Boston Opera
After a hectic work schedule, immerse yourself in some wonderful music and drama at the Boston Opera House.
The Location: 539, Washington Street, Theater District Boston, MA 0211 Å (617) 931-2787
Box Office Hours: 10a.m.-6.00p.m. (Monday – Saturday)
Rules • If you have booked your tickets in advance, you must collect them one hour before the doors open. Ensure you bring your photo ID and the credit card with which you will pay, and your number confirming your advance booking. • No matter what your age, you must have a ticket—no toddler can watch from a lap-perch! • Children below 4 years are strictly not permitted to enter the theatre.
For reaching your destination via Bus or Rail, obtain precise route directions at www.ticketmaster.com
History
Prelude The curtains rose on the stage of the first Boston Opera House in the early 1900s, when drama in lyrical forms was a popular form of entertainment. The first notes resounded at the small venue with the staging of Ponchielli’s “La Giaconda”. Entry to the public was for a nominal 75 cents up to $3.
What is today the Boston Opera House was inaugurated on October 29th, 1928. At that time, it was known as the B. F. Keith Memorial Theatre. The foundations were laid by Edward Albee, his partner in business, and the theatre catered to the numerous fans of vaudeville. However, the fans stopped attending when the first film reel rolled into motion. To keep up with the times, the theatre started screening films, holding concerts and staging Operas.
When the guns of World War I started booming, no shows were held for a short period of time. In 1915, Max Rubinoff managed the theatre. Under the name of the Boston Grand Opera Company, operas once again took centrestage, with Montemezzi’s “The Love of Three Kings”.
Touring companies, such as the Metropolitan Opera of New York, the Chicago Opera Company, etc. utilized the Boston Opera House as a platform for their talents. The Boston Opera Company became “the best equipped temple of music” in the country, as mentioned by the Boston Globe.
Intermission During the financial meltdown created by the Great Depression and the onset of World War II, the musical notes cracked figuratively and literally- the venue was considered dangerous by the city’s Redevelopment Authority. Demolition work began, but improper equipment could not raze it to the ground immediately. After the arrival of modern-type equipment, the building was finally demolished in 1958.
The present-day building of the Boston Opera House was styled along the earlier one and was re-named the “Opera House”. Under the management of Sarah Caldwell, operas once again entertained the public. However, she was not good at handling the financial aspects. Worse was to come- a terrible deluge wrecked the electric fittings in 1991 and the painstakingly made costumes stored within were ruined. The building itself was badly affected and the walls crumbled…a sad ending - Not quite!
Second Act Clear Channel, Inc., was the savior of the Boston Opera House. After numerous legal hurdles and endless discussions with the city authorities, the broadcasting company took up the mammoth task of renovating the building, which had been given landmark status due to the zealous efforts of Mayor Thomas Menino and Senator Edward Kennedy. Work on restoring the Beaux Arts-style building began in 2002. All the fixtures damaged by earlier climatic calamities were restored and the walls were repainted.
July 2004 - Finally- Showtime! The successful musical Broadway show “The Lion King” revived opera at the renovated venue, seating more than two thousand eager fans.
Spotlight
Annie will be performed at the Boston Opera House from June 13th, 2006 to June 25th, 2006. Those who loved ‘Little Orphan Annie’, the comic strip by Harold Gray, will surely not want to miss this musical. The Magnificent Team (as of June 2006): Director: Martin Charnin Lyrics: Martin Charnin Music: Charles Strouse
Cast (as of June 2006): Marissa O’Donnell (Annie); Conrad John Schuck (Daddy Warbucks); Alene Roberson (Miss Hannigan); Mackenzie Phillips (Lily St.Regis).
The Story: At the centre of the musical is Annie, a red-haired little girl living in an orphanage run by Miss Hannigan in New York City. She constantly yearns for the return of her parents, whose note in a part of a heart-shaped locket reassures her that they will come for her. One day, when it dawns on her that they are never likely to take her away from her miserable life, she runs away. Unfortunately, the police later bring her back. On that same day, Grace Farrell, who works as secretary to Oliver Warbucks, a well-known billionaire, has come to the orphanage to fulfill Oliver’s wish to have an orphan stay with him. Happily enjoying her new life in a large home, it takes some time before Annie is able to establish a close bond with Warbucks. He then makes the decision to adopt Annie, which annoys Miss Hannigan greatly. She decides to use Annie as a tool to obtain loads of greenbacks, and hatches a plot with help from her brother Rooster and his girlfriend Lily St. Regis. Act One concludes with a promise from Warbucks to seek out Annie’s parents. Act Two- does Warbucks succeed – See the musical!
Some of the major Forthcoming Performances
Dashboard Confessional- August 13th, 2006. (Only 8 tickets allowed per person). This is a must hear for rock fans. Christopher Carrabba, who performs as a singer and is also a songwriter, leads the group. For A List of Musical Releases of Dashboard Confessionalwww.artistdirect.com A Brief Synopsis of this Group • First solo: The Swiss Army Romance • Other Bands with Carrabba: Further Seems Forever; Vacant Andies • Best Year: 2001, when his “Screaming Infidelities” became a major hit; Drowning EP and “Places You Have Come to Fear the Most” were launched; Jointly toured with the Weakerthans; Toured U.S.A. with No Motiv, Hot Rod Circuit, and Alkaline Trio. • Partner: Dan Hoerner (of Sunny Day Real Estate) joined Carrabba in 2002. • Full Band: 2003-Popular song “A Mark, a Mission, a Brand, a Scar”. • Musical Hit: 2004- “Vindicated” for the soundtrack of Spider-Man 2.
All Shook Up- October 7th, 2006. What it’s about: A young girl living in a small town meets an unknown guitar
player, who opens up the magical world of romance and introduces her to the music of rock ‘n’ roll. The Team Behind the Musical (as of June 2006): Director: Christopher Alley Music Direction and Orchestra: Stephen Oremus Cast (30) (as of June 2006):: Cheyenne Jackson, Jenn Gambatese, Jonathan Hadary, Curtis Holbrook and others. Major Highlight of this Musical: 24 of Elvis Presley ’s wonderful songs, including the title song “All Shook Up’, “Hearbreak Hotel”, “Can’t Help Falling in Love”. Major Achievement: Nominated in the 2004-2005 season Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Broadway Musical, Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Cheyenne Jackson), Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Jenn Gambatese) Note: Jay David Saks, who has won the Grammy Award 8 times, produced the Original Broadway Cast Recording.
Wicked, based on the novel by the same name by Gregory Maguire, will be performed at the Boston Opera House from September 12th, 2007 to October 14th, 2007. It has a show time of 2 ½ hours, with an intermission of 15 minutes. The Creative Unit (as of June 2006): Director: Joe Mantello (Tony Award winner in 2003 and 2004) Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz Music: Stephen Schwartz Cast (as of June 2006): Kendra Kassebaum (Glinda); Julia Murney (Elphaba); Alma Cuervo (Madame Morrible); P.J.Benjamin (The Wizard). The Story: Two girls with distinctly different personalities are the main characters of this musical. One is intelligent but always misunderstood, the other is ambitious and always popular. Their transformation into witches-the Wicked Witch of the West and the Good Witch (Glinda) forms the center point of the story.
Major Achievements: For the 2003-2004 season, this musical won the Outer Critics Circle Award for (1) Outstanding Broadway Musical (2) Joe Mantello - Oustanding Direction of a Musical (3) Eugene Lee-Outstanding Set Design (4) Susan Hilferty-Outstanding Costume Design.
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