Tryon Festival Theatre, November 15-17, 2019
Music and lyrics by Leoš Janácek
English adaptation by Kelley Rourke
Sarah Wigley, director
Andrew Megill, conductor
"Many of us hold familiar childhood fables near and dear, often realizing the death, morality, and even satire these seemingly adorable tales tell only when we reach adulthood. Amidst the spectacle of shimmering dragonflies, acrobatic, mosquitos, and dancing grasshoppers, we invite you into Leoš Janácek's The Adventures of Little Sharp-Ears where the freedom of the animal world is brought to life in both the soaring, evocative score and in the playful and sometimes precarious interactions between creatures.
Throughout literary history, the forest has represented a place of testing where humankind goes to find meaning, a destination where we may go into our unconscious selves to find peace, simplicity, and freedom. In our tale, Sharp-Ears the fox scampers, tumbles, and wrestles her way through the forest in constant adventures while the Forester, Schoolmaster, and Parson find themselves tested by nostalgia and homesickness. Although we might fear for Sharp-Ears, scoff at her actions, or gasp loudly at her brazen impulsivity, our human hands long to applaud the freedom this fox lives in and lives for. It is part of the human experience to share the inherent desire to go into the forest once again to find simplicity, peace, and freedom that can only be witnessed in the presence of nature. Perhaps the ultimate magic of the forest lies in the blurred lines between what separates each of us, humans and animals alike." -Sarah Wigley, director Press Coverage
WCIA CILIVING: "The Adventures of Little Sharp-Ears" News Gazette John Frayne: Lyric Theatre's 'Little Sharp-Ears' a visual, musical treat |
Cast
SHARP-EARS- Lisa Buhelos ^, Lauren Falk^^ FOX- Berit Johnson ^^, Michaela Wright^ FORESTER- Scott Cuva^, Chris Stanfill^^ YOUNG SHARP-EARS/FOX CUB- Caitlin Hennessy CRICKET/CHICK- Caroline McKinzie GRASSHOPPER/CHICK- Anna Benoit FROG/CHICK- Stasia Kasimos DRAGONFLY/CHICK/FOX CUB- Anna Lowery MOSQUITO/INNKEEPER- Nicholas Ian Koch OWL- Thereza Lituma WOODPECKER- Nicole Rodriguez Olivia BLUE JAY/FOX CUB- Kate Stenzel FRANTIK/FOX CUB- Logan Piker PEPIK/FOX CUB- Carissa Yau INNKEEPER'S WIFE/MOTHER HEN- Julie Malecki ROOSTER- Kara Taft DOG- Gabrielle LaBare BADGER- Sergio Andres Martinez Salazar FOX CUB/CHICK- Sydney Hoel FORESTER'S WIFE- Elizabeth Frodge SCHOOLMASTER- Craig Moman HARASTA- Lewis McAdow PARSON- Geoffrey Schmelzer ^Performing on Friday, November 15, and Sunday, November 17 ^^Performing on Saturday, November 16 Production Team CONDUCTOR- Andrew Megill STAGE DIRECTOR- Sarah Wigley MOVEMENT DIRECTOR- Genesee Spridco SCENIC DESIGNER- Jia Zenpeng COSTUME DESIGNER- William Sturman LIGHTING DESIGNER- Megan J. Coffel SOUND DESIGNER- Zia Fox STAGE MANAGER- Maria Miguens SUPERTITLES- Michael Tilley MUSICAL PREPARATION- Julie Jordan Gunn |