CCMONSTAGE OPERA D’ARTE UNDERGRADUATE OPERA

ORPHEUS IN THE UNDERWORLD 

Music by Jacques Offenbach  
Adapted by Omari Tau 
Libretto by Hector Crémieux and Ludovic Halévy  
Adapted by Buck Ross

Feb. 4-6, 2022, Cohen Family Studio Theater

Opera d'Arte Sponsor
Rafael and Kimberly de Acha

  • Music Director and Conductor Brett Scott
  • Chorus Master and Assistant Conductor Gregory Miller*
  • Rehearsal Pianists: Soojin Kim, Samuel Martin, Hyewon Shin
  • Director Amy Johnson
  • Choreographer/Movement Coach Susan Moser
  • Producer Kenneth Shaw
  • Faculty Assistance from Stuart Skelton, Elliot Madore 
  • Graduate Assistant and Supertitles Erin Alcorn*
  • Costume Designer Corey Cochran* with Kenneth Shaw
  • Sound Designer Chris Berger*
  • Production Stage Manager Rosie Burns Pavlik* 
  • Props Master Madisen Frazier*

*CCM Student

Orpheus in the Underworld will last 95 minutes with a 15-minute intermission between Act 2 and Act 3.

Director's Note

By Amy Johnson

Sometimes we all need a good French farce. Its mélange of mistaken identities, caricature, disguises, magical elements, breaking of fourth walls and healthy doses of indecency give us permission to take nothing seriously, other than the laughs. 

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to the CCM Voice faculty, Donna Loewy, Kathleen Kelly, Robert Doak and Vernon Hartman.

Synopsis/Scene Breakdown

Act I A remote, exotic resort for the gods

In the prologue, Public Opinion sets the tone in the manner of a Greek Chorus, assuring us that the audience is safe from the ensuing mayhem. We then meet the misbehaving Eurydice, followed by her husband, Orpheus. It quickly becomes clear that they both have extramarital interests and would gladly divorce if not for tarnishing their reputations. As an alternative, Orpheus plans to dispose of Eurydice's lover - Aristaeus, who, in fact, is Pluto in disguise. When Eurydice meets her demise instead of Aristaeus, his identity is revealed and she is willingly swept away to the underworld.

Orpheus is elated when he learns the news but is immediately reprimanded by Public Opinion and charged with descending to the underworld to retrieve his wife (whether he wants her or not!).

Act II Mount Olympus, home of Jupiter

While some gods are sleeping, others who have been frolicking during the night attempt to sneak back into bed before being caught. Diana's entrance is quick and dramatic, and she laments the loss of her love, Acteon. Jupiter admits to interfering with the affair by turning him into a stag. This leads to a family feud regarding Eurydice's disappearance. Mercury arrives in time to momentarily lower the tension, if not the temperature. However, he brings with him Pluto, who Jupiter believes is responsible for Eurydice's disappearance. Their confrontation is interrupted by civil unrest which leads to a condemnation of Jupiter's past indiscretions. The crisis mounts with the untimely arrival of Public Opinion and Orpheus. Orpheus identifies Pluto as the one who took his wife - exonerating Jupiter. Jupiter declares that Pluto must return Eurydice to Orpheus. To ensure this happens, Jupiter will go to Hell himself to retrieve her. The gods are fascinated and decided to make a family outing of it. 

Intermission

Act III The Underworld

Eurydice complains of being abandoned in a tacky suite with no internet.  Truly Hell. John Styx professes his admiration and sings of his rule as King of Boeotia.  As he whisks her away they are interrupted by the approach of Pluto and Jupiter. John Styx quickly secures Eurydice. Upon their entrance, Pluto continues to claim his innocence and invites Jupiter to a party.  Jupiter doubles back, determined to find Eurydice and with the help of Cupid and The Love Police, slithers his way through the keyhole of her room and seduces her. They plan a rendezvous at the party and thereafter an escape. 

Act IV The Underworld Reprised (even lower)

A party set in one's worst nightmare - superficial luxury and never-ending commercialized holidays. As the guests praise debauchery, a mysterious bacchante arrives and sings a hymn to Bacchus. Courtly dances follow, but they quickly ignite into a can-can orchestrated by the otherworldly Lady Phaedra.  Pluto prevents the escape of Jupiter and Eurydice but is exposed as her kidnapper.  Jupiter challenges Orpheus to lead Eurydice out of the underworld without looking back at her lest he lose her. The gods place bets.  Orpheus fails. Public Opinion is scandalized. Pluto is hopeful that he will retain Eurydice, but Jupiter has other plans. He will put her on The Voice. 

