As our catalogue of opera adaptations grows, we’re thrilled to be able to begin offering licenses to perform them with other like-minded programs. As these are made available, they will appear on this page.
CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR LICENSE

Il sogno d’Arianna
An original full-length opera adapted from the works of Claudio Monteverdi
Music by Claudio Monteverdi, edited by James David Jacobs
English Libretto by Melinda Beasi & Sylvia Simmons
Original creative staff: Direction by Melinda Beasi; Musical Direction by Lemuel Gurtowsky; Choreography by Anna Plummer & Connie Flachs; Fight Choreography by Jeff Lord
Developed and workshopped under the guidance of James David Jacobs
In 2016, Act Too Studio Opera Workshop embarked on a special project, Il sogno d’Arianna, a full-length, original narrative adapted from the works of 17th-century composer Claudio Monteverdi, woven from excerpts from his operas, madrigals, and other works.
Drawing on the framework of Monteverdi’s “Lamento d’Arianna,” the sole surviving fragment of his opera L’Arianna, Il sogno d’Arianna begins with the tale of Ariadne, princess of Crete, and her abandonment by Athenian hero Theseus on the island of Naxos. Joined by an assembly of women hailing from Monteverdi’s many sources, including Greek myth and Torquato Tasso’s epic 16th-century poem La Gerusalemme liberata (Jerusalem Delivered), Ariadne seeks comfort and meaning in their shared stories, told through both music dance.
In addition to L’Arianna, the piece includes excerpts from Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo, as well as pieces from his 8th book of madrigals and selected Scherzi Musicali (“Lamento della ninfa,” “Il combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda,” “Zefiro torna e di soavi accenti,” “Chiome d’oro,” and many more). For this project, the Workshop created its own new editions of these works, including new English translations and new scores from original sources adapted for teen singers.
| Cast: 11 singers and 2 dancers, alto, mezzo, and soprano voices Instrumentation: Harpsichord, 2 violin, viola, cello License includes: Vocal Score, libretto, individual orchestra parts in PDF or print; Arrangements may also be made for remote or in-person guidance from original creative staff, including seminars on historical performance practice & improvisation. Please contact Melinda Beasi at melinda@acttoostudio.com for options & fees. Note: Scoring can be adjusted upon request to include tenor and bass voices, with the understanding that all cast should be femme-identified/presenting, which can include trans women and non-binary femme-presenting singers. |
Though this music dates back centuries, this new English libretto and its original narrative bring Monteverdi’s exquisite work to life for new audiences, and also contribute to what is now a very small number of full-length operatic works suitable for young singers.
Scenes from the original production: