World-class performance opportunities abound for students in both The Crane School of Music and the Department of Theatre and Dance at SUNY Potsdam. Led by Dr. Joshua Miller—the new director for the Crane Opera Ensemble at The Crane School of Music—students recently staged Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s comic opera “Le Nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro)” at Sara M. Snell Music Theater from Nov. 8 to 9, 2019. To provide greater student performance opportunities, two separate casts were selected for the opera, one performing on Friday night and one on Saturday.
"Performing in The Marriage of Figaro was an adventure that I will never forget! The Crane Opera Ensemble worked very hard to prepare this opera, bringing laughter and joy to our audiences!"
-Dominique Santiago '20
Students sang the opera in Italian with English supertitles projected over the stage. The production was updated from its traditional setting to a 1950s resort hotel, which was designed by Bruno-Pierre Houle. The resort-wear fashion was designed by SUNY Potsdam Associate Professor of Costume Design and History Janet Sussman.
Guest Conductor Michelