THE FAIRY QUEEN

SAT, JUN. 18 2022 | 7:30PM | VISALIA FOX

THE FAIRY QUEEN, A SEMI-OPERA, WAS WRITTEN AS INCIDENTAL MUSIC FOR WILLIAMS SHAKESPEARE'S A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. IN THIS VERSION OF THE WORK, PURCELL'S BEAUTIFUL VOCAL AND INSTRUMENTAL MOVEMENTS ARE INTERSPERSED WITH DIALOGUE FROM SHAKESPEARE'S PLAY IN A MAGICAL EVENING OF THEATER. UC SANTA CRUZ SINGERS AND ACTORS ARE JOINED BY MEMBERS OF THE SEQUOIA SYMPHONY.

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THE ORIGINAL PRODUCTIONS WAS MEANT TO BE A FULL PLAY WITH ONE OF PURCELL'S MASQUES AT THE END OF EACH OF THE FIVE ACTS. OUR VERY OWN ADAPTATION OF THIS WORK INCLUDES SOME OF EACH WORK; A SERIES OF SHAKESPEARE'S DIALOGUES INTERSPERSED INTO THE FIVE ACTS OF THE PURCELL (FROM WHICH SOME OF THE MUSICAL NUMBER ARE CUT). RATHER THAN THE ORIGINAL FOUR HOUR VENTURE, OUR PRODUCTION IS ABOUT 2 HOURS LONG. 

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THERE WILL BE SOME LIMITED SCENIC ELEMENTS AND ALL OF THE WONDERFUL COSTUMES AND WIGS INCLUDED IN THIS PRODUCTION. THIS WILL BE A GREAT SHOW FOR FAMILIES AS THERE IS COMEDY, COLORFUL COSTUMING AND WIGS ALONG WITH BEAUTIFUL MUSIC. 

CONDUCTED BY BRUCE KIESLING. DIRECTED BY SHEILA WILLEY.

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