Oakland Opera prestents "Queenie Pie" starting 5/9

The Oakland Opera Theatre presents Duke Ellington's Queenie Pie from May 9th till the 25th.

Oakland Opera Theater, applauded by local critics and audiences for its intimately staged, professionally produced performances of 20th and 21st century operas, presents the Bay Area with its first look at jazz master Duke Ellington's only opera, Queenie Pie, in collaboration with the Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra. Begun in the 1940's and left unfinished at the time of Ellington's death, Queenie Pie, the story of a Harlem beauty queen, was written as a tribute to Madame C. J. Walker, the first female African-American millionaire. Under the artistic direction of Tom Dean and musical direction of Deirdre McClure, Oakland Opera Theater has assembled an expert team to complete this jazzy opera gem, including renowned stage director Michael Mohammed, musical orchestrator and arranger Marc Bolin, and playwright Tommy Shepherd. Originally intended as an hour long TV special, this production will be set on a television sound-stage in the late 1960's à la The Ed Sullivan Show, and will feature the live big-band sounds of the Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra. Bay Area chanteuse Amanda King, stage and film actress Kathleen Antonia, and stage veteran Noah Griffin star in this toe-tapping take on one of Ellington's final works.

Performances will take place at the Oakland Metro Operahouse, 630 3rd Street (three blocks from Jack London Square).

For tickets ($28 advance, $35 at the door) the public can call 510-763-1146 or visit www.oaklandopera.org