LITTLE WOMEN to Make Company Premiere at Madison Opera This February

Madison Opera presents the company premiere of Mark Adamo's LITTLE WOMEN on Friday, February 5 and Sunday, February 7 in the Capitol Theater at the Overture Center for the Arts. An adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's beloved novel, the opera is a showpiece for the young cast who portray the four March sisters and their suitors, featuring moving arias, comic exchanges, and emotional confrontations.

Alcott's 1868 novel LITTLE WOMEN follows Jo March and her sisters Meg, Beth, and Amy as they come of age in New England. The opera focuses on the moments when the sisters leave home and become adults, centering on Jo as she clings to her perfect family life and tries to prevent things from changing. Ultimately she learns to accept change and move forward.

Adamo's opera premiered at Houston Grand Opera in March 1998 to instant acclaim, swiftly becoming one of the most performed American operas ever written. To date, there have been over 70 productions around the world. The New York Times called the opera "some sort of masterpiece," while The New Yorker called it "a beautifully crafted work: shows remarkable confidence [and] does a brilliant job of molding Alcott's tale into operatic form."

Madison Opera brings LITTLE WOMEN to vivid life on the Capitol Theater stage, using projections as well as traditional scenery and beautiful costumes to create the simultaneous scenes that make up the sisters' world, as the opera flows across time and place.

"I first heard LITTLE WOMEN in New York in 2003 and was instantly enchanted with the way it captured this classic story," says Kathryn Smith, General Director of Madison Opera. "Almost every little girl grows up admiring Jo March, and Adamo's version highlights her passionate intelligence. I'm delighted to share this American classic - both the story and the opera - in Madison."

Composer Adamo will attend the opening night performance and join Smith for the Pre-Opera Talk at 7pm in the Wisconsin Studio.

The March family and the girls' suitors are portrayed by both returning Madison Opera artists and newcomers. Mezzo Heather Johnson sings Jo March; since her debut here in Madama Butterfly in 2008, she has made her Metropolitan Opera debut, among many other engagements, and has worked with composer Adamo on several projects. Two former Madison Opera Studio Artists return: Jeni Houser, who sang Johanna in last season's Sweeney Todd, sings Amy, the youngest March sister, while Chelsea Morris, who was a Studio Artist last season, sings the doomed Beth. Courtney Miller, a native of Middleton, makes her debut as Meg, whose marriage causes the first fissure in Jo's world.

The sisters' suitors are all making their Madison Opera debuts: tenor Eric Neuville, a native of Waupaca, as Laurie; baritone Alexander Elliott as John Brooke; and baritone Craig Verm as Friedrich Bhaer. Neuville sings often with Seattle Opera; Elliott is a Studio Artist for Portland Opera; Verm has sung leading roles for Dallas Opera, Opera Philadelphia, and Santa Fe Opera.

Soprano Brenda Harris, last seen at Madison Opera over ten years ago, returns as Aunt Cecilia, whose opinions influence Jo's own, while soprano Elizabeth Hagedorn makes her debut as Alma March, the sisters' mother. Gideon March, the girls' father, is sung by Madison favorite Rick Henslin.

Directing this imaginative production is Candace Evans, who directed Carmen and Eugene Onegin for Madison Opera. Kyle Knox makes his Madison Opera debut conducting this truly American score.

The public has many ways to learn more about LITTLE WOMEN, starting on January 7 with a book discussion and opera preview at the Fitchburg Public Library. Opera Novice will focus on the connection between opera and literature on January 15. A one-hour opera preview will be given at the Capitol Lakes Retirement Community on January 22. Opera Up Close provides an in-depth discussion of the piece, including a roundtable with LITTLE WOMEN artists, on January 31.

Performances run Friday, February 5, 2016 • 8 p.m. Sunday, February 7, 2016 • 2:30 p.m. at the Capitol Theater at Overture Center for the Arts. Sung in English with projected text. Box Office: 201 State St., Madison, WI. Call (608) 258-4141 or visit www.madisonopera.org. Tickets: $25 - $112; Student and group discounts available.

RELATED EVENTS:

Community Previews
Book Discussion and Opera Preview at the Fitchburg Public Library: Thursday, January 7, 2016, 6:30pm-8pm FREE and open to the public
Join the Fitchburg Public Library and Madison Opera for a discussion of Alcott's classic novel, followed by a preview of Adamo's opera.

Capitol Lakes Retirement Community: Friday, January 22, 2016, 7pm-8pm
FREE and open to the public
Join a Madison Opera staff member for a multimedia look at Adamo's life and work, the history of LITTLE WOMEN, and some insights into Madison Opera's production.

Opera Novice: Opera and Literature
Friday, January 15, 6-7pm
The Margaret C. Winston Madison Opera Center, 335 W. Mifflin Street
FREE and open to the public
New to opera? Just want more insight? Join Madison Opera for a short, fun, and informative evening looking at how opera has used great (and not-so-great) literature as source material. The evening features a performance by Studio Artist Kelsey Park and plenty of time for questions.

Opera Up Close: LITTLE WOMEN Preview
Sunday, January 31, 1pm-3pm
NEW LOCATION: The Margaret C. Winston Madison Opera Center, 335 W. Mifflin Street
$20 general admission
Come even closer with a behind-the-scenes preview of LITTLE WOMEN with General Director Kathryn Smith, stage director Candace Evans, conductor Kyle Knox, and members of the cast.

Pre-Opera Talks
Friday, February 5, 2016, 7pm and Sunday, February 7, 2016, 1:30pm
Wisconsin Studio at Overture Center, free to ticket holders
Attend an entertaining introduction to LITTLE WOMEN one hour prior to curtain. On Friday night, composer Mark Adamo will join General Director Kathryn Smith to talk about the piece. Be sure to arrive early, as space is limited.