The Company

  • Public Opinion | Reed Demangone, Nia Spalding*
  • Eurydice | Alea Vernon, Lea Nayak*
  • Orpheus | Jarrett Hazelton, Zachary Burnham*
  • Aristeus/Pluto | Andrew Cunningham, Nathan Schludecker*
  • Judges, Goddesses, Love Police | Jadyn Riggs, Torie Davis, Caitlin Chisham, Lauren Albano, Laura Stanell
  • Venus | Maya McGuire, Annie Weible
  • Cupid | Natalia Adame, Victoria Popritkin*
  • Mars | Henry Lunn
  • Jupiter | Emilio Vasquez
  • Diana | Katherine Riederer
  • Juno | Matilda Smoilj
  • Mercury | Grant Shields, Henry Lunn*
  • John Styx | Atticus Rego
  • The Lady Phaedra  | As herself
  • Dancers | Delaney Benson, Annalese Fusaro, Nathaniel Jones, Tomi Newman 

*Featured in the performance on Sat., Feb. 5

Orchestra Roster

Orpheus in the Underworld Orchestra Roster

Brett Scott, conductor

Violin I

  • Rachel Lee

Cello

  • Hye Jeong Oh

Flute

  • Lianna Bartlett 

Oboe

  • Sarah Minneman

Clarinet

  • Emily Jo Spinelli 

Trumpet

  • Emery Hicks 

Trombone

  • Jordan Rowan 

Piano

  • Soojin Kim

Percussion

  • Jett Stevens

Production Staff

  • Technical Director | Stirling Shelton 
  • Assistant Stage Manager | Indy Caramelli 
  • Production Assistant | Hannah Kate Hawver*
  • Assistant Production Managers | Emma King, Leah Berry
  • Assistant Technical Director | McKenna Brennan
  • Scenic Charge Artist | Samantha Tamulonis
  • Assistant Sound Designer | Michael Donahue
  • Production Sound Engineer | Brenden Friedel
  • Sound Board Operator | Alex Hsiung
  • Sound Shop Graduate Assistants | Alex Brock, Ryan Hurt, Patrick Kiernan, Aaron Woodstein
  • Stage Management Office Assistant | Jie Min

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CCM News

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US Coast Guard Band's 'Heartland Harmonies' tour presents...

May 20, 2024

The United States Coast Guard Band brings its "Heartland Harmonies" concert tour to UC's College-Conservatory of Music on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. The free concert is presented in Corbett Auditorium as part of the band's tour through the American South and Midwest regions for public performances and educational outreach.

2

CCM Voice alumna receives Richard Tucker Career Grant

May 16, 2024

A UC College-Conservatory of Music alumna recently received the 2024 Richard Tucker Career Grant and made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera. Elena Villalón (BM Voice, ’19) is one of three recipients of the $10,000 grant from the Richard Tucker Music Foundation.

3

CCM shares 2024 alumni and distinguished service awards

April 26, 2024

UC's College-Conservatory of Music is proud to present alumni and distinguished service awards to outstanding members of our community at the end of each academic year. The 2024 awards are presented to four accomplished alumni and one dedicated patron in a private virtual event on April 23.

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Sponsors

Louise Dieterle Nippert Trust
Scholarship and Resident Artist Sponsor
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
CSO/CCM Diversity Fellowship Sponsor
The Corbett Endowment at CCM
Dance Department Sponsor
All-Steinway School Sponsor
Louise H. & David S. Ingalls Foundation, Inc.
Community Partners
The Joseph and Frances Jones Poetker Fund of the Cambridge Charitable Foundation, Ritter & Randolph, LLC, Corporate Counsel
Visiting Artists & Thinking About Music Sponsor
Dr. & Mrs. Carl G. Fischer 
Greg Mathein 
Gary & Barb Cummins 
Jim & Linda Miller 
George & Carroll Roden
Musical Theatre Department Sponsors
Genevieve Smith
Opera Production Sponsor
Rafael and Kimberly de Acha
Opera D’Arte Sponsor
An Anonymous Donor
Estate of Mr. William A. Friedlander
Mrs. William A. Friedlander
Dr. Randolph L. Wadsworth
Judith Schonbach Landgren and Peter Landgren
Mr. & Mrs. Harry H. Santen
Elizabeth C.B. Sittenfeld
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas E. Stegman
Mrs. Theodore W. Striker
Mrs. Harry M. Hoffheimer
Ariel Quartet Sponsors
Jan Rogers
Willard and Jean Mulford Charitable Fund of the Cambridge Charitable Foundation
Choral Studies Sponsors
Anonymous
  Classical Guitar Sponsor

Mr. & Mrs. Joseph W. Hirschhorn
Orchestral Sponsor
Dorothy Richard Starling Foundation
Starling Pre-Collegiate Sponsor
Starling Strings Sponsor
Dr. Timothy E. and Janet L. Johnson
Thom Miles and Roberta Gary
Organ Department Sponsors
Keyboard Club of Cincinnati
Louis and Susan Meisel
Piano Department Sponsors
Kevin and Nancy Rhein
   Wind Studies Sponsor
Buddy Rogers Music
LINKS Sponsor
Sponsors listed as of Sept. 7, 2023

General Information


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  • Location: CCM Atrium Lobby next to Corbett Auditorium
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  • Email: boxoff@uc.edu
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The health and safety of our community remains our top priority. Based on current conditions, performance venues will be reduced to 50% capacity and all individuals, including audience members and performers, are required to wear facial coverings indoors, following guidelines from the CDC and UC's physician-led COVID response team. Additional measures may be in place as conditions develop based on guidance from the CDC and UC's physician-led COVID response team. Visit the UC Public Health website and CCM's COVID-19 website for additional information and updates.


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The use of cameras, with or without flashes, recording devices, cellular phones and other electronic devices inside the theater is prohibited. Please leave them with the House Manager.


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Map depicting exits from Cohen Family Studio Theater

Performance dates and repertoire are subject to change. View CCM's current calendar of events.

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