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North American Works Directory Listing
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Séance on a Wet Afternoon
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| Composer: |
Stephen Schwartz
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| Composer Bio: |
Stephen Schwartz was born in New York City on March 6, 1948. He studied piano and composition at the Juilliard School of Music while in high school and graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 1968 with a B.F.A. in Drama. His first major credit was the title song for the play Butterflies are Free; the song was eventually used in the movie version as well.
In 1971, he wrote the music and new lyrics for Godspell, for which he won several awards including two Grammys. This was followed by the English texts, in collaboration with Leonard Bernstein, for Bernstein's Mass, which opened the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. The following year, he wrote the music and lyrics for Pippin and two years later, The Magic Show. At one point, Godspell, Pippin, and The Magic Show were all running on Broadway simultaneously.
Other works as a composer and/or librettist include The Baker's Wife, followed by a musical version of Studs Terkel's Working, Captain Louie, Personals, Rags, Children of Eden. Film works include the Disney animated features Pocahontas, for which he received two Academy Awards and another Grammy, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. He also provided songs for DreamWorks' first animated feature, The Prince of Egypt, for which he won another Academy Award for the song "When You Believe".
Mr. Schwartz's most recent musical, Wicked, opened in the fall of 2003 and is currently running on Broadway.
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| Librettist: |
Stephen Schwartz
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| Other Artistic Personnel: |
Scott Schwartz (Stage Director)
Valery Ryvkin (Conductor)
Heidi Ettinger (Scenic Designer)
David Lander (Lighting Designer)
Alejo Vietti (Costume Designer)
Matt Williams (Choreographer)
Michael Jackowitz (Executive Producer)
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| Original Cast: |
Lauren Flanigan (Myra)
Kim Josephson (Bill)
Hila Plitman (Mrs. Clayton)
John Kimberling (Mr. Clayton)
Craig Hart (Inspector Watts)
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| Premiere Date: |
September 26, 2009
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| Producing Company: |
Opera Santa Barbara
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| Description: |
Based on the novel by Mark McShane and the award- winning screen adaptation by Bryan Forbes,Séance on a wet afternoon is a psychological thriller about a medium, Myra Foster, her doting husband Bill and the spirit of their deceased eleven-year-old son, Arthur, who speaks to Myra and is her contact for her séances. Because Myra has never received the recognition she feels her gifts merit, they hatch a Plan: they will kidnap the daughter of a local wealthy industrialist and keep her safe while the media frenzy over her abduction builds. When Myra has a "vision" that leads to the successful recovery of the girl and the ransom, her fame will be assured. As The Plan is put into action, the girl's presence in the house leads to complex psychological responses from Myra, Bill and Arthur. The delicate balance of Myra and Bill's relationship and Myra's sanity itself begins to fray, as long-buried secrets are revealed. The Plan goes badly awry and in Myra's final séance, the drama comes to a devasting conclusion.
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| Character List (Minor): |
Myra (s)
Bill (bar)
Mrs. Clayton (s)
Mr. Clayton (t)
Craig Hart (b)
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| Video Clip: |
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| Total Acts: |
Not Available
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| Chorus: |
Chorus (12-18 singers)
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| Orchestration: |
44-48 piece orchestra
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| Musical Style: |
Melodic, contemporary and moodily atmospheric
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| Contact: |
Steven Sharpe, Opera Santa Barbara
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| Address: |
1330 State Street, Suite 209
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
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| E-mail Address: |
info@operasb.com
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Schedule of Performances Listings
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What is OPERAAmerica.org?
Spring 2013 Magazine Issue
- Letter from the President/CEO
- Of One: The Quest for Asian Fusion in the Opera House
- Vancouver: Where Nature Nurtures Art
- Inheriting the Wind
- My First Time
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From Airport:
The easiest way to reach the OPERA America offices is to get a cab at the airport. Cost is $40-45 (not including tip).
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JFK -
Take the AirTrain ($5 - approx. 15 minutes) to the Jamaica Street Station and transfer to the Long Island Railroad (LIRR).
Take the LIRR to Penn Station ($12 - approx. 35 minutes). See Penn Station directions below.
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LaGuardia -
Take the M60 Bus to the Hoyt Ave/31st Street. Get on the
 or  Train and take that to 42nd/Times Square Station.
Follow the Times Square Station directions below.
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Newark - Take the New Jersey Transit train to Penn Station ($15 - approx. 45 min). See
the Penn Station Directions below.
From Penn Station/Madison Square Garden:
Leave the station through the 7th Avenue/33rd Street exit and walk south for four blocks. The building is on the right hand side.
From Grand Central Station:
Take the  Train to the 42nd/Times Square station and transfer to the  Train.
Take the Train to the 28th Street stop and walk north on 7th Avenue.
The building is on the same block as the train stop.
From 42nd Street/Times Square:
Take the Train to the 28th Street stop and walk north on 7th Avenue.
The building is on the same block as the train stop.
For more detailed directions, most up-to-date pricing or to specify a different starting location, please visit the MTA Web site.
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