CCM to Present Mary Zimmerman's METAMORPHOSES, 2/5-9

The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music's (CCM) Mainstage Series resumes in February with a new production of Mary Zimmerman's award-winning Metamorphoses. Based on the classic myths of Ovid, this entrancing drama runs Feb. 6 - 9 in CCM's Patricia Corbett Theater, with a special preview performance at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 5. Guest artist D. Lynn Meyers directs. The production is intended for mature audiences.

From a simple, rippling pool of water, Metamorphoses conjures a series of familiar myths into gorgeous theatrical imagery. The winner of two Drama Desk Awards and one Tony Award after its Broadway run in 2002, this entrancing theatrical event retells the classic stories of King Midas, Orpheus and Eurydice, Narcissus and more.

To realize Zimmerman's bold vision for Metamorphoses, an on-stage pool fills 576 square feet of Patricia Corbett Theater for this production. This pool holds 4,000 gallons of water, weighing roughly 10 tons, and ranges in depth from just a few inches to nearly two feet. Although the element of water is central to all of the myths featured in Metamorphoses, the pool's function changes from vignette to vignette, sometimes serving as a simple washing basin or swimming pool, while other times standing in for the River Styx or the sea.

Insistent on finding the perfect actors for Metamorphoses, CCM Drama Chair Richard Hess held auditions in the aquatic complex of the University of Cincinnati's Campus Recreation Center. The auditions were rigorous, taking place in the water to gauge the comfort levels of the actors.

Costume designer Amanda Kai Newman, a third-year masters degree student at CCM, faced multiple challenges in crafting costumes for this production, as well. Since the action in Metamorphoses takes place both in and out of the water, Newman used quick-drying fabrics such as silk and rayon. The fact that the on-stage pool is heated meant that all of her dyes had to be colorfast in both hot and cold water, too, so Newman ended up hand painting or dying all of the garments for this production.

Unique to CCM's production, student cellist Jacob Yates adds to the atmosphere and magic of Metamorphoses, playing his original compositions during the performance.

The result of all of this hard work is a production tailor-made for the CCM stage, and an extraordinary theater-going experience that promises to brush with the divine.

Tickets to Metamorphoses are $27-$31 for adults, $17-$20 for non-UC students and $15-$18 for UC students, with $12-$15 student rush tickets available for the Saturday matinee beginning at 1 p.m. on Feb. 8. Tickets to the Feb. 5 preview performance are just $12. Subscription packages are also still available for the remainder of CCM's 2013-14 Mainstage Series.

Tickets can be purchased in person at the CCM Box Office, over the telephone at 513-556-4183 or online at ccm.uc.edu/boxoffice/metamorphoses. Metamorphoses intended for mature audiences.

To post a comment, you must register and login.