Georgia will sing the role of Margaret Johnson in Guettel’s The Light in the Piazza.
OSB Premiere
Premiered 2005 on Broadway
Music and Lyrics by Adam Guettel; Book by Craig Lucas
Stage direction by Layna Chianakas
Conducted by OSB Principal Pianist and Director of the Chrisman Studio, Tim Accurso
Center Stage Theater
751 Paseo Nuevo
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Based on the 1960 novella by Elizabeth Spencer, The Light in the Piazza tells the story of Margaret Johnson, a wealthy Southern woman and her daughter Clara, who falls in love with a young Italian man during a vacation in Italy. The show opened on Broadway in 2005 and ran for 504 performances. With a sophisticated score that lends itself to operatic voices, the Chicago Tribune hailed it as “the most soul-satisfying score written for Broadway so far this century”, The Light in the Piazza soon entered the repertoire of opera companies across the country.
This production will feature current and past members of our Chrisman Studio Artist Program, which is named in recognition of the support of Roger and Sarah Chrisman. Thanks to the recent expansion of the Studio Program, Opera Santa Barbara selected a studio showcase that highlighted the growth and talent of our studio artists. Husband-and-wife singers and CSA alumni, Matthew Greenblatt and Brooklyn Snow, will star in the March 23 and March 25 performances as Clara Johnson and Fabrizio Naccarelli. Current Studio Artists Ariana Horner Sutherland and Kyle Rudolf will portray the young couple on March 24 and 26. Singing the roles of the mothers, Margaret Johnson and Signora Naccarelli will be mezzo sopranos Christina Pezzarossi and Georgia Jacobson, with Signor Naccarelli sung by Matthew Peterson and Elijah Cineas. Omar Rodriguez will sing the role of Fabrizio’s brother, Giuseppe, and his wife Franca will be portrayed by long time OSB chorus member, Adrien Roberts, marking her 22nd production with Opera Santa Barbara. The production will be directed by Layna Chianakas, director of last season’s production of Speed Dating Tonight and the mainstage production of Tosca, and will be accompanied by members of the Opera Santa Barbara Orchestra under the direction of OSB Principal Pianist and Director of the Chrisman Studio, Tim Accurso.