North Shore Opera Hour Presents Bizet's CARMEN, 8/22

The North Shore Opera Hour will present a staged production of Peter Brook's adaptation of Bizet's opera Carmen on August 22 at 7:30pm at the Skokie Theatre. Brook's version captures the fundamental soul of Bizet's opera by focusing on the four main characters; Carmen, Don Jose, Micaela and Escamillo. "La Tragédie de Carmen" won the 1984 special Tony Award for Outstanding Achievement in Musical Theatre. The basic elements of this tragedy are still intact, offering familiar arias and duets.

This 80 minute production will be staged by international opera singer, Roy Cornelius Smith and will star Tina Pappademos as Carmen and Luis Antonio Galvez as Don Jose. Cynthia Zimmerman will sing Micaela and Karrel Bernardo will sing Escamillo.

Mr. Smith is no stranger to the stage. Even though this will be his directing debut, he has performed with the Metropolitan Opera, Deutsche Opera Berlin, Salzburger Festspiele, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Volksoper Wien, and the New York City Opera to name a few. Next year he will appear with Teatro alla Scala, Nashville Opera, Arizona Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Deutsche Opera Berlin.

The singers have performed regularly in the Chicago area including Highland Park Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Opera Theatre, Bach and Beyond, Chicago Symphony Chorus, Light Opera Works, Da Corneto Opera as well as abroad in England, Germany and Italy.

The North Shore Opera Hour was founded by tenor Luis Antonio Galvez. Realizing the need for musical performances in an intimate setting accessible to all, he based this group on the Firestone Opera Hour of the 1940's and 50's. In the future they plan to present Amahl and the Night Visitors, Los Claveles, Gianni Schicchi and a week-long music festival featuring local artists in recital and local groups performing music from around the globe.

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. For more information or to purchase tickets, please contact the Skokie Theatre box office at 847-677-7761 or visit their website at www.skokietheatre.com.

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