Opera Tells Tale of Passion, Ambition, and Political Intrigue

A prominent official takes a mistress. His wife finds out. A colleague accuses him of insanity. This isn’t a daytime television drama but the story of Claudio Monteverdi’s baroque-period opera L’incoronazione di Poppea. Though originally set in ancient Rome, Monteverdi’s masterpiece is given a modern realization by the Ithaca College Theatre production through the use of contemporary sets and costumes.

Evening performances in the Hoerner Theatre will run from Thursday, February 22, through Saturday, February 24, with previews on February 20 and 21. Performances will begin at 8:00 p.m. A Sunday matinee will be held on February 25 at 2:00 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased at the Ithaca College Theatre ticket center in Dillingham Center, the Clinton House ticket center, and Cornell University’s Willard Straight Hall. Prices range from $3.50 to $9.00. The College’s ticket center is open Monday through Friday, noon to 5:00 p.m. For tickets and information call
274-3224. Discounts are available for groups of 15 or more by calling 274-3796.

Coproduced by the Ithaca College School of Music, L’incoronazione di Poppea will be presented in the original Italian, with English translation provided through projected supertitles. An integral part of the production is the scenic design of senior theatrical production arts major Sergio Villegas, who comes to Ithaca from Queretaro, Mexico. His set will be constructed of ultramodern perforated aluminum and feature a live orchestra lit from beneath. Villegas was previously the scenic designer for the College’s production of A Little Night Music.

L’incoronazione di Poppea tells the story of the emperor Nero’s love for the courtesan Poppea. It also shows how reason can be defeated by passion and ambition. The opera, first performed in the 1640s, remains the only opera of the period to hold a place in modern repertory.

L’incoronazione di Poppea will be directed by Susannah Berryman, who is now in her 20th year teaching acting, voice, and movement at Ithaca College. Besides her work on College theater productions, Berryman has directed at the Cider Mill Playhouse, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Central Casting.

The production’s musical director, Patrick Hansen, will conduct an orchestra made up of students from the School of Music. An associate professor of music, Hansen conducted the Ithaca College Theatre productions of A Little Night Music, Albert Herring, Orpheus in the Underworld, and Babes in Arms, among others. He has just completed his first season as music director for the critically acclaimed Opera Festival of New Jersey.

The cast includes Jessica Julin ’02 as Poppea, Paul K. Fowler ’01 as Nerone, Marc Robert Webster ’01 as Seneca, and Kevin Doherty ’01 as Ottone.

In addition to Villegas, the artistic team includes costume designer Vicki R. Davis, lighting designer T. J. McEvoy ’01, stage manager Bonnie J. Brumbaugh ’01, technical director Colin Stewart, and dramaturge Amy Monroe ’03.