• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

MAKE A GIFT TO SEAGLE FESTIVAL

BUY TICKETS 

Seagle Festival

Bringing music to the Adirondacks since 1915

  • Seagle Festival
  • Home
  • 2023 Season
    • Tickets
    • Children’s Opera
    • New Works
  • Artists
    • 2023 Artists
    • Artist Applicants
    • Former Artists
    • Alumni Association
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Seagle Guild
  • About
    • Mission, Vision & Values
      • Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
    • Who We Are
      • Leadership
      • Board of Directors
      • Community
        • Local Business Links
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Contact
    • History
      • Facilities
      • Photo Galleries
    • News
      • Blog

Blog

January 18, 2020 by Jorie Moss 1 Comment

On the Road with DKW: Updates from the New Works Forum

Each winter, Darren Woods heads to Opera America to represent Seagle Music Colony at the annual New Works Forum. Keep reading to find out what he learned about and loved at this year’s event!

Day 1

I am currently on a train heading to one of my favorite events of the year:  The New Works Forum at Opera America, where composers, librettists, producers, vocal artists, directors, conductors, designers – heck, anyone who has anything to do with opera – gathers in New York for a three day conference.  Here we will talk about new technologies in production.  We will deal with the nuts and bolts of commissioning and spend some time seeing showcases and full productions of new opera.  It is a grand time. 

But all music was, at one time, new!

My train was right on time AND my hotel room was ready early!  Lucky day!  I got to drop my things off and head around the block to the first session of the day.  Marc Scorca, Opera America’s President and CEO, welcomed everyone and then walked us through the amazing history of opera in America that stretches back to the mid-1700s.  And New Orleans Opera was basically born in 1796!  Most of the companies and audiences back then wanted to see new works and the companies in the 1800s were full of them – new works by unknown composers like Puccini, Donizetti, Meyerbeer and other “youngsters.”  I think that when our audiences say that they don’t like new work, they forget that “The Marriage of Figaro” was once a new piece; in fact, it was censored because it was subversive and it was not incredibly popular at first.  It is only in the re-hearing and re-viewing of it for centuries that we regard it as a beloved classic.  But all music was, at one time, new!

The first session was about adaptation in opera and musical theater.  It was the nuts and bolts of taking an existing book or play and adapting it into an opera.  The composers and librettists reminded us that a great deal of the operatic canon (even back to Verdi, Puccini and the rest) are adaptations.  You might remember Evan Mack and Joshua McGuire’s ROSCOE that Seagle premiered in 2016.  It was adapted from the novel by William Kennedy.  Evan and Josh had to secure the rights and work with the author to get the opera written. 

Dinner with my longtime friend Kurt Howard and his husband came next at a great Italian restaurant.  I was supposed to go to the showcase, but after being sick for three weeks, I was spent and went back to the hotel.

Tomorrow’s day starts with a meeting with a composer and producer about a brand-new immersive opera.  I can’t wait to see what that’s about!

Day 2

Day 2 started with a bang of introduction to new technology.  I had an 8:30 a.m. meeting with composer Kamala Sankaram, the composer of our children’s opera from this past summer, “Monkey and Francine in the City of Tigers”; Kristin Marting, from the experimental opera/theater company HERE and one of the artistic directors of the Prototype Festival in NYC; and Anne Hiatt of Opera on Tap, which started out as opera singers singing opera in a bar to a really revolutionary company that is now represented all over the United States.  These amazing ladies had a project that they want to develop at Seagle that involves “Augmented Reality” which is different than “Virtual Reality” in that you still see the real world around you, but “films” or “visions” or “objects” are superimposed over what is happening in real time.  I can’t go into the plot or the concept as it is…well, still a concept, but I can say that audience members would be led around a town or space following a character – seeing what they see and hearing their stories or “songs” in an augmented reality setting finally arriving at a communal place where all the audience would see a chorus and all the principals for the finale.  The concept is mind-boggling and I hope that SMC can be a part of this cutting-edge production.

