Performances of Handel’s pastoral opera based upon ancient mythology will be held at 8 p.m. on Feb. 20, 22, 24, 28, and March 2, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, Feb. 25.
Librettists John Gay, Alexander Pope and John Hughes based the text on John Dryden’s Ovid translation, “The Story of Acis, Polyphemus and Galate,” published in 1717, a year before the opera was first performed.
“For the Ithaca College production of ‘Acis and Galatea,’ the designers and I wanted to create one world where all of the different images and ideas of the myth could unfold”, said director David Lefkowich. “The music led us to create a sensory overload of auditory beauty, sensual discovery and thrilling and imaginative visual images to support the drama.”
“Acis and Galatea” is an opportunity to see the annual collaboration of the Ithaca College School of Music and the Department of Theatre Arts in putting on a performance in a professional model. The opera focuses its attention on Galatea, a semi-divine nymph, and her love for the shepherd Acis. The two pursue one another and, with shepherd Damon’s help, finally become lovers. Polyphemus, a jealous cyclops who is also in love with Galatea, tries to impress her using any means possible, but Galatea rejects Polyphemus. Furious, Polyphemus kills Acis and Galatea becomes so grief stricken, her tears flood the world. Reminded by the Storytellers that she is divine, Galatea uses her power to transform Acis into a river, making him immortal.
“This is a story of loss, but more importantly this is a story about moving past tragic events that occur in life,” Lefkowich reveals. “What makes ‘Acis and Galatea’ stand apart from other operas is how it leaves the audience with something more than the loss of life at the culmination of the piece. This treatment offers the audience a chance to see how one can move forward and move on after being faced with a devastating tragedy.”
David Lefkowich directed Ithaca College Theatre’s 2006 production of “The Merry Widow”. A seasoned professional, Lefkowich has directed productions for various companies around the country, including the Metropolitan Opera (where he was the assistant director for Julie Taymor on the new production of “The Magic Flute”), San Francisco Opera, New York City Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, and Florida Grand Opera. He is also an in-demand stage combat director.
The musical director is assistant professor of music performance Mark Kaczmarczyk. A graduate of The Eastman School of Music, University of Michigan, and University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Kaczmarczyk has conducted internationally acclaimed artists of our time including counter tenor David Daniels, pianists Jonathan Biss, James Tocco, and the late Ruth Laredo. In addition to performing as a bass soloist at venues in the United States, Europe and Canada, he was also the conductor and musical director for Ithaca College’s production of “Urinetown, the Musical.”
The artistic design team includes Alan Edwards ’07 as set designer, and chair and assistant professor of theater arts Steve TenEyck as lighting designer. Returning this year as costume designer is Jennifer Caprio, a graduate of Ithaca College and Carnegie Mellon University. Her extensive credits include “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” on Broadway and at Second Stage Theatre in Chicago.
The cast of “Acis and Galatea” includes vocal performance majors Andy McCullough ’07 and Andrew Chandler ’07 as Acis, Victoria Benson ’07 and Allison Hooper ’07 as Galatea, Diana Yourke ’08 and musical theater major Daniel Calvert Greenwood ’08 as Damon, and Garry McLinn ’09 as Polyphemus. The cast also includes the talent of music majors Andrew Klima ’07 as tenor soloist and vocal performance major Marian Sunnergren ’07 as soprano soloist.
All performances will be held in the Hoerner Theatre, Dillingham Center.
Tickets can be purchased at the Ithaca College Theatre ticket office in Dillingham Center, the Clinton House Ticket Center, Cornell University’s Willard Straight Hall and online at www.ithacaevents.com. Ticket prices range from $4.50 to $10.00. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more by calling (203) 260-9508. For more information call (607) 274-3224 or visit
www.ithaca.edu/theatre.
