13 14 smtd season brochure

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•drama

•music

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2013-2014 season

from the deanIt is a great pleasure to introduce you to highlights of the 2013-2014 season at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance.

Each year, SMTD students, faculty, and guest artists present more than 450 concerts, recitals, lectures, master classes, and staged performances. These are integral to the education of our students, and at the same time, they constitute a cornucopia of performing arts opportunities for audiences in our community.

Whether with dance, drama, opera, musical theatre, chamber music, orchestra, band or choir, our stages resound in a dazzling spectrum of movement, music, emotions, and ideas. In addition to the work onstage, there is a wealth of digital content on our website and social media pages to enrich your participation in our offerings.

Prepare for a season of thought-provoking and electrifying performances. With so many marvels to experience, we know that once you join us, you’ll be back for more.

ChristopherKendall, DeanPaul Boylan Collegiate Professor of MusicSchool of Music, Theatre & Dance

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2013-2014 season

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AGrandNightForSingingSMTD Vocal EnsemblesSept. 29, 2013

RedNosesDept. of Theatre & DramaOct. 3 - 13, 2013

ALittleNightMusicDept. of Musical TheatreOct. 10 - 20, 2013

Band-O-Rama:ThisIsMichiganUniversity BandsOct. 26, 2013

HalloweenConcertUniversity OrchestrasOct. 27, 2013

TheBarberofSevilleUniversity Opera TheatreUniversity Symphony OrchestraNov. 14 - 17, 2013

ThreeSistersDept. of Theatre & DramaNov. 21 - 24, 2013

TheComedyofErrorsDept. of Theatre & DramaDec. 5 - 8, 2013

CollageConcertSMTDJan. 25, 2014

MovingPicturesDept. of DanceFeb. 6 - 9, 2014

HayFeverDept. of Theatre & DramaFeb. 20 - 23, 2014

MusicalTheatreStudioTo be announced Dept. of Musical TheatreFeb. 20-23, 2014

WinterOperaTo be announcedUniversity Opera TheatreUniversity Philharmonia Orchestra Mar. 27 - 30, 2014

MarisolDept. of Theatre & DramaApr. 3 - 13, 2014

JazzShowcase SMTD Jazz EnsemblesApr. 6, 2014

LesMisérablesDept. of Musical TheatreApr. 17 - 20, 2014 (Easter Weekend)

MTSeniorShowcaseDept. of Musical TheatreMay 4, 2014

Cover: Don Giovanni, 2012 • Page 3: Translation, 2013

Regents of the University of Michigan - Mark J. Bernstein, Julia Donovan Darlow, Laurence B. Deitch, Shauna Ryder Diggs, Denise Ilitch, Andrea Fischer Newman, Andrew C. Richner, Katherine E. White, Mary Sue Coleman (ex officio)

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musical theatreOctober10&17at7:30PMOctober11,12,18&19at8PMOctober13&20at2PMLydiaMendelssohnTheatreDirected by Mark Madama

Music Direction by Catherine Walker Adams & Ben Whiteley

Department of Musical Theatre

ReservedSeating$28&$22Students$10withID

ALittleNightMusicmusic&LyricsbyStephenSondheimbookbyHughWheeler

Set in the enchanted birch groves of Sweden in 1900, A Little Night Music sings and waltzes its way through the lives of mismatched couples poised to make some very surprising discoveries about their true desires. In an ever-thickening plot, these characters come together in midsummer, when the sun never sets, for a weekend in the country. Anything can happen on a warm summer night – to the very young, the very old, and the very foolish.

Based on Ingmar Bergman’s film Smiles of a Summer Night, Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s A Little Night Music has garnered numerous awards since its debut in 1973. Clive Barnes of the New York Times declared it “Heady, civilized, sophisticated and enchanting. The book is uncommonly urbane and witty … [while] the music is a celebration of three-quarter time, an orgy of plaintively memorable waltzes, all talking of past loves and lost worlds.” Featuring Sondheim’s touching “Send in the Clowns,” A Little Night Music speaks of adoration, regret, and second chances for lost love.