The ideas that came out of this were — again – mind boggling…

After breakfast we moved into a session of the New Works Forum (NWF) that was completely about technology. San Diego Opera got an innovation grant from Opera America and the Getty Foundation to hold an “opera hack” event where people from the tech world met with people from the theater/opera world for a two-day brainstorming/problem-solving workshop. The ideas that came out of this were — again – mind boggling (I have never felt more of my 61 years on the planet than I did today). One of the prize winners to develop their idea was OPERAMAP.  One of the designers said that it was so difficult to design for several theaters because she would have to fly to each theater or send an assistant to the theater to construct a 3-D map of the space, all so she could see if she could design for Houston Grand Opera, Dallas Opera and San Diego Opera, to name a few. A concept was developed that would “map” each theater – and eventually every theater in the world — so that she could virtually design the set and put it on the stage.  She could virtually “BE” at the theater standing on the stage, looking at the fly loft.  She could go into the house and look at the stage from different points in the theater.  The need to fly there would be erased because she could “BE” in the theater in virtual real time.  This brought up implications for fundraising.  Imagine being able to ask for a patron to invest in a show, “take them there” via virtual reality and let them see the set, touch the set and actually go into the house and pick their seats!  There were so many possibilities.  There were SO many other great ideas.  [You can read more about the summit here and find out more about the winning proposals here.]

Sgt. Ben Hilgert and Darren Woods reunited at the NWF

After a quick lunch we came back for the session that I co-led with Opera America’s Program Director, Laura Lee Everett.  It was called “The Nuts and Bolts” of commissioning.  Over the years we have identified “pressure points” between composers and producers, challenges in the workshop process, and the need or rejection of feedback.  We decided to break up the groups into producers and creators and pose these challenges and have them present the main pressure point and why.  The surprise is that tomorrow they have to solve the challenges – but the producers have to wrestle with the creators’ challenges and the creators with the producers’.  We hope that this will spark more dialogue and communication with the two groups. During this session I was lucky to run into Sgt. Ben Hilgert,  who you might remember was instrumental in the commissioning of “The Falling and the Rising” that we workshopped at Seagle in 2017 and then toured the following year.  Our opera has now played in Fort Worth, Arizona, Washington DC, Memphis, Seattle, and of course all over the North Country (NY).

Phillip Bullock (left), SMC alum

We finished the day with a sneak preview of a new opera by Gregory Spears and Tracy K. Smith that will premiere in Cincinnati this summer.  Greg Spears has no direct connection with Seagle except via our alumni. His first opera “Paul’s Case” starred Jonathan Blalock and catapulted him to stardom.  His opera “Fellow Travelers” has seen Jonas Hacker and Vanessa Becerra in its cast. So you can imagine my wonderful surprise when I saw in the program that Phillip Bullock (another SMC alum) was in the showcase.  He sang so well.  Bravo, Phillip!

I finished the day with dinner with Anthony Rohr, another Seagle alum who recently moved to NYC.  As I write this I am fading fast.  Tomorrow brings another meeting with another creator and a day of thinking about new work and new opera.

What a rich time we are living in and how important our work (yes, OUR WORK – including YOU) at Seagle matters in the world of opera creation.  Good night. 

Tomorrow marks the end of the forum and then — a train ride to Boston to begin the SMC 2020 audition tour!

Day 3

Today began with a meeting with John de los Santos.  John has directed several times at Seagle Music Colony over the course of many years.  Last season, he directed our production of Carmen in collaboration with Lake George Music Festival, but over the years he has directed Anything Goes, South Pacific, The Italian Girl in Algiers, and several others.  John is now also an accomplished librettist.  His newest opera with composer Clint Borzoni, The Copper Queen, will see its premiere at Arizona Opera.  It is a wonderful piece and a really good ghost story!  Maybe we’ll see it in an upcoming Seagle season.

It was interesting to see how different people choose the theater they want to see.

The first session today was basically a ‘coffee talk’ where we discussed operas we had seen recently and what drew us to them. Was it the plot?  The marketing?  The title?  Did we know the creators?  It was interesting to see how different people choose the theater they want to see.

