El Teatro Presents BONFIRE OF THE VANITIES: THE OPERA, October 9-10th 2015

The very first theatrical adaptation of Tom Wolfe's era-defining novel hits the stage this October 9th and 10th at New York's El Teatro at El Museo del Barrio! With music by Stefania de Kenessey and a libretto and direction by Michael Bergmann, this new opera, as large in scope as New York itself, takes on the universal socioeconomic tensions of the island that is home to both Wall Street and Harlem.

Wall Street trader Sherman McCoy (RANDAL TURNER) invents a bond whose popularity propels him to the top of the financial world. But just as he meets the peak of his success, he collides with a scandal that brings all of New York City crashing down upon him. His former admirers and current problems include a ferocious Harlem reverend (KEITH MILLER), a wealthy and sexually predatory femme fatale (YINGJIE ZHOU), and Sherman's cossetted housewife (ANNE-CAROLYN BIRD). Now all he needs is an idealistic lawyer who demands better for her city (ADRIENNE DANRICH).

Stefania de Kenessey's score is full of melodies you will want to hear again and again. De Kenessey is equally at home in classic opera and popular music. Her through-composed opera creates a world that brings out the urgent contemporary concerns of the narrative, giving life to the deep emotions of its characters. Michael Bergmann, whose films have been described as "unafraid to be both smart and silly" (Variety), articulates the story using colloquial vocabulary and extensive video imagery, including a crowd-sourced ensemble for certain particularly explosives scenes.

BONFIRE OF THE VANITIES: THE OPERA premieres October 9th and 10th, 2015 at 7:30 pm at El Teatro at El Museo del Barrio, 1230 Fifth Avenue at 104th Street, New York, NY 10029.

Tickets are available here: http://bonfiretheopera.brownpapertickets.com/

For more information and excerpts, visit the official website: http://www.bonfiretheopera.com/
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