Bat Boy: The Musical, 2012 Sunday in the Park with George, 2012

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musical theatreApril17at7:30PMApril18&19at8PMApril20at2PM(Easter Sunday)PowerCenterforthePerformingArtsDirected by Alexander Gemignani

Music Direction by Catherine Walker Adams

Department of Musical Theatre


LesMisérablesanewproductionofthemusicalbyAlainBoublilandClaude-MichelSchönberg

Sent to jail for stealing a loaf of bread in 19th century France, prisoner Jean Valjean earns his release after 19 years of imprisonment only to find a world unwilling to give him a second chance. When a kind Bishop comes to his aid, Valjean breaks his parole in the hope of starting a new life. In time, Valjean is able to become a prosperous business owner, loving adoptive father, and politician. But not all is serene as police inspector Javert, convinced Valjean cannot change, relentlessly pursues the parole breaker. As Valjean confronts and evades Javert at various turns, each man must face how their game of cat and mouse has challenged their ideas of a virtuous life. A story filled with revolution and romance, Les Misérables is an epic tale of hope and redemption.

Based on the 1862 novel of the same name by Victor Hugo, the musical Les Misérables debuted in France in 1980 as a concept album by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil. The show gained popularity after an English version opened on the West End in 1985 and reached Broadway in March 1987. The musical won the Tony and Drama Desk awards for Best Musical, Book, and Score. It has been hugely popular ever since, playing to over 60 million people around the world. Join us beyond the barricade for a decisively U-M take on this contemporary masterpiece.

Crazy For You, 2013

MusicalTheatreStudio–TBA

The Department of Musical Theatre presents a studio production featuring its students in a straight play. Past productions have included The Laramie Project, All’s Well That Ends Well, Our Country’s Good, and The Caucasian Chalk Circle.

MusicalTheatreSeniorShowcaseThe annual Senior Showcase is an unforgettable revue featuring the wide range of talent of the Musical Theatre Department’s graduating seniors. An essential element in launching students into their professional careers, the Showcase previews in Ann Arbor before making its way to New York where it is performed for agents and casting directors. Limited tickets available.tic

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Sunday in the Park with George, 2012six

February20at7:30PMFebruary21&22at8PMFebruary23at2PMArthurMillerTheatreDepartment of Musical Theatre

GeneralAdmission$17Students$10withID

May4at4PM&7:30PMLydiaMendelssohnTheatreDepartment of Musical Theatre

ReservedSeating$22Students$10withID

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February6at7:30PMFebruary7&8at8PMFebruary9at2PMPowerCenterforthePerformingArtsDepartment of Dance


MovingPictureschoreographybyguestAndreaMillerandfacultyMelissaBeck,BillDeYoung,andPeterSparling

Peter Sparling celebrates the expressive power of women’s voices in Girl Talk, a set of three dances to vocal music ranging from G. F. Handel, to the Stovall Sisters (a 70’s Southern Gospel funk girl group), to New York City R&B icon Laura Nyro. In the dance tradition of music visualization, each song evokes its own landscape of dancing populations, framed and amplified between two projection screens of highly kinetic video imagery designed by Sparling. Arches, by Melissa Beck, explores themes of architecture both of the body and of bridges. Dancers’ bodies move in spiraling arches as they create architectural formations, which exhibit the strength as well as the breath and movement inherent in such seemingly solid structures. Bill De Young creates a new dance work inspired by the musical composition “The Unbearable Lightness,” by Matti Kovler, originally commissioned by the Tanglewood Music Festival (listen at mattikovler.com). Scored for seven double basses, “The Unbearable Lightness” will be played live by the SMTD Double Bass Studio, featuring SMTD Professor Diana Gannett. Highlighting the concert is Pupil Suite, a wildly quirky work by compelling choreographer Andrea Miller of Gallim Dance. The Village Voice declared, “[Miller] is one of those young choreographers you want to keep in your sights. Her ideas are intriguing, and her movement style lusty, and daring.”

Translation, 2013

Translation, 2013

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dramaOctober3&10at7:30PMOctober4,5,11&12at8PMOctober6&13at2PMArthurMillerTheatreDirected by Malcolm Tulip

Department of Theatre & Drama

GeneralAdmission$28Students$10withIDRedNoses

acomedybyPeterBarnes

Surrounded by the black plague in 14th century France, Catholic priest Father Flote struggles to provide comfort to his flock. Looking for a sign from God, Flote finds his calling when he inadvertently causes laughter. Gathering together a ragtag group of performers, Flote and his troupe of Red Noses tour the country spreading joy amidst the devastation. Along the way, they must contend with roving groups of flagellants, corpse robbers, and other scavengers. As it seeks to reassert its ecclesiastical authority once the health crisis has passed, however, the church hierarchy may not tolerate the Red Noses’ power to produce laughter through religious satire.

