For Immediate Release
Fantasy Opera Returns to Philadelphia in February, 2011
Philadelphia, PA--- Sephro, a science fiction fantasy opera in two acts, will be presented by Fantasy Weavers Original Theatre and Opera for Children and Adults, a new Production Company affiliated with Quinn Compositions, another unique company that specializes in writing music, operas and musicals for commission. Both the book and the music of Sephro were written by Kate Quinn, President of Quinn Compositions and Fantasy Weavers.
Sephro took Kate Quinn fourteen years to write and compose, having first began the project in 1996. Arias and duets from Sephro were premiered with such musical groups as the Main Line Opera Guild, BCV Performing Opera and Concert Artists, Delaware Valley Opera Company and Kit Crissey's Composer Showcase. After much hard work and dedication, Quinn finally finished the opera in December of 2009. This past September, she presented the full opera to the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, at the Rotunda. It was very well received, boasting a fine sized audience, one of whom said that the whole experience was like "a preview to a Met performance." Quinn is thrilled to reprise Sephro again in February, 2011 for those who never got to see it with the Fringe. Quinn's operatic and science fiction background are combined in this unique story, which should be fascinating to audiences looking for something a little different from the usual fare. Both children and adults alike will appreciate the fantasy and reality dichotomy and the melodious music that keeps the story moving.
Sephro, a fantasy opera, uses the healing power of music, the universal language, to take us on a journey of the great mystical mysteries of life, love, death, salvation and transformation. When a coven of pagan witches unite with beings from another planet, divine spirituality of humankind triumphs over evil. Crystonian, the father of the coven, has saved Planet Sephro from certain destruction, and is asked to further aid them, as evil threatens. His wife, Aera, is a realist and does not believe in Sephro. Their son, Cryss, is in love with Craela, a mysterious young girl from the planet. Amidst their conflict, each character must make a decision that will change the course of his or her destiny.
The production will take place on Wednesday, February 2nd and Wednesday, February 9th at 7:30 pm. The venue will be the Rotunda, 4014 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA. Admission is $15.00 for the general public. $12.00 for seniors, and $8.00 for children under thirteen. Reservations can be made by calling 610-389-9572, Fantasy Weavers' main number, or, you may just purchase admission at the door.
Featured in the cast are, among others, soprano Eve Edwards(Corianna), Tenor James R. Longacre(Jondu), Soprano Elizabeth Oliver(Craela) , Bass-Baritone John Rudolph(Crystonian), and Mezzo-Soprano Kate Quinn(Cryss). Production is by Fantasy Weavers Original Theatre and Opera for Children and Adults, Directorship is by Dorothy Cardella, and Musical Direction is by Kate Quinn with keyboard accompaniments by William Gatens and Barbara Browne. Choreography is by Patty Nasuti, Digital and Special Effects are by Echo Shi, and Costumes are by Amy Chmielewski.
LISTINGS INFORMATION:
What: Sephro, a science fantasy opera.
Where and When:
Wednesday, February 2nd and Wednesday, February 9th, 7:30 at the Rotunda, 4014 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
About Fantasy Weavers, visit www.fantasyweavers.org
About Quinn Compositions, visit www.quinncompositions.com
About the Rotunda visit www.therotunda.org
About the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, visit www.livearts-fringe.org
About the Main Line Opera Guild, visit www.mainlineopera.org
About BCV Performing Opera and Concert Artists, visit www.bcvartists.org
About the Delaware Valley Opera Company, visit www.dvopera.org
About Kate Quinn, visit http://kate19119.tripod.com
Media Contact: Kate Quinn
610-389-9572