The Department of Theatre Arts and the School of Music will present a more modern take on "Così fan tutte," Mozart's comic opera of love and liberation in the 18th century. Performances will be held at 8:00 p.m. February 17, 19–21, and 24–27. There will be 2:00 p.m. matinees on February 21 and 22. All performances will take place in the Clark Theatre in Dillingham Center.
Tickets can be purchased at the ticket office in Dillingham Center, the Clinton House Ticket Center, and Cornell University's Willard Straight Hall. Prices range from $4.50 to $10.00. The Dillingham ticket office will be open Monday through Friday, noon to 5:00 p.m., beginning February 9. For information call 274-3224 or visit the theater department's "Così fan tutte" website. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more by calling 274-3796.
"Così fan tutte" premiered in Vienna in 1789. The version being produced in the Clark Theatre, however, echoes themes of women's liberation in America in the late 1960s. The audience is invited to follow Don Alfonso, the owner of a hippie go-go bar, and Despina, a liberated feminist, as they make a bet with two military officers that their conservative girlfriends will be unfaithful in their absence. To test the girls' loyalty, the officers disguise themselves and pursue each other's girlfriend as amorous strangers.
Musical and stage director Patrick Hansen is an assistant professor of music performance and director of opera and musical theater in the School of Music. He is also the director of music studies for the Young American Artists Program at Glimmerglass Opera.
This doubled cast includes Mike Nyby '05 and Nathan Eldred Wilson '05 alternating the role of Don Alfonso, Donata Cucinotta '04 and Whitney Guy '04 as Despina, graduate student Mark LeBeau Jr. and Sean Clark '04 as Ferrando, Mike Kilcoyne '04 and Christopher Martin '04 as Guglielmo, Amanda Hick '04 and Karla Faggard '04 as Fiordiligi, and Caitlin Mathes '05 and Kimberly Buczek '05 as Dorabella. In addition, there is a seven-member chorus.
The design team includes scenic designer Jessica Coppola '04, costume designer Hayley Sims '05, and lighting designer Steve TenEyck, assistant professor of theater arts.
Contributed by Brian Falck
