Central City Opera’s THREE DECEMBERS (2010). Pictured (L to R): Joyce Castle (Madeline), Emily Pulley (Beatrice) and Keith Phares (Charlie). Photo by Mark Kiryluk.
From the 2010 Summer Festival
POWERFUL. FAMILY. SECRETS.
This backstage drama of a Broadway diva and her children reveals the dangers of keeping family secrets. Based on a sketch by Tony-Award winning playwright Terrence McNally (Kiss of the Spiderwoman), the new American opera is set to music by Jake Heggie (Dead Man Walking) with a riveting libretto by Gene Scheer.
“…This approachable, ultimately uplifting story of aging Broadway actress Madeline and her two adult children, who struggle to come to terms with each other’s lives and the tough challenges each has faced, is achingly human and real.”
-Kyle MacMillan, The Denver Post
Three Decembers by Jake Heggie
Director: Ken Cazan
Madeline: Joyce Castle
Conductor: John Baril
Beatrice: Emily Pulley
Charlie: Keith Phares
The regional premiere of a new American Opera.
Performed in English with English supertitles
OPERA PERFORMANCES:
Matinees at 2:30 pm - July 17, 21+, 25; August 4, 6+
Evenings at 8:00 pm - July 10, 13, 23, 29, 31
+Wednesday July 21 & Friday August 6 - Busesavailable from Sports Authority in Glendale & Simms Steakhouse in Lakewood
Run time approximately 1 hour, 35 minutes with no intermission.
OPERA NOTES: FREE PRE-PERFORMANCE PREVIEW in Williams Stables at 1:50 and 7:15 pm. Arrive early, as seating is limited.
"What
Three Decembers
has going for it is Heggie's tender, often emotionally luminous score." - Joshua Kosman,
San Francisco Chronicle
Music Critic
The 2010 Opera Insider features history on the operas and composers, interviews with artists, festival information and activity pages. Download the full festival study guide full festival study guide (pdf) or the specific Three Decembers pages (pdf).
Internet Extras for Three Decembers
Marc Shulgold, former music critic of the Rocky Mountain News, has put together some fun facts on Three Decembers for our blog.
Composer Jake Heggie talks about Three Decembers which premiered in 2008 at Houston Grand Opera:
Includes performance excerpts with baritone Keith Phares.
The conductor's podium is endowed in perpetuity by the Eleanore Mullen Weckbaugh Foundation. Assisted listening devices generously donated by Myra B. Levy.
Scenery constructed by Tom Carroll Scenery. Ms. Pulley & Ms. Castle’s costumes constructed by Tasco Couture.
Parking is available as an optional add-on to your order. Buses and additional performances may be added to your order before checkout by clicking "Choose a Different Event."
“Three Decembers is a deeply personal, heartfelt and meaningful opera. Whatever your line of work, whatever your path in life, you have belonged to a family – you have had to deal with hurt, loss, joy, misunderstanding, secrets, and hopefully, forgiveness. This is a story for all of us.”
