The Opera Group
STREET SCENE
4 - 24 July 2008
co-produced by The Opera Group, Young Vic and Watford Palace Theatre
Music by Kurt Weill
Book by Elmer Rice
Lyrics by Langston Hughes
Winner of the Evening Standard’s Ned Sherrin Award for Best Musical 2008
“A huge ensemble, some standing above a stage equipped with two staircases, thrillingly registers the climactic moments of an extraordinary opera-musical that deserves further exposure.” Evening Standard
Read full review here.
“Is it opera or musical? As with Porgy and Bess, formal definitions seem academic when confronted by a show of such passion and power… A show that deserves to be seen.” Guardian
Read the full review here.
“It’s hard to fault The Opera Group’s terrific staging, energetically directed by John Fulljames, stylishly designed by Dick Bird and forcefully conducted by Patrick Bailey.” Daily Telegraph
This summer, you have the rare chance to experience one of the great works of musical theatre that, alongside The Threepenny Opera, confirms Kurt Weill as one of the 20th Century’s most enduring and popular composers. Street Scene is a triumphant meeting of Broadway Musical and American Opera, incorporating a dazzling array of show tunes, arias, blues, jazz and spirituals: a musical melting pot that captures the true diversity of working class New York in 1947.
Described by Weill as “a simple story of everyday life in a big city, a story of love and passion and greed and death”, the opera follows the inhabitants of a tenement building over one hot summer’s day and night.
Street Scene is notable not only for winning the first Tony Award for its music, but for Elmer Rice’s adaptation, based on his own Pulitzer Prize-winning play, and for lyrics by the great poet of Harlem, Langston Hughes. This new production is produced with a cast featuring 15 opera singers and musical theatre performers, a chamber orchestra of 30 and two ensembles of local young people.
Running time: 2 hours and 35 minutes (including interval)
Presented by arrangement with Josef Weinberger Limited on behalf of R & H Theatricals of New York
Watford Palace Theatre Fri 4 & Sat 5 July
Young Vic 17 - 22 July
Buxton Festival 13 & 24 July
Video Clips
Street Scene
Musical Direction Patrick Bailey
Direction John Fulljames
Design Dick Bird
Lighting Design Jon Clark
Choreography Arthur Pita
Cast includes: Darren Abrahams, Adrian Dwyer, Paul Featherstone, Elena Ferrari, Ruby Hughes, Simon Lobelson, John Moabi, Kate Nelson, Charlotte Page, Paul Reeves, Simone Sauphanor, Joseph Shovelton, Andrew Slater, Harriet Williams, George Longworth and Cameron Shields.
Photos by Alastair Muir
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