Light Opera Works

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Light Opera Works is a resident professional not-for-profit musical theatre company in Evanston, Illinois. It was founded in 1980 by Philip Kraus, Bridget McDonough (still managing director), and Ellen Dubinsky. Light Opera Works has presented over 75 productions of operetta and musical theatre at Northwestern University's 1,000-seat Cahn Auditorium.

Contents

[edit] History

Kraus was the first Artistic Director of the company, serving from 1981 through 1999. The first production of the company occurred in 1981 with a staging of Gilbert and Sullivan's H.M.S. Pinafore. [1] His main emphasis in programming centered on American, French, and Viennese operetta, and Gilbert and Sullivan, as well as early 20th century musical theatre pieces that were seldom performed by professional companies.

Lara Teeter succeeded Kraus and served as Artistic Director until 2004. He continued to program operettas, but added more musicals from later in the 20th century. The current artistic director, Rudy Hogenmiller, continues that trend.

[edit] Repertory

Kraus staged all the extant Gilbert and Sullivan Savoy operas with the company, including a concept Elizabethan Mikado (1986)[2] and an Edward Gorey/Tim Burton-inspired Ruddigore (1996),[3] as well as the less frequently produced Utopia Limited (1984)[4] and The Grand Duke (1992).

The company has produced a number of Chicago premieres, including Emmerich Kálmán's The Duchess of Chicago (1998),[5] Jerome Moross' The Golden Apple (1995),[6] and Karl Millöcker's The Beggar Student,[7] as well as revivals such as Oscar Straus' The Chocolate Soldier (1987)[8] and A Waltz Dream (1992)[9] (both with new translations by Kraus and lyricist Gregory Opelka), Victor Herbert's Babes in Toyland (1994)[10] and The Red Mill (1992)[11], and Leonard Bernstein's Wonderful Town (1996).[12] The company embarked on a Kurt Weill cycle in 1989 beginning with Lady in the Dark (1990),[13] and including One Touch of Venus (1997)[14] and Knickerbocker Holiday (1993).[15]

In 1998, in addition to its three annual shows in the Cahn Auditorium, Light Opera Works also began to produce a fourth, more intimate show each year in the 250-seat Second Stage. These have included classic operettas like Jacques Offenbach's The Isle of Tulipitan, new works such as Soup du Jour and No Way to Treat a Lady, and revivals such as Darling of the Day.

[edit] Other activities

An active participant in the Chicago arts community, Light Opera Works is a member of the Illinois Arts Alliance, League of Chicago Theatres, and Opera America, among others, and is a founding member of the Chicago Dance and Music Alliance. The company has collaborated on artistic and educational projects with the Union League Club, Boys and Girls Club, Evanston District 65 schools, Theatre Building Chicago, and other organizations.[citation needed]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ H.M.S. Pinafore reviewed in Chicago Sun-Times Sept. 11, 1981 "Pinafore: A Spirited, Romantic Delight" p. 63 by Valerie Scher
  2. ^ "Opera Works offers British Mikado," review in Chicago Sun-Times June 20, 1986 p. 20, by Wynne Delacoma
  3. ^ Ruddigore reviewed in Windy City Times Aug. 22, 1996 p. 32, by Lawrence Bommer
  4. ^ "Gilbert & Sullivan fans find Utopia," by Ron Grossman, Chicago Tribune Dec. 28 1984 Section 7 p. 3
  5. ^ The Duchess of Chicago reviewed in the Chicago Sun Times by Lucia Mauro, August 1998
  6. ^ The Golden Apple reviewed in The Reader, Aug. 25, 1995 Section 1 p. 36, by Albert Williams "Homer on the Range"
  7. ^ Süllwold, Carla-Maria Verdino. "Second City Opera: Contending for First Place", in Opera Monthly Feb. 1992, Vol. 4 No.10 p. 26
  8. ^ "The Chocolate Soldier makes sweet bit of history," by Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune, Aug. 30, 1987 Section 5 p. 6
  9. ^ A Waltz Dream reviewed by Kathleen Tobin in The Beverly Review. July 15, 1992
  10. ^ Babes in Toyland revival announced in the Chicago Sun Times "Toyland: A Special Place for Young and Old Dec. 27. 1993 p. 23
  11. ^ The Red Mill revival reviewed by Patrick Sinozich in Gay Chicago, Jan. 23-Feb 2, 1992 p. 36
  12. ^ Wonderful Town reviewed in Chicago Sun-Times, Dec. 30, 1996 p. 27, by Liz Lynch
  13. ^ Weiss, Suzanne. "Light Opera Works Lights Ten Candles", Pioneer Press, June 14, 1990 p. D2
  14. ^ One Touch of Venus reviewed in Chicago Sun-Times, Aug. 19, 1997 p. 32, by Andrew Patner
  15. ^ Knickerbocker Holiday reviewed in Gay Chicago, Jan. 14-24, 1993, pp. 35-36

[edit] References

  • Article celebrating Chicago theatre anniversaries
  • Official website
  • Gerst, Virginia. "Kraus makes light work of opera", Pioneer Press, August 19, 1982 p.D2
  • Miller, Bryan. "Music Notes: the opera company that gets no respect," The Reader, May 26, 1989 Section 1 p.6
  • Süllwold, Carla-Maria Verdino. "Second City Opera: Contending for First Place", Opera Monthly Feb. 1992, Vol. 4 No.10 p.21-30
  • von Rhein, John. "Lighten up, critics" Chicago Tribune 1990, 10th Anniversary article
  • Whitmore, Julie. "Light opera company brings Europe to Evanston" in Crain's Chicago Business, June 20, 1988, p. 27

[edit] External links