More information available at www.madisonopera.org/education.

ABOUT THE CAST:

Alexander Elliott
John Brooke
Madison Opera Debut

Recently: Marcello, La Bohe?me; Count Almaviva, Le Nozze di Figaro (Tulsa Opera); Belcore, L'Elisir d'Amore; Dancaire, Carmen; Frank, Die Fledermaus; Samuel, The Pirates of Penzance; Shoe Salesman, Postcard from Morocco (Portland Opera)

Elizabeth Hagedorn
Alma March
Madison Opera Debut

Recently: Maddalena, Andrea Chenier (Opera en el Convento La Palma, Spain); Marie, Wozzeck; Leonore, Fidelio; Chrysothemis, Elektra; Leonora, Il Trovatore; Senta, Der Fliegende Holla?nder (State Opera Meiningen); Ellen Orford, Peter Grimes (State Opera Mainz)

Brenda Harris
Cecilia March
Madison Opera Debut: Die Fledermaus

Recently: Kostelnic?ka Buryjovka, Jenu?fa; Elektra, Elektra; Donna Elvira, Don Giovanni (Des Moines Metro Opera); Eleanor Iselin, The Manchurian Candidate; June Mathis, Dream of Valentino; Lady Macbeth, Macbeth (Minnesota Opera); Abigaille, Nabucco (Opera Carolina, Minnesota Opera); Turandot, Turandot (Sarasota Opera)

Rick Henslin
Gideon March
Madison Opera Debut: Threepenny Opera

Recently: Chorus, Sweeney Todd, Tosca, Carmen (Madison Opera); Smudge, Forever Plaid (Verona Area Community Theater); Judge Turpin, Sweeney Todd (The Armory); Sweeney Todd, Little Night Music, Les Mise?rables (Four Seasons Theatre)

Jeni Houser
Amy
Madison Opera Debut: Acis and Galatea
Recently with MO: Sweeney Todd

Recently: Queen of the Night, Die Zauberflo?te; Zerbinetta, Ariadne auf Naxos (Minnesota Opera); Frasquita, Carmen; Mother/Giant's Wife, Jack and the Beanstalk (Virginia Opera); Josephine, H.M.S. Pinafore (Opera Saratoga); Najade, Ariadne auf Naxos (Minnesota Opera, Fort Worth Opera, Glimmerglass Festival)

Heather Johnson
Jo
Madison Opera Debut: Madama Butterfly

Recently: Jessie, The Long Walk (Opera Saratoga, American Lyric Theater);
Page, Salome (Dallas Opera); Dinah, Trouble in Tahiti (Napa Valley Festival del Sole); Lizzie Borden, Lizzie Borden (Boston Lyric Opera, Tanglewood Festival)

Courtney Miller
Meg
Madison Opera Debut

Recently: Hannah, The Passenger (Michigan Opera Theatre); Mrs. Ford, Sir John in Love (Odyssey Opera); Flora, La Traviata; Page, Salome; Cousin Hebe, H.M.S. Pinafore; Merce?de?s, Carmen (Virginia Opera)

Chelsea Morris
Beth
Madison Opera Debut: The Barber of Seville

Recently: La Statue, Pygmalion (Madison Bach Musicians); Clori, Gli Equivoci nel Sembiante (Haymarket Opera); Clorinda, La Cenerentola (Green Mountain Opera Festival); Lisa, The Land of Smiles (Chicago Folks Operetta); Pamina, Die Zauberflo?te (Candid Concert Opera)

Eric Neuville
Laurie
Madison Opera Debut

Recently: Abdallo, Nabucco; Scaramuccio, Ariadne auf Naxos (Seattle Opera); Ulysses, Pe?ne?lope (Vespertine Opera); Prince, Rumpelstiltskin (Opera Fairbanks); Don Jose?, La Trage?die de Carmen (Washington Idaho Symphony); Soloist, Beethoven's 9th Symphony (Seattle Symphony)

Craig Verm
Friedrich Bhaer
Madison Opera Debut

Recently: George, Of Mice and Men (Tulsa Opera); Elmer Gantry, Elmer Gantry (Florentine Opera); Douglas Hansen, Everest (Dallas Opera); The Miller, El Gato con Botas; Daniel, I Have No Stories To Tell You (Gotham Chamber Opera); Marcello, La Bohe?me (Nashville Opera); Eugene Onegin, Eugene Onegin (Aspen Opera Theater); Count Almaviva, Le Nozze di Figaro (Ongaku-Juku Festival, Japan); Papageno, The Magic Flute (Pittsburgh Opera)

Candace Evans
Stage Director
Madison Opera Debut: Carmen
Recently with MO: Eugene Onegin

Recently: La Wally (Dallas Opera); Il Matrimonio Segreto (Teatro Petrarca); Lucia di Lammermoor (Livermore Opera); Carmen (Opera Grand Rapids); Gianni Schicchi (Oberlin in Italy); La Bohe?me (Arizona Opera); Werther (Indiana University)

Kyle Knox
Conductor
Madison Opera Debut

Recently: Albert Herring (UW-Madison); Carousel (Middleton Players Theatre); Assistant Conductor at UW-Madison; Wisconsin Music Clinic High School Honors Orchestra; Middleton Community Orchestra; New Symphony Orchestra (Bulgaria); CHATTER (Albuquerque), Northwestern University Orchestra; CIM Orchestra

Madison Opera is a non-profit professional opera company based in Madison, Wisconsin. Founded in 1961, the company grew from a local workshop presenting community singers in English-language productions to a nationally recognized organization producing diverse repertoire and presenting leading American opera singers alongside emerging talent. A resident organization of the Overture Center for the Arts, Madison Opera presents three productions annually in addition to the free summer concert Opera in the Park and a host of educational programming.