Madison Opera Presents THE THREEPENNY OPERA 2/4-13

Madison Opera continues its 50th anniversary season with the company premiere of Kurt Weill's The Threepenny Opera in The Playhouse at the Overture Center for the Arts, Feb. 4 - 13, 2011. The production is Madison Opera's second venture in the intimate Playhouse and features a stellar cast from across theater and opera.

With music deeply rooted in jazz and Viennese operetta, The Threepenny Opera follows the notorious criminal Macheath as he navigates a corrupt world of beggars, thieves and prostitutes in Victorian London. Hailed by Newsweek as "the greatest musical of all time," the work contains several numbers that have achieved popularity beyond the stage, including the iconic "Mack the Knife." Madison Opera's production of The Threepenny Opera is directed by Dorothy Danner, a highly acclaimed stage director of musical theater and opera, with music direction by John DeMain, the Artistic Director of Madison Opera.

The Threepenny Opera will showcase American Players Theatre favorites James DeVita and Tracy Michelle Arnold. Mr. DeVita, an accomplished actor, author and playwright, takes on the role of the infamous Macheath, and Ms. Arnold, described as a "natural charismatic force" by The Chicago Tribune, stars as Jenny Diver. In her Madison Opera debut, Alicia Berneche reprises her role as Polly Peachum alongside veteran Broadway performer David Barron as J.J. Peachum. Madison-based artists Amy Welk, Richard Henslin, Liz Cassarino, and Edward Marion complete the cast as Mrs. Peachum, Tiger Brown, Lucy Brown, and the Street Singer respectively.

"In honor of Madison Opera's 50th anniversary, we are revisiting a company tradition of producing musical theater," said General Director Allan Naplan. "To do so with Weill's masterpiece The Threepenny Opera and with such experienced and talented performers," he continues, "brings our company into new territory while recognizing our history."

Naplan will offer a behind-the-scenes, multimedia introduction to The Threepenny Opera at Opera Up Close: The Threepenny Preview, on Sunday, Jan. 30, 1 - 3 p.m. at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art Lecture Hall ($20, free with student ID). Free Pre-Opera talks will be offered one hour before performances on Feb. 4, 6, 11, and 13 in the Rotunda Studio at Overture. (There is no Pre-Opera Talk at Saturday evening performances.)

Performances:
Friday, Feb. 4 • 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 5 • 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 6 • 2:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 11 • 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 12 • 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 13 • 2:30 p.m.

Tickets:
$20 - $64 | Call (608) 258-4141 or visit www.madisonopera.org