Chamber Opera: “Gianni Schicchi”

Step right up, folks! Brace yourselves for a Jersey-fied twist on the operatic classic as we transport Gianni Schicchi from the cobblestone streets of 13th-century Florence to the sun-soaked shores of 2005 New Jersey! Picture this: a tale of money, greed, and the eternal clash between the old guard and the new wave, all set against the backdrop of big hair, bigger attitudes, and the inescapable allure of the Jersey shore.

Gianni Schicchi, the real Florentine legend plucked straight from Dante’s Inferno, is reborn in a high-spirited satire that’s part cunning deceit, part operatic rollercoaster. Get ready for a libretto that’s more Sopranos than Puccini, as we explore the timeless themes of wealth, family, and the pursuit of that elusive American Dream.

And who could forget the show-stopping aria “O mio babbino caro,” a powerhouse performance that’ll leave you breathless and reaching for those gelato-scented tissues. Join us for a night of operatic mayhem where tradition meets modernity, and where New Jersey’s own Gianni Schicchi proves that even in the Garden State, the drama is as grand as the arias! Don’t miss this operatic extravaganza – because in Jersey, the soprano isn’t the only one hitting those high notes!

Conductor: Kirk Severtson
Stage Director: Mo Zhou
John Morefield, piano

CAST
Gianni Schicchi: Cody Carlson
Rinuccio: Yinghui He
Lauretta: Cinderella Ksebati
Zita: Aria Minasian
Gherardo: Jabari Lewis
Nella: Amber Rogers
Simone: Xavier Perry
La Ciesca: Maddy Ringo
Betto di Signa: Thomas Long
Marco: Justin Ingui
Maestro Spinellocio & Pinellino: Loren Reash-Henz
Ser Amantio di Nicolao: Hunter Reid
Gherardino: Marisa Redding
Buoso: Keen Williams