La Bohème at Opera Festival of Chicago

The Opera Festival of Chicago announces the final production of the season, La Bohème, by Giacomo Puccini, directed by Sasha Gerritson, conducted by Maestro Emanuele Andrizzi with a cast of more than 50 performers and a 40-piece orchestra at the George Van Dusen Theatre, North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd. in Skokie.

Arguably, La Boheme is one of the greatest of all operas. The tragic story follows struggling young artists trying to survive the harsh life of 1830s Paris. The drama focuses on the poetic, passionate love story between the poet Rodolfo and the frail seamstress and kept woman, Mimi, set against themes of poverty, friendship and the fleeting nature of life. Their struggles and romance unfold with unforgettable music, capturing universal emotions of joy, loss and heartbreak in their bohemian lives.

The cast of La Bohème includes Alexandra Razskazoff (Mimi); Nathan Granner (Rodolfo); Joe Lodato (Marcello); Catherine Antonia Samartin (Musetta); Jonathan Wilson (Schaunard) and Anthony Reed (Colline).

Performances are Friday, June 26 at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 1 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, July 5 at 2 p.m. Single tickets are $25 - $91 with subscriptions available at OperaFestivalChicago.org.