Best-known for his irreverent play The Ruling Class, English playwright Peter Barnes maintained a passionate belief that a joke can be an instrument of change rather than a diversion from reality. His plays embrace a non-naturalistic style of acting featuring slapstick, surprise, and hectic comedy. Red Noses, written in 1978, received its first performance in 1985 by the Royal Shakespeare Company and earned Barnes an Olivier Award. Hilarious and thought provoking, Red Noses is a dark comedy that celebrates the subversive power of laughter.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 2012 The Skin of Our Teeth, 2013

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dramaNovember21at7:30PMNovember22&23at8PMNovember24at2PMArthurMillerTheatreDirected by Priscilla Lindsay



December5at7:30PMDecember6&7at8PMDecember8at2PMPowerCenterforthePerformingArtsDirected by John Neville-Andrews



ThreeSistersadramabyAntonChekhovadaptedbyLibbyAppeltranslatedbyAllisonHorsley

Three sisters and their brother are left to fend for themselves after the death of their parents. Stranded in a small, provincial town hundreds of miles from Moscow, they hunger to return to the sophistication of that city. But life, with its complications, frustrations and unexpected twists, interrupts their plans at every turn. Longing to escape the provinces, the family struggles to sustain hope in the belief that they will, some day, fulfill their dreams.

Since its first production in 1901 at the Moscow Art Theatre, Anton Chekhov’s Three Sisters has been considered one of the undoubted masterpieces of modern theatre. Unique to this adaptation by U-M alumna Libby Appel (former Artistic Director of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival) is the inclusion of variants, elements of Chekhov’s original writing that had been either excised or changed by others. This adaptation preserves the elegance of language and the subtle, yet profound passions of the characters that are the heart of Chekhov’s style. Filled with love, laughter, loss, and compromise, Three Sisters is a tale of how hope, no matter how illusory, enables us to endure.

TheComedyofErrorsacomedybyWilliamShakespeare

Two sets of twin brothers, separated at a young age by a storm at sea, are, years later, unknowingly all in New Orleans during Mardi Gras in the Age of Aquarius. As the day passes, the foursome unwittingly wreak havoc on friends, family, and the town in a wild adventure of mistaken identity. As each situation grows more ludicrous, the men begin to doubt their own sanity. Yet all is well in the end as the extraordinary journey builds to a hilariously unexpected family reconciliation.

One of the earliest works by William Shakespeare, and his first comedy, The Comedy of Errors had its first performance in December 1594. Loosely based on a classical comedy by Plautus, Comedy employs the classical device of unity through place and time. Shakespeare’s tale expands on its source and hints at his later comedies by combining farce with romance, and an element of tragedy. His shortest work, The Comedy of Errors is a tour de force of irreverent comedy, intrigue, and brilliant wordplay.

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Almost, Maine, 2012

A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 2012

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dramaFebruary20at7:30PMFebruary21&22at8PMFebruary23at2PMLydiaMendelssohnTheatreDirected by Gillian Eaton



April3&10at7:30PMApril4,5,11&12at8PMApril6&13at2PMArthurMillerTheatreDirected by Linda Goodrich



HayFeveracomedybyNoëlCoward

The Bliss family - mother Judith, a retired actress, her pulp-novelist husband David, and their two adult children, Sorel and Simon – are enjoying their summer home in the English countryside. Life for this bohemian family is filled with theatrics, where reality easily slides into fiction. Unbeknownst to each other, they have each invited a potential romantic interest to join them for the weekend. All sorts of entanglements ensue as their guests try to fit into the whirlwind of this highly imaginative household. As the Bliss’s behavior becomes increasingly outrageous, their guests must decide whether to bask in the exhilarating vitality of their hosts or to escape the madness.

Noël Coward’s works have a style all their own, with quick, witty dialogue; clever construction; glittering characters; and a slight cynicism. Based on the weekend parties of one of his acquaintances, Coward penned Hay Fever in three days in 1924. The play debuted at the Ambassador Theatre in London in 1925 to tremendous success. Coward directed a revival of the work in 1933 and another at the National Theatre in 1964, the first time the theatre had revived a work by a living playwright. After Coward’s death, Laurence Olivier recalled: “We remember [Coward’s] talents, the masterliness and the variety of them, his originality, his inventiveness, the protean range of his gifts…he was the most complete master of the stage.” Showcasing Coward’s genius in full force, Hay Fever is a infectious comedy that continues to delight.

