Cinderella

Opera by Alma Deutscher

American premiere (and world premiere of English language version)
Presented December 2017 in San Jose by The Packard Humanities Institute and Opera San Jose

Alma Deutscher's opera is based on the fairy tale, but music itself has become the central theme of the story. The setting is an opera company run by the stepmother, who inherited it from Cinderella’s father when he died. Cinderella herself is a composer with beautiful melodies springing into her head, but her new family treats her with contempt, especially the step-sisters, who are vain would-be divas. The prince is a poet, and the story ends with the Prince searching for the lost melody for his poem (rather than a lost slipper). Cinderella opera synopsis

Cast, direction and design at bottom of page

Opening scene - Cinderella working backstage in the opera house

Stepsisters Griselda and Zibaldona with Cinderella

The King and his Royal Minister in the palace

The Prince meets Emeline in the forest, Alma Deutscher at left performing on the piano

Cinderella received the Prince's book of poems from Emeline

The Stepmother with the stepsisters and Cinderella in the opera house

The Stepmother and Cinderella

The Prince and The Minister in the palace

Emeline with Cinderella in the opera house

Emeline, Cinderella and Cinderella's ball gown

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The Masked Ball

The Prince meets Cinderela

A balcony outside the palace ballroom

Midnight! "I must leave"

In the King's chamber at the palace

On stage at the opera house

Cinderella is banashied to the basement

The Prince hears Cinderella singing her song and frees her from the basement

Proposal

Emeline prepares to lead the Prince and Cinderella to the Royal Chapel

In the Royal Chapel ready for the wedding, Alma Deutscher at left performing on the theatre's Wurlitzer organ

Full cast on stage after the wedding

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Cast:
Cinderella Vanessa Becerra
Prince Jonas Hacker
King Nathan Stark
Emeline (Fairy) Claudia Chapa
Stepmother Mary Dunleavy
Griselda Stacey Tappan
Zibaldona Karin Mushegain
Minister Brian James Myer
Flower girl Helen Deutscher

Direction amd Design:
Stage Director Brad Dalton
Dance Director Richard Powers
Scenic Design Steven Kemp
Lighting Design David Lee Cuthbert
Costume Design Johann Stegmeir
Wig Design Robert Pickens
Makeup Design Erica Marshall
Properties Master Lori Scheper-Kesel