The next session was a continuation of the one I hosted with Laura Lee Everett.  Remember  yesterday when we asked a group of creative artists and a group of producers to tackle five main topics we identified as pressure points in creating new work?  Each group came up with a set of challenges that needed to be solved.  Today, we gave the producers the creators’ answers and vice versa.  It was a lively conversation to say the least. What was wonderful and remarkable is that these two groups in two separate rooms came up with many of the same solutions, the main thing being that frank communication at the beginning of the process is key and setting timelines that everyone understands is crucial.  There should also be series of topics covered at that first meeting, including casting, workshop process, and when to give feedback – and more importantly who should give feedback.  Creators need to be told when a workshop becomes a “backers audition” as donors would be invited.  There were so many good ideas.  This session wrapped up at 1:30 p.m. and I scooted over to Penn Station to grab a quick bite to eat.

I am now on the train to Boston, due to arrive around 7:15pm, when I will check into the hotel, grab some dinner and go to sleep early.  Tomorrow is the first round of SMC auditions on this trip and it starts at 10:00am!  I’ll write more on the road!

Follow us on Facebook for Darren’s SMC Audition Tour 2020 travelogue!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

December 3, 2019 by Jorie Moss Leave a Comment

Do You Hear What I Hear? Holiday Happenings 2019 Edition

Greetings, Seagle fam! It’s been a little while since you’ve heard from us, because we were busy all summer with another exciting season. We cried for Argentina, Figaro and Susanna got married, the Manchurian Candidate lost the election, and Oklahoma was OK! Then we spent a lovely fall season Monkeying and Francine-ing around and getting HOT! with Cole Porter. Now things in Schroon Lake have quieted down, but our many and various singing friends far and wide are gearing up for one of the busiest times of year – the month of December!! A bustling time of holiday celebrations, opera and musical theater productions, and concert fare (plus don’t forget – it’s audition season too!), Seagle singers can be seen in just about any kind of repertoire all over the place. Here’s just a small sampling of the opportunities you don’t want to miss this year! Get out there and support your Seagle friends by attending an event or two this holiday season and make your December a bit brighter.

And if you’re performing and you don’t see your event here, let us know at socialmedia@seaglefestival.org so we can add you to the list!

Musicals

Fiddler on the Roof – in Yiddish (with English and Russian supertitles)
Stage 42, New York, NY
Directed by Oscar and Tony winner Joel Grey
Performances run through January 5, 2020
Tickets and more info
“A New York Times Critics’ Pick, Fiddler on the Roof “strikes a deep emotional chord” and “offers a kind of authenticity no other American Fiddler ever has.” (The New York Times)
With direction by Oscar and Tony Award®-winner Joel Grey, this production “speaks to us all” (Newsday). It has been hailed as “a richer, deeper interpretation” by The Wall Street Journal, “a mitzvah” by Time Out New York, and AM New York gives it four stars, calling Fiddler on the Roof “perfect.” Harold Prince, the legendary and original producer of Fiddler on the Roof‘s first Broadway production (1965 winner of nine Tony Awards®, including Best Musical) said, “If you have seen Fiddler before, you must see this production because it will make you feel you are seeing Fiddler for the first time.” ” In Yiddish with English and Russian supertitles.
Alumna Kayleen Seidl is a member of the ensemble and understudy to Tsaytl, Hodl, and Khave. Mazel tov!

The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Swift Creek Mill Theater, Richmond, VA
Performances run through December 28
Tickets and more info
“Based on the unfinished novel by Charles Dickens, this lighthearted, stylized and rambunctious show is a holiday treat for the family. The mystery’s outcome is decided by an audience vote, so it’s a different show every night!”
Alumna Tascha Anderson is the Dancing Succubus and a member of the ensemble.

Operas

Hansel & Gretel
Palm Beach Opera
West Palm Beach, FL
December 6, 7, & 8
Tickets and more info
“Enjoy an enchanting production at Delray Beach’s Crest Theatre starring Palm Beach Opera’s Benenson Young Artists and Bailey Apprentice Artists. Based on the beloved Brothers Grimm fairy tale, this charming classic features a lush folk-inspired score by Engelbert Humperdinck, and an imaginative set made entirely out of paper! Young Singers of the Palm Beaches will also perform as the Children’s Chorus. Sung in English with English supertitles above the stage.”
Alumna Maria Vasilevskaya is singing the role of Hansel.