MarisoladramabyJoséRivera

A young Latina named Marisol leads an undistinguished life in Manhattan, copy editing for a textbook publisher. Everything changes abruptly when her guardian angel tells her the heavens are in an uproar. God has become senile and a celestial civil war is about to commence, starting in the streets of Brooklyn. The world is turned on its head: food turns to salt, men give birth, and the sun fails to rise. Marisol faces a decision: join the revolution or be swallowed up in the apocalypse.

Marisol employs the elements of magic realism - an intertwining of ordinary events with dreams and the fantastic. Influenced by the work of Gabriel Garcia Márquez, playwright José Rivera imbues the play with intense physical action and vibrant, sardonic dialogue. Marisol debuted at the 1992 Humana Festival for New American Plays. Born in Puerto Rico and growing up in New York, Rivera first came to prominence with his play The House of Ramon Iglesia, which was later shown on PBS. Marisol, his fourth play, earned Rivera his first Obie Award for Playwriting in 1993. A gritty but beautiful tale of one woman’s struggle to retain hope and sanity in the midst of devastation, Marisol is a triumph of the human spirit.

This play contains violence and adult situations. Recommended for mature audiences.

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Almost, Maine, 2012

August: Osage County, 2013

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operaNovember14at7:30PMNovember15&16at8PMNovember17at2PMPowerCenterforthePerformingArtsUniversity Opera Theatre Directed by Robert Swedberg

University Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Clinton Smith


TheBarberofSevilleacomicoperaintwoactsbyGioacchinoRossini&CesareSterbiniSunginItalianwithprojectedEnglishtranslations

Smitten at the first sight of the lovely Rosina, Count Almaviva engages the barber Figaro to facilitate a meeting. Wishing to be loved for himself and not for his wealth, Almaviva disguises himself in various ways to earn her affections. Fortune smiles when she responds, but a problem remains – her elderly guardian Dr. Bartolo, who has his own designs to be Rosina’s husband to gain her dowry! It is up to the ingenious Figaro to plot a solution involving subterfuge, eavesdropping, and even abduction that will allow the course of true love to win the day. The Barber of Seville debuted in 1816 with a disastrous opening, followed by an equally exuberant and acclaimed second performance. Composer Giuseppe Verdi declared, “I cannot help believing Il barbiere di Siviglia, for abundance of ideas, for comic verve, and for truth of declamation, the most beautiful ‘opera buffa’ in existence.” From Barber’s immediately recognizable overture (Bugs Bunny anyone?) to its glorious arias including “Largo al factotum” and “Una voce poco fa,” Rossini’s score is filled with soaring lyricism and delightful melodies. A vivacious romp, The Barber of Seville endures as a beloved and charming opera full of fun.

Don Giovanni, 2012 Don Giovanni, 2012

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operaMarch27at7:30PMMarch28&29at8PMMarch30at2PMLydiaMendelssohnTheatreUniversity Opera Theatre Directed by Kay Walker Castaldo

University Philharmonia Orchestra Conducted by Martin Katz

ReservedSeating$28&$22Students$10withIDWinterOpera

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The season’s second opera will be announced in October, following auditions for the production. The School of Music, Theatre & Dance has produced a wide range of winter operas, from popular to challenging, from contemporary classics such as Little Women (Adamo) and Albert Herring (Britten), to rarely produced gems like The Rake’s Progress (Stravinsky), Armide (Gluck), and Ariadne auf Naxos (Strauss).

Ariadne Auf Naxos, 2013

Ariadne Auf Naxos, 2013

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musicAGrandNightforSingingAn event illuminating a spectrum of vocal art at SMTD, this rich and sonorous concert presents performances by the Chamber Choir, University Choir, Orpheus Singers, Women’s Glee Club, Men’s Glee Club, the Dept. of Musical Theatre, and the University Opera Theatre.

SMTD • September 29 at 4:00 PM • Hill AuditoriumReserved Seating $18/$12/$8/$5

Band-O-Rama:ThisisMichiganBrady Hoke has made his views about our football rivals loud and clear: his “This is Michigan!” declaration now serves as a rallying cry for the maize and blue faithful. The Concert Band, Symphony Band, and the Michigan Marching Band join to showcase the inspiring tradition of U-M’s band program and our support for Coach Hoke. Don’t miss this “Go Blue!” tradition.

