LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The School of Music Opera Theatre at the University of Louisville will perform “The Essential Carmen,” adapted from Georges Bizet’s tragic story, Dec. 2 and 3, 7:30 p.m., at the Rudyard Kipling, 422 W. Oak Street.
Based on “Carmen,” Bizet’s best-known work and one of the world’s most performed operas, “The Essential Carmen” unfolds the love story in less than an hour. Five singers perform all parts and interact with the audience.
“The audience becomes everyone else in the scene,” director Mike Ramach said. “They are the spectators at the bar, bullfight, et cetera. The cast goes through the audience and plays to them as if they are part of the story. It should be interesting.”
Ramach said that the narrative and music, including “Habanera,” sung by UofL student Bethany Stiles who plays the beautiful and ill-tempered gypsy Carmen, have been translated into English. The fall production is new this year for the opera theatre program.
“The opera is an opportunity for our advanced students to perform in an unconventional setting in the community. The Rudyard Kipling is a venue for small, experimental theatre productions, alternative music and other unconventional performances,” Ramach said. “So you can get dinner, a drink and see this contemporary take on a classic.”
Admission is available at the door and patrons are asked to pay what they can for the performance. Dinner reservations are available beginning at 6 p.m. by calling the Rudyard Kipling at 502-636-1311. The production is recommended for mature audiences.
For additional details about the production, contact Ramach at 502-852-0544.