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Opera Ithaca Archive

Welcome to the Opera Ithaca archive! Browse through our producing history below to see video, photos, cast and production team information from all our productions starting with our inaugural 2014/2015 season. 

Established 2014

BLUEBEARD'S CASTLE

By Bela Bartok

New English Translation by Zachary James

​

Community School of Music and Arts, Ithaca

October 18th & 19th 2014

Civic Morning Musicals, Syracuse

October 15th 2014 Concert Version

​

Conducted by Jonathan Rose

​

Directed, Choreographed and Designed 

by Tucker Davis

​

Lighting Designer Evan Hawkins

Production Manager Kathryn Sheaffer

Stage Manager John Fortunato

Pre Performance Lectures by

Brian DeMaris  and Sara Haefeli

​

CAST

Zachary James BLUEBEARD

Megan Nielson JUDITH

Alta Miller WIFE

Ayla Naghsh WIFE

Samantha Sprague WIFE

​

​

IL SOGNO

By Kristin Hevner

Based on Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream

​

Lehman Alternative Community School

March 28th & 29th 2015

​

Conducted by Richard Montgomery

Directed by Zachary James

Scenic Designer Riw Rakkulchon

Costume Designer Ann Grigo

Lighting Designer Evan Hawkins

 

ORCHESTRA

Elizabeth Shuhan FLUTE

Aaron Buck VIOLIN

HaeSoo Cheon VIOLIN

Max Buckholtz VIOLA

Elisa Evett CELLO 

​

CAST

Deborah Montgomery-Cove HIPPOLYTA

Mark A. B. Lawrence THESEUS

Lynn Craver HERMIA

Ivy Walz HELENA

Michael Nyby DEMETRIUS

Eric Flyte LYSANDER

Ryan Kennedy PUCK

Caitlin Mathes TITANIA

Steven Still OBERON

Tucker Davis BOTTOM

Josi Petersen RAGNATELLA

Kate Clemons FIORDIPISELLO

Abigail Doening FALENA

Sarah Welden PETTIROSSO

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CHORUS

Julie Allison

Jacob Cordie

Fred Diengott

Kendra Domotor

Chan Wei En

Nathan Haltiwanger

San Kwan

Rachel Ozols

Ariana Warren

DON GIOVANNI

By W. A. Mozart

​

Community School of Music and Arts

December 5th & 6th 2015

​

R.B. Schlather DIRECTOR
Richard Montgomery CONDUCTOR
Tucker Davis CHOREOGRAPHER
Amy Brinkman-Davis CHORUS MASTER
JAX Messenger LIGHTING DESIGNER

Evan Hawkins ASSOCIATE LIGHTING DESIGNER
Nicholas Carbonaro HAIR&MAKE-UP DESIGNER
Kelsey Dunne STAGE MANAGER

Phoebe Sullivan-Bing ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Danica Kelley ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

 

STARRING:

Garrett Obrycki DON GIOVANNI

​Donata Cucinotta DONNA ELVIRA

Megan Nielson DONNA ANNA

Brandon Snook DON OTTAVIO

​David Neal LEPORELLO

Ashley Carver ZERLINA
Nathan Haltiwanger MASETTO

Zachary James IL COMMENDATORE

 

CHORUS:
Eric Flyte 
Jacob Cordie
Stephen Tzianabos
Geoff Peterson 
D’Quan Tyson 
Chris Hauser
Kendra Domotor 
Ann-Marie Iacoviello 
Emma McDermitt – Wise 
Mattina Keith
Alyce Daubenspeck 
Ellen Jackson

ORCHESTRA: 
Elizabeth Shuhan FLUTE
Melissa DiMarinis OBOE
Michael Galvan CLARINET
Cynthia Becker BASSOON
Robert Oldroyd HORN
Sarah Cummings VIOLIN
Aaron Buck VIOLIN
Max Buckholtz VIOLA
Zachary Sweet CELLO
Desmond Bratton BASS

 

​

DIE FLEDERMAUS

By J. Strauss

​

Unitarian Universalist Church

December 31st 2015


Richard Montgomery DIRECTOR & CONDUCTOR

 

STARRING:

Michael Nyby as Dr. Falke

Eric Flyte as Alfred

Ryan Kennedy as Prince Orlofsky

Lynn Craver Rosalinda

Mark A.B. Lawrence as Dr. Blind

Kate Clemons as Sally

Kendra Domotor as Adele

Carl Johengen as Eisenstein

Geoff Petersen as Frank

 

​

BILLY BLYTHE

World Premiere

By Bonnie Montgomery

​Libretto by Brittany Barber

​

April 8th, 9th & 10th 2016

The Kitchen Theatre

Director Norm Johnson

Music Director Richard Montgomery

​

Starring 

Garrett Obrycki as Billy Blythe

Dawn Pierce as Virginia Clinton

Erik Angerhofer as Roger Clinton

​David Neal as Grandpa

Nick Mras as Roger Jr.

