The Hartt School Announces the New England Premiere of THE HOTEL CASABLANCA

The Hartt School presents the New England premiere of Thomas Pasatieri's The Hotel Casablanca Thursday, February 2, through Saturday, February 4, at 7:30 PM, and Sunday, February 5, at 3:00 PM, in Millard Auditorium, University of Hartford, 200 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford. Admission is $20, with discounts for seniors, students, and groups. Admission is free for University of Hartford students, faculty, and staff with current University ID. For tickets and information, contact the University of Hartford Box Office at 860.768.4228 or 1.800.274.8587, or visit www.hartford.edu/hartt.

The Hotel Casablanca is a comic tale of love, guns, and mistaken identity deep in the heart of 1940s Texas. One critic recently wrote that The Hotel Casablanca has just enough opera majesty to satiate grand opera adherents and enough silliness to keep most audiences entertained. The New England premiere will be conducted by Doris Lang Kosloff and directed by Ron Luchsinger.

Known as one of America's most respected and performed vocal and opera composers as well as one of Hollywood's most successful film orchestrators, Thomas Pasatieri will be in residence at The Hartt School throughout the week of the production, when he will hold master classes and coach students in preparation for the performances.

In addition, Mr. Pasatieri will discuss his life, career, and work during an interview and Q&A session on Thursday, February 2, at 12:00 PM, in Millard Auditorium. Free and open to the public, this discussion will take place on The Hotel Casablanca set and be lead by Hartt faculty member Doris Lang Kosloff, the production's conductor.

Undergraduate vocal students headlining alternating casts are: Matthew Cramer of Nyack, NY, and Alex Hunt of Coventry, CT, as Burton; Daniel Fortine of Elkins Park, PA, and George Mason of Farmington, CT, as Charles; Sydney Anderson of Gasport, NY, and Maria Cook of Scarborough, ME, as Tallulah; Erica Jeski of West Hartford, CT, and Sara Lobdell of Marlboro NY, as Lucy; Gregory Flower of Keene, NH, and Miguel Vasquez of Waterbury, CT, as Tom; Joseph Baker of Greenbelt, MD, and Michael Spaziani of Nashua, NH, as Raul; Marlon McWilliams of Capitol Heights, MD, and Dean Murphy of Maynard, MA, as Tobias; Emily Dalessio of Ridgefield, CT, and Dana Kephart of Flemington, NJ, as Bluebell Pooder; Angela Joy Lamb of Ledyard Center, CT, and Erica Maas of Manchester, CT, as Veronique.