REVIEW: CCM's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' an 'exuberant triumph
Read the Cincinnati Business Courier's review of CCM Opera Series' recent production
The Cincinnati Business Courier praises UC College-Conservatory of Music's recent production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Presented as part of the Opera Series on March 6-9, the production was directed by Robin Guarino and conducted by alumni guest artist William Langley.
"The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music production of Benjamin Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.... was nothing short of out-of-this world," Janelle Gelfand writes in her review for the Cincinnati Business Courier.
Gelfand also praised the direction, design and performances in the production. "Langley’s orchestra giggled, sparkled and provided a luminous backdrop," she writes. "Every detail of Britten’s stunning orchestration was beautifully etched."
CCM's 2024-25 Opera Series comes to a grand finale with Dark Sisters, presented April 3-5 in Cohen Family Studio Theater. Directed by CCM Professor Brian Robertson, the opera features music by Nico Muhly and a libretto by Stephen Karam. Inspired by true events, Dark Sisters follows one woman’s journey to escape her polygamous marriage in the FLDS Church, a sect that split from Mormonism in the early 20th century; learn more. Content advisory: Dark Sisters contains adult themes of misogyny, suicide, sexual coercion and spiritual abuse.
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Composed by Benjamin Britten
Libretto by Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears, after the play by William Shakespeare
- Conductor | William Langley, alumni guest artist
- Director | Robin Guarino
- Assistant Conductor | Moyue Zhou*
- Assistant Director | Seoyong Lee*
- Choreographer/Intimacy Director | Susan Moser
- Production Stage Manager | Deborah Heyl*
- Technical Director | Benji Lookatch*
- Scenic Designer | Gabby Trice*
- Lighting Designer | Thomas Hase
- Media Designer | Lucas Inman*
- Costume Designer | Elizabeth Payne
- Sound Designer | Ben Stacy*
- Hair & Make-Up Designer | Claire Bonnette*
- Props Manager | Hattie Fann*
- Musical Preparation | Marie-France Lefebvre
*CCM Student
- Helena | Kaylan Hernandez+, Clara Reeves^
- Lysander | Carlos Ahrens+, Logan Wagner^
- Hermia | Lucy Evans+, Kayla Sconiers^
- Demetrius | Soren Pedersen+, Kade Bennett^
- Tytania | Holly Thomas+, Ahhyun Baek^
- Oberon | Madison Finke+, Natalie Corrigan^
- Bottom | Will Ryan+, Cole Stephenson^
- Puck | Nico Graves +, Cassandra Reeves ^
- Cobweb | Alea Vernon
- Mustard Seed | Natalie Almeter
- Moth | Lily Scalisi
- Peaseblossom | Yi Ding
- Theseus | Seoyong Lee
- Hippolyta | Junyue Gong
- Quince | Andrew Hallam
- Flute | Levi Capesius
- Snug | Vernon Hartman, guest artist
- Snout | Eric Reidel
- Starveling | Ryan Henry
- Changeling Boy | Vinny Auger
- Children’s Ensemble | Vinny Auger, Joseph Beck, James Krausser, Simon Moomaw, Isaac Vest, Maxwell Zhang, William Zhang
^ Performs Friday, March 7 and Sunday, March 9
+ Performs Thursday, March 6 and Saturday, March 8
Next on Stage at CCM
There's more to explore — view our full performance schedule by month or visit the CCM Box Office website to buy tickets.
Stay up to date on CCM news and events by subscribing to our Next OnStage email newsletter, which is published every other Wednesday. Visit ccm.uc.edu/subscribe to sign up for email updates.
Featured image at the top: CCM's production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Production photos by Mark Lyons.
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