Glory Denied
Boston Conservatory Opera (Boston Conservatory Theater)
Boston, MA
December 5, 6, 7, & 8
Tickets and more info
“Glory Denied is a poignant saga of America during the Vietnam War, based on the true story of Colonel Jim Thompson, America’s longest-held prisoner of war. This profoundly moving story and soaring score by one of America’s leading classical voice composers tell Thompson’s story through younger and older versions of Thompson and his wife, Alyce, who traverse this complex emotional landscape through hope, despair, love, hate, courage, and forgiveness. Glory Denied will be sung in English with English supertitles.”
Alumni Kyle White is singing Older Thompson, Willie Casper is singing Younger Thompson, and Jake Goz is covering Younger Thompson.

The Resurrection of Lucretia
Boston Conservatory at Berklee (Seully Hall)
Boston, MA
December 6 at 3p
This event is free and open to the public.
Current BoCo students will workshop scenes from a new opera by Patricia Herzog. The story originated with the Roman myth of Lucretia as recorded by Livy, but in this new take on the story Lucretia is convinced not to kill herself after being assaulted. The piece is highly motivated by the events of the #MeToo movement. There will be a talkback with the composer/librettist, director, and cast following the performance.
Alumni Jake Goz is singing Sextus Tarquinius with Christos Kokkinis covering the same role and Melaina Mills is singing First Woman.

Concerts

IPL Yuletide Celebration
Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
Indianapolis, IN
Performances run November 30-December 23
Tickets and more info
“Get ready to ring in the holidays with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra! This season, we celebrate 34 years of bringing you one of Indiana’s most cherished holiday traditions — IPL Yuletide Celebration! This holiday season, we are pleased to welcome first-time Yuletide host, Frankie Moreno! Back this year are the whimsical “Holly Jolly Dollies” and so are the traditions of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” and the famous tap-dancing Santas. Along with aerialists and a cast of singers and dancers, Indy’s own dance group Expressenz returns to the Yuletide stage after competing in World of Dance in 2017 and earning six national titles together. As always, musical and visual surprises will abound.”
Alumna Donata Cucinotta is a featured soloist.

Handel’s Messiah
Sequoia Symphony Orchestra
Visalia, CA
December 8 @ 3:00p
Tickets and more info
“Join the combined choirs of El Diamante and Golden West as they share the quintessential holiday work, Handel’s Messiah. We’ll share the Christmas portions of the nativity story with soloist and chamber orchestra in its original orchestration.”
Alumna Heather Jones is the alto soloist.

The Christmas Revels: Celestial Fools
Washington Revels
Washington, DC
Remaining performances:
December 13 at 7:30p
December 14 at 2:00p and 7:30p
December 15 at 1:00p and 5:00p
“Holiday magic is just around the corner in a rustic village in Europe!
As the Winter days grow short, three wandering performers from far-off lands weave music, dance and stories from their cultures into an enchanting and dramatic tale of the Winter Solstice. But when the sun finally sets on the longest night — and darkness seems to stretch on without end — these “Celestial Fools” lead us on a journey into the heavens to reclaim the light and restore its warmth to the world.
Join Washington Revels to celebrate the season with rousing carol sing-alongs, a mad-cap Twelve Days of Christmas, and dancing in the aisles with a cast of over 100, ages 9-90. Enjoy an exuberant blend of music from around the globe by renowned Klezmer and world-music instrumentalists Seth Kibel (clarinet & flute), Vladimir Fridman (guitar), and Bob Abbott (string bass), with the glorious tones of the Washington Revels Brass. Finally, embark on a Winter journey led by tradition bearers Karim Nagi (Arabic drumming & dance), Shizumi Shigeto Manale (Japanese dance & theater), and Mark Novak (Jewish song), as they share wit, wisdom, and even some Winter Solstice magic to help call back the light. Welcome Yule!”
Seagle alumna Evanne Browne is the assistant music director, leader of the bell choir, composer of a new piece and composed several soprano descants, and performs in the costumed show. whew!

