Production & Performance History

Summer 2019: George Frideric Handel’s Rinaldo

CAST: Angela Oldham Barca (Goffredo), Milena Gravante-Gunnells (Rinaldo), McKenna Troy (Almirena) Craig Judicki (Eustazio), Carina Gravante-Gunnells (Armida), Sarah Fischer (Argante), Shaina O’Malley (Herald, Woman, Magician)

Directed and adapted by Melinda Beasi
Musical direction by Lemuel Gurtowsky
Lighting design by Syl Simmons

August 1-3, 7:00 PM
Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School
South Hadley, MA

Read more about Rinaldo!

Summer 2018: Henry Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas

JUNO – Julia Jemsek
VENUS – Sarah Fischer
FIRST CHILD – Sarah Van Horn
SECOND CHILD – Samantha Van Horn
DIDO – Ayla Connor-Kirshbaum
BELINDA – Eliza Carson
SECOND WOMAN – Carina Gravante-Gunnells
AENEAS – Angela Oldham Barca
IARBAS/SORCERER – Brayden Stallman
FIRST WITCH – Milena Gravante-Gunnells
SECOND WITCH – Angelys Martinez
MERCURY – Greyson Lynch
FIRST SAILOR – Craig Judicki
IRIS – Shaina O’Malley

Directed and adapted by Melinda Beasi
Musical direction by Lemuel Gurtowsky
Lighting design by Alexa King

August 2-4, 8:00 PM
Eastworks, Easthampton

Read more about Dido and Aeneas!

Opera Workshop Spring Recital 2018

Opera Workshop Fall Recital 2017, “An Evening of Baroque Opera”

Summer 2017:
Act Too Studio Opera Workshop presents the work of W.A. Mozart
Così fan “tutti”

Cast:
Don Alfonso: Brandon Dallmann
Ferrando: McKenna Troy
Guglielmo: Eliza Carson
Fiordiligi: Calandra Damouras
Dorabella: Ayla Connor-Kirshbaum
Barbarina: Julia Jemsek
Carina: Carina Gravante-Gunnells
Milena: Milena Gravante-Gunnells

Ensemble: Sarah Fischer, Isabelle Bouvier, Greyson Lynch, Craig Judicki, Parker Black, Brayden Stallman, Liam Shannon

Music by W.A. Mozart, edited and adapted by James David Jacobs
Libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte, adapted by James David Jacobs
Directed by Melinda Beasi
Musical Direction by Lemuel Gurtowsky
Fight Choreography by Jeff Lord

Read more about Così fan “tutti”!

Opera Workshop Spring Recital 2017

givingtuesday-new

Live & livestreamed for #GivingTuesday, Act Too Studio Opera Workshop students perform the G. Schirmer anthology 24 Italian Songs and Arias of the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries in its entirety, as a fundraiser for their 2016-2017 workshop season, including their adaptation of Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte, coming up in the summer of 2017.

The event features current workshop members (ages 13-18), singing this time-honored anthology in full, with bonus songs from its updated version, 28 Italian Songs and Arias, as special rewards to be performed throughout the evening as our fundraising benchmarks are reached!

Local Supporters: Please bring and USE your smartphones during the performance to encourage your friends and family to support our students’ efforts! Cake and other snacks will be provided! Act Too Studio merchandise will be for sale at the venue as well!

All Supporters: This event will be LIVE STREAMED via ConcertWindow for those who cannot attend in person! Join our Facebook Event for updates! THERE WILL BE SING-ALONGS (music provided).

Tuesday, November 29th, 7:00 PM
Gateway City Arts – Judd Paper Hall
92-114 Race St., Holyoke, MA
Directions & parking info

Admission is free, donations gratefully accepted!

Please consider us in your end of the year giving. CLICK HERE TO DONATE.

#GivingTuesday is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration.

Summer 2016:

Act Too Studio Opera Workshop presents the works of
Claudio Monteverdi

Il sogno d’Arianna

Cast:

Arianna: Eliza Carson
Eurydice: Tess Mathewson
Erminia: Calandra Damouras
Clorinda: Anna Plummer

Storytellers: McKenna Troy, Sylvia Simmons, Caroline Lee, Sydney Scott, Daaé Ransom, Carina Gravante-Gunnells, Milena Gravante-Gunnels, Molly Czitrom, Connie Flachs

Directed by Melinda Beasi
Musical Direction by Lemuel Gurtowsky
Choreography by Connie Flachs & Anna Plummer
Musical Arrangements/English Adaptation:
James David Jacobs, Melinda Beasi, & Sylvia Simmons