University Bands • October 26 at 7:30 PM • Hill AuditoriumReserved Seating $18/$12/$8/$5

HalloweenConcertThe University Orchestras join forces for this popular holiday event, full of tricks and treats and great music, including an array of spooky classics and Halloween favorites. Get out your scariest costume or come dressed as you are to enjoy this delightful occasion for the child in us all.University Orchestras • October 27 at 4:30 PM • Hill AuditoriumReserved Seating $12/$8

CollageConcertThe much-anticipated, annual Collage Concert never fails to amaze, with its captivatingly distinctive format featuring the incredible range of SMTD ensembles and programs performing one riveting work after another without pause. It’s a non-stop and exhilarating evening of virtuoso performances.SMTD • January 25 at 8 PM • Hill AuditoriumReserved Seating $28/$22 • Students $10 with ID

JazzShowcaseThe Department of Jazz and Contemporary Improvisation presents an irresistible performance highlighting the Latin Jazz Ensemble, Creative Arts Orchestra, Chamber Jazz Ensemble, selected faculty ensembles, and other student jazz combos in an evening of great jazz including compositions and arrangements by U-M students and faculty.

Jazz Ensembles • April 6 at 7:30 PM • Stamps AuditoriumGeneral Admission $16 • Students $10 with ID

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ByPhone~ Call 734.764.2538. There is a $3 per ticket handling fee for all phone orders. Please have your Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover card number and expiration date ready.

Online~ Visit our web site at: tickets.music.umich.edu. There is a $3.50 per ticket handling fee for all online orders.

InPerson~ The League Ticket Office is located in the Michigan League Bldg. at Fletcher St. and N. University Ave. in Ann Arbor. Hours: Monday-Friday 9am-5pm, Saturday 10am-1pm.

TicketExchanges~ Non-subscribers may exchange for a $3 per ticket exchange fee. Exchanged tickets must be received by the Ticket Office (by mail or in person) at least 48 hours prior to the performance. The value of the tickets can be applied to another performance of the same production. You may fax a photocopy of your torn tickets to 734 647-1171. Lost or misplaced tickets cannot be exchanged.

Groupsof10orMore~ Groups of 10 or more people attending a single event save up to 15% off the regular ticket prices to most SMTD events. For more information, contact the SMTD Group Sales Office at 734-763-3100. Plan early to guarantee access to great seats.

PleaseNote~ All sales are final – no refunds. All performance halls are wheelchair accessible, however there are no elevatorsto the balconies of the Power Center or the Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre. Ask about our assistive listening systems and our accessible seating. Children must be at least 3 years old to attend, and must have a ticket. Plays, casts, and schedules are subject to change.

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Power Center

Lydia Mendelssohn TheatreStage

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StageHill Auditorium

Main Floor

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Power Center

Lydia Mendelssohn TheatreStage

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Directions&Parking~ Parking in Ann Arbor can take longer than expected due to multiple events taking place simultaneously around campus. In conjunction with events, U-M Parking Services charges a $5 fee for parking in lots adjoining performance venues on central and north campuses. We encourage you to allow time for parking. On central campus, we strongly suggest that you consider accessing the Fletcher Street Structure from the Palmer Drive entrance. There’s a light at the intersection of Palmer and Washtenaw, making it easier to access the structure. After turning onto Palmer Drive, continue straight - past the Palmer Drive visitor parking structure - to access the Fletcher structure. An attendant is assigned before performances. Free parking is available on north campus after 6 PM in lots located off Fuller Road, Beal Avenue, and Hayward Avenue. Please note that access to the theatres from these outlying lots involve long walks and stairs.

Detailed directions and parking information will be mailed with your tickets and are also available at: www.music.umich.edu/directions

For specific questions about parking, please call U-M’s Parking & Transportation Services at 764-8291 (M-F, 7:30a-4:30p) or at 764-7474 (evenings & weekend)

CurtainCallFridays~ Stick around after he applause! Moderated by members of the faculty and featuring a rotating array of cast and artistic team members, Curtain Call Fridays offer an opportunity for audience members to talk about the production, exploring topics that range from character development to the creative decisions behind the production or issues raised by the work. The discussions are free and open to all.

GiftCertificates~ Looking for that perfect gift? Consider a gift certificate to School of Music, Theatre & Dance productions. Gift certificates are available in any dollar amount. For more information, call the League Ticket Office at 734.764.2538.

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tickets information

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The Skin of Our Teeth, 2013

Please note: There are no elevators to the balconies of the Power Center or Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre.

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13 14 smtd season brochure

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