Michael Roddy as Gabe Crawford

Dan Taylor as James

Nathan Haltiwanger as Early

Eric Flyte as Ed

Kate Clemons as Margie Mitchell

Alyce Daubenspeck as Dixie Seba

​

Billy Blythe is an American folk opera about Bill Clinton's youth in Arkansas.  The work is a snapshot of Clinton's life in 1959. His relationship with his family and several events reveal the inspiration, character, and vulnerability that resound throughout his life. 

MASQUERADE

Community School of Music and Arts

October 6th, 2016

​

DIRECTOR/PRODUCER

Zachary James

​

ASSOCIATE PRODUCER

Ellen Jackson

​

MUSIC DIRECTORS

Richard Montgomery

Blaise Bryski

​

HAIR & MAKEUP ARTIST

Dorothy Petersen

​

CAST

Megan Nielson

Amanda Zory

Dawn Pierce

Lynn Craver

Caitlin Mathes

Josi Petersen

Sarah Welden

Carli Mazich-Addice

Arian Warren

​

THUMBPRINT

By Kamala Sankaram & Susan Yankowitz

December 2nd, 3rd & 4th 2016

The Hangar Theatre

 

 

Susannah Berryman DIRECTOR

Mary Corsaro CHOREOGRAPHER

Richard Montgomery CONDUCTOR

Anna Grigo COSTUME DESIGNER

Evan Hawkins LIGHTING DESIGNER

Olivia Ohlsten STAGE MANAGER

 

Smitha Johnson MUKHTAR MAI

Yamuna Meleth ANNU

Evangelia Kingsley MOTHER

John-Andrew Fernandez FAIZ

Suchan Kim FATHER

Christian Henry SHAKUR

​Jake Stamatis IMAM

 

Richard Montgomery PIANO

Brian Adler PERCUSSION

Liz Shuhan FLUTE

Linda Case VIOLIN

Max Buckholtz VIOLA

​Christian Chesanak BASS

​

THE ABDUCTION

FROM THE SERAGLIO

By W.A. Mozart

December 31st 2016

The Kitchen Theatre

 

 

Zachary James DIRECTOR/DESIGNER

Ellen Jackson DIRECTOR

Richard Montgomery CONDUCTOR

Olivia Ohlsten STAGE MANAGER

​

Elena Galvan CONSTANZE

Lynn Craver BLONDE

Jonathan Blalock BELMONTE

Daniel Bates PEDRILLO

Zachary James OSMIN

Godfrey Simmons SELIM

​

​

CINDERELLA

By G. Rossini

April 12th through 14th 2017

The Hangar Theatre

​

Conductor Richard Montgomery 
Director Norm Johnson
Choreographer Tucker Davis 

Stage Manager Becca Pickett
Scenic Designer Marthe Hoffmann 
Lighting Designer Evan Hawkins 
Hair and Makeup Designer Dorothy Petersen

Assistant Director/Supertitles Ellen Jackson

Wardrobe Supervisor Liz Kitney
Costumes from TDF Costume Collection NYC 

Cinderella Cast
May 12th 8pm & May 14th 2pm

Caitlin Mathes CINDERELLA  

Brandon Snook PRINCE RAMIRO
SeungHyeon Baek DANDINI  

Adelmo Guidarelli DON MAGNIFICO
Marc Webster ALIDORO  

Lynn Craver CLORINDA
Dana Kinney TISBE  

Paige Anderson CINDERELLA'S MOTHER

 

Cinderella Dance Ensemble 

Peter Garza  

Niara Hardister
Ezgi Irmakkesen  

Dharon Jones
Ayla Naghsh  

Jeremiah Porter 
Joshua Regan  

Keara Soloway

Cinderella Chorus

Benno Ressa  

Mike Galvin  

Christopher Hauser 
Holden Turner  

Patrick Starke 
Drew Carr  

Seamus Buxton  

Lucas Hickman

Cinderella Orchestra

Shade Zajac CELLO  

Sarah Chandler CLARINET 
Robbie Oldroyd FRENCH HORN    

Richard Montgomery PIANO 

Trevor Eichhorn SNARE DRUM

Cinderella JR Cast 
May 13th 11am 

 