A Concord Christmas: Music Inspired by Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women
Seaglass Theater Company
Milton, MA & Cape Cod, MA
December 14 at 2:00p
December 15 at 3:00p & 7:00p (*note different locations)
Tickets and more info
“Seaglass Theater Company celebrates the 150th anniversary of the release of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women by presenting A Concord Christmas in 3 historic churches in Massachusetts. Immerse yourself in music inspired by Little Women and a traditional family Christmas at Orchard House, the beloved Alcott family home in Concord, Massachusetts. Repertoire includes selections from Handel’s Messiah, traditional carols, and an exclusive arrangement of O Holy Night.”
Alumna Megan Callahan is a featured soloist.

An Ars Musica Holiday
Ars Musica Chorale
Ridgewood, NJ
December 14 at 7:00p
Tickets and more info
“Join us for our signature Holiday concert, which will bring together the glorious forces of voices, brass, organ, percussion, and the angelic sounds of the NJ State Children’s Chorus in an evening of Christmas and Hanukkah music, with carols for all to sing.  You’ll hear diverse works by Judith Clurman, Jonathan Dove, Morten Lauridsen, John Rutter and others, along with traditional pieces for the holiday season.”
Alumna Heather Jones is a young artist with this ensemble for the 2019-20 season, and will be a featured soloist on this concert.

Handel’s Messiah
Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra
Jacksonville, FL
December 14 at 7:30p
December 15 at 3:00p
Tickets and more info
“Celebrate the season as the Jacksonville Symphony and Chorus perform Handel’s Messiah, one of the most inspiring works of music ever written. Featuring timeless classics such as “And the Glory of the Lord” and the “Hallelujah Chorus,” the Messiah is the perfect way to share the joy of music with family and friends.”
Alumnus Eric Ferring is the tenor soloist.

Handel’s Messiah
New York Philharmonic
New York, NY
December 17-19 & 21 at 7:30p, December 20 at 2:00p
Tickets and more info
“Dazzling vocal solos, instrumental fireworks, and splendid choral writing make Handel’s Messiah the Philharmonic’s most beloved holiday tradition. This year Baroque master Harry Bicket leads all forces in the Messiah of Messiahs, the quintessential musical crown of the season.”
Alumnus Colin Campbell is singing as a member of the Handel & Haydn Society Chorus.

colin campbell - tenor

Holiday Spectacular
New Albany Symphony Orchestra
New Albany, OH

Sunday, December 22 at 3:00PM
Tickets and more info
“Celebrate the holidays at home in New Albany, featuring local guest artists from Opera Columbus and the heartwarming songs and traditions that make this the “Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” Don’t forget to arrive early for the fabulous Holiday Gift Basket Fundraiser. This concert sells out every year!”
Alumni Catherine Goode, Scott Clark, and Raphella Medina are featured soloists.

Handel’s Messiah
The Philadelphia Orchestra
Philadelphia, PA
Sunday, December 22 at 2:00p
Tickets and more info
“Shortly after sending Handel his libretto for a new oratorio, Charles Jennens wrote to a friend, hoping that the composer “will lay out his whole genius and skill upon it.” In 24 days of feverish writing, Handel did just that, creating his immortal Messiah. Pioneering conductor and Handel expert Jane Glover brings her decades of experience with opera and Baroque music back to the Kimmel Center for our holiday presentation of this masterwork, with the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir joining the Orchestra for a revelatory performance.”
Alumnus Jonas Hacker is the tenor soloist.

The Tapestry Rock Opera LIVE at Bokeh Lounge
The Tapestry
Evansville, IN
December 28 @ 9:00PM
Tickets & More Info (separate links)
” “…Queen meets Pavarotti!” The Tapestry plays its unapologetic, high-octane fusion of the BEST of OPERA and ROCK. The Tapestry formed out of a deep love for PEOPLE and MUSIC. They introduce people to musical traditions currently unfamiliar to them in order to bring DIVERSE COMMUNITIES of music lovers TOGETHER.
By playing their singular, unapologetic, high-octane fusion of the BEST of opera and rock, they remove the veil between classical and popular music, right before your very eyes and ears, showing the world that the things we have in common are greater than our differences.”
Alumna Bridget Cappel will be a featured soloist on the concert, performing Carmen, Dalila, Lady Gaga, and more.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

