theatre and the Eagle Hill Cultural Center. Directed by Graham Christian & Lynne LaComfora, our splendid casts provided a taste of both old and new to this topsy-turvy production.  Read the review from the Worcester Telegram and Gazette.
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Gianni Schicchi
Gianni Schicchi: Thomas Weber
Rinuccio: Richard Monroe
Zita: Mauri Tetreault
Gherardo: Brendan Buckley
Nella: Christine Petkus
Gherardino: Andrew Lefferts
Marco: Michael Gondek
La Ciesca: Jacque Eileen Wilson
Betto: Jeramie Hammond
Simone: David Bonneau
Lauretta: Elaine Crane (Tara Alcorn, cover)
Dr. Spinelloccio: Benjamin Morse
Notary Nicolao: Courtney Sylvain
Pinellino: Thaddeus Bell
Guccio: Jonathan McCauley



Trial By Jury
The Honorable Judge: Benjamin Morse
Angelina, The Plaintiff: Erin Conley (Lydian DeVere Yard, cover)
Edwin, The Defendant: Taylor Lawton
Counsel: Barratt Park
Usher: Thaddeus Bell
Bridesmaids: Tara Alcorn, Laura Antognoni, Paige Crane, Lydian DeVere Yard, Jenn Woodward
Foreman of the Jury: Michael Gondek
Jury: Joseph Antognoni, Jeramie Hammond, Jonathan McCauley, Larry Milner, Tom Moretti, George Oliver, Alan Rohwer
Onlookers:: Ginny Bailey, Alice Ball, Debbie Crane, Elaine Crane, Holland Crane,  Sandra Fritze, Merrick Henry, Joel LeBlanc, Daniel Lefferts, Christine Petkus, Rick Rudman, Mauri Tetreault

Production staff:
 
Stage Director: Graham Christian
Collaborative Pianist: Lynne LaComfora
Choral Preparation (Trial By Jury): Richard Monroe
Producer: Elaine Crane
Set design: Charles Crane
Lighting design: David H. Silber

Dates: June 10 and 11, 2010 (8:00 p.m.) and June 12, 2010 (2:00 p.m.)
Venue: Warner Theatre, Worcester Academy (81 Providence Street, Worcester)
Encore Performance: June 23 (7:30 PM)
Venue: Eagle Hill Cultural Center (242 Old Petersham Road, Hardwick, MA)

Poster in Jpg or .