Ellen Jackson* DIRECTOR
Ariana Warren* CINDERELLA  

Benno Ressa THE PRINCE 
Josi Petersen* GODMOTHER 
Sarah Welden* CLORINDA   

Carli Mazich-Addice* TISBE

*OI Apprentice Artist

PAGLIACCI

By R. Leoncavallo

​

September 23rd, 28th, 29th, 30th 

September 24 3:30pm

Circus Culture

September 25th 

The Slipper Room NYC

​

Conductor Thomas Bagwell

Director Zachary James

Scenic & Costume Design​ Zachary James

Hair & Makeup Design Dotty Petersen

Lighting Designer Ron Ziomek

Associate Conductor

Chorus Master & Pianist​ Zeek Smith

Supertitles​ Christopher Hauser

Creative Consultant Amy Cohen

Assistant Director Ellen Jackson

Stage Manager​ Michelle Blau

​

Starring 

James Chamberlain CANIO

Megan Nielson NEDDA

SeungHyeon Baek TONIO

Erik Angerhofer SILVIO

Mark A. B. Lawrence BEPPE

Sean Blue CIRCUS ARTIST

Copper Santiago CIRCUS ARTIST

​Kevin Flanagan CIRCUS ARTIST

THE PIRATES

OF PENZANCE

Gilbert & Sullivan

​

December 30th 2017 

The Smith Opera House, Geneva, NY

 

December 31st 2017 New Year's Eve Gala

The Hangar Theatre, Ithaca, NY 

​

Sponsored by Schickel Construction
Catering Sponsored by Serendipity Catering

​

Conductor Richard Montgomery

Director Zachary James

Assistant Director Ellen Jackson

​

In loving memory of Bill Fabris

 

​Starring
Gillian Cotter EDITH

Virginia Hesse MABEL
Zachary James PIRATE KING 

Kathleen Maloney ISABEL   
Carli Mazich-Addice KATE  

Curt Olds MAJOR GENERAL
David Neal SARGEANT OF POLICE   

Melissa Parks RUTH
Benno Ressa SAMUEL   

Johnathan Riesen FREDRIC

BULLY PULPIT

By Kristin Hevner & Royce Vavrek

World Premiere: Metropolis Opera Project, NYC 2010

World Premiere Commissioned by Zachary James

Directed and Produced by Ellen Jackson

 

Produced with the generous support of 
Stacia Zabusky and Donald Spector 
and Pinnisi and Anderson Law Firm

 

January 11, 2018 

THE CHERRY ARTSPACE

FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC​

 

​BULLY   Benno Ressa*

GEORGE W. BUSH/FIDEL CASTRO   Natasha Bratkovski
ELLEN DEGENERES/ADOLPH HITLER   Haley Evanoski*
SADDAM HUSSEIN   Kathleen Maloney*
RICHARD NIXON/MOTHER TERESA   Carli Mazich-Addice*
ANDREW JACKSON/OPRAH WINFREY   Rachel Silverstein*
ROSIE O'DONNELL/MARGARET THATCHER   Sarah Welden*

 

*Opera Ithaca Apprentice Artist

TOSCA

By Giacomo Puccini

Semi-Staged Concert Version
February 16th 2018 

Pre-Show Talk 6:30pm

Post-Show "Divalogue"
​Community School of Music & Arts, Ithaca

February 18th 2018

Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church, Brooklyn

NYC presentation in collaboration with Metropolis Opera Project

 

Special thanks to the

Constance Saltonstall Foundation for the Arts 

and Mimi's Attic

​

Conducted by Gordon Schermer

Directed by Ellen Jackson

Pre-Show Talk: Antonio DiRenzo

Divalogue Host: Lee Rayburn


Floria Tosca: Megan Nielson
Cavaradossi: Paolo Buffagni
Baron Scarpia: Michael Nyby
Angelotti: Jake Stamatis

Sacristan: Benno Ressa

Spoletta: Andrew Hudson-Sabens

​Sciarrone: Nathan Murphy

Shepard Boy: Rachel Silverstein

CARMEN

By G. Bizet

​

March 9th through 11th 2018
The Hangar Theatre

 

 

CARMENCITA

Theatre for All Ages Adaptation

Adapted, Directed and Produced By Ellen Jackson

Starring Opera Ithaca Apprentice Artists

March 10th

10am & 12pm 

The Hangar Theatre

CARMEN CAST

 

Dawn Pierce CARMEN

Jose Heredia DON JOSE

Christine Lyons MICAELA

Derrell Acon ESCAMILLO

Lynn Craver FRASQUITA

Dana Kinney MERCEDES

Jake Stamatis MORALES

Benno Ressa DANCAIRE

Andrew Hudson-Sabens REMANDADO

Conducted by Richard Montgomery
Production by Adrianna Desier-Durantt and  Andrew Boyce​

Featuring lighting by Seth Reiser

Associate Designer Anna Grigo

Assistant Director & Associate Producer Ellen Jackson
Supertitles sponsored by Percy Browning

SONG FROM THE UPROAR

By Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek

​

May 5th thru 10th 2018
The Cherry Artspace

SONG FROM THE UPROAR CAST

 

Kara Cornell ISABELLE EBERHARDT

​

With

Sarah Welden

Josi Petersen

Christopher Hauser

Rachel Silverstein

Joshua Dykes


Conducted by Keith Chambers
Production by Joshua Borths

Stage Manager Jane Whiting

Assistant Director & Associate Producer Ellen Jackson
Sponsored by Donald Spector and Stacia E. Zabusky

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