May 21, 2019 by Jorie Moss Leave a Comment

2019 Production Highlights: The Manchurian Candidate and News from ACNWD

One of Seagle’s biggest selling points is our dedication to the production and promotion of new works. Not only do we provide the first outing for new operas and musicals in front of a live audience, we also provide our emerging artists with the opportunity to create roles from scratch. This is a unique experience for a young singer, to be the first person to ever perform, and in some ways set the standard, for how a role might be interpreted by later singers. The learning process is quite different as well; without recordings and performance history to rely on, singers must use their education, intuition, and collaboration with one another to realize a work’s potential on the stage. It’s truly a thrill ride!

This summer’s main-stage new work is The Manchurian Candidate, a collaboration by Pulitzer-winning composer-librettist team Kevin Puts and Mark Campbell. Mr. Campbell will be on Charley Hill with us this summer during the rehearsal process, working directly with the cast – just one more thing that makes a summer at Seagle memorable and meaningful to our emerging artists.

The opera is based on a 1959 Richard Condon novel of the same title, which has also been made into two different feature films (most recently a 2000s film starring Denzel Washington). Decorated Korean war veteran Sergeant Raymond Shaw is brainwashed into becoming a KGB assassin in an elaborate plot to overthrow the US Government. Will his former fellow soldier be able to break through and stop him in time? Featuring political intrigue, plot twists, and a powerhouse female lead, you don’t want to miss this show!

One (significant) note worth mentioning: Seagle received a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment of the Arts to produce this opera. That’s our first NEA grant since Roscoe in 2016. We’re so grateful to the NEA for their support of the production and promotion of new works.

And coming this Fall Season…

The American Center for New Works Development @ Seagle Music Colony, (ACNWD) in addition to producing The Manchurian Candidate, is also excited to present FOUR (!!) workshops of new operas this fall. Utilizing the talents of our summer and fall season artists, several of these workshops will have public performances or readings, so mark your calendars now to ride on the cutting edge of new opera with us.

[Read more…] about 2019 Production Highlights: The Manchurian Candidate and News from ACNWD

Filed Under: Uncategorized

March 28, 2019 by Jorie Moss Leave a Comment

2019 Production Highlights: Evita & Oklahoma!

Each summer we kick off and end our season with big musicals – those fantastic spectacles that get your toes tapping and hearts beating for a summer of exciting music making. Opening the season with a musical showcases the majority of our emerging artists to our adoring fans and (perhaps more importantly) give these artists opportunities to bond with one another — nothing bonds folks like learning a tap dance number together — and gel as an ensemble. The closing musical is a last hurrah of sorts; after 8 weeks of singing, dancing, sweating, and making music together, the final show is where each artist, surrounded by their new colleagues and lifelong friends, gets to give it their all one last time. This year is no exception – we will open our mainstage season on July 3 with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita and thesummer season will come to its grand finale on August 17th with the last performances of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!

Read on to learn a little more about each of these beloved musicals, and don’t forget – season tickets are on sale now!

[Read more…] about 2019 Production Highlights: Evita & Oklahoma!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to page 3
  • Go to page 4
  • Go to page 5
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Go to page 8
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Bringing music to the Adirondacks since 1915

Follow Us on Facebook

Follow Us on Facebook

Recent Blog Posts

  • Seagle Festival’s 2022 Stage Directors give insight into the shows
  • Meet the 2022 Seagle Festival Emerging Artists
  • Harmony – A World Premiere Opera

Footer

Where to Find Us

518-532-7875
999 Charley Hill Road
PO Box 366
Schroon Lake, NY 12870
Summer Season (June-August)
1094 US Rte 9
PO Box 366
Schroon Lake, NY 12870
Off-Season (September-May)

Supported in Part by

National Endowment for the Arts
NY Council on the Arts

And donations from people like you.
Donate today.

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Sign up to get news and updates delivered to your inbox.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2023 · Seagle Music Colony · Seagle Festival · All Rights Reserved.

 

Loading Comments...