THE GIRL OF THE GOLDEN WEST to Play Pacifica and Santa Cruz

The Voice Studio of Thomas Clark Inc. will present Giacomo Puccini's THE GIRL OF THE GOLDEN WEST (La Fanciulla del West) in Pacifica and Santa Cruz, California, from August 21 through September 13. The limited engagement will feature eight performances of the complete opera in a new English translation by Thomas Clark.

Presented in celebration of the United States' 250th anniversary, the production is directed by Gary L. Stanford, Jr., with Umberto Barisciano conducting from the piano. Jordan Best stars as Minnie, alongside Robert Balonek as Sheriff Jack Rance. Xavier Prado will perform the role of Dick Johnson for the first six performances, with John Kun Park taking over the role for the final two performances.

About THE GIRL OF THE GOLDEN WEST

An opera in three acts with music by Giacomo Puccini, THE GIRL OF THE GOLDEN WEST is based on David Belasco's 1905 play and takes place in California during the Gold Rush around 1849.

Belasco, who also wrote the play that served as the source for Madama Butterfly, saw THE GIRL OF THE GOLDEN WEST adapted by Puccini as La Fanciulla del West. The opera premiered at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 1910, starring Emmy Destinn and Enrico Caruso under the baton of Arturo Toscanini.

Thomas Clark's new English translation is intended to bring contemporary audiences closer to the opera's story and its themes of deception, desire, love, forgiveness and redemption. The opera will be presented complete, without cuts to Puccini's score.

The production runs approximately two hours and 45 minutes, including two intermissions.

Cast

Jordan Best – Minnie

Robert Balonek – Sheriff Jack Rance

Xavier Prado – Dick Johnson (August 21, 23, 28 and 30; September 4 and 6)

John Kun Park – Dick Johnson (September 11 and 13)

The additional cast includes Tim Tsang, Sebastian Stock, Michael Good, Joshua Porter, Jace Parker, Rick Bogart, Noah Nelson Fadrigon Llorando, Gary L. Stanford, Jr., Lizz Hodgin Weihrauch, Thomas Clark, Diego Granoble, Veronica Talton and Leonardo Mangalindan.

Creative Team

Director: Gary L. Stanford, Jr.

Conductor/Pianist: Umberto Barisciano

New English Translation: Thomas Clark

Costume Design: Gary L. Stanford, Jr., Jordan Best and Thomas Clark

Sound Engineer: Megan Thompson

Set Designer: Billie King

Props Designer: Kevin Stanford

Projection Designer: Zachary Wilson

Fight/Intimacy Coordinator: Bessie Zolno

Stage Manager: Gia Gonella

Publicist: Lawrence Helman

Publicity Assistant: Russell Low

Pacifica Performances

Terra Nova Theater at Terra Nova High School
1450 Terra Nova Blvd.
Pacifica, CA 94044

Friday, August 21 at 7 p.m.

Sunday, August 23 at 2 p.m.

Friday, August 28 at 7 p.m.

Sunday, August 30 at 2 p.m.

Santa Cruz Performances

Colligan Theater at the Tannery Arts Center
1010 River St. at Encinal St.
Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Friday, September 4 at 7 p.m.

Sunday, September 6 at 2 p.m.

Friday, September 11 at 7 p.m.

Sunday, September 13 at 2 p.m.

Tickets

Tickets are $51.75 for general admission and $20 for students, children and seniors.

Tickets are available separately for the Pacifica and Santa Cruz engagements. Additional information is available through The Voice Studio of Thomas Clark.

Both the Terra Nova Theater in Pacifica and the Colligan Theater at the Tannery Arts Center in Santa Cruz are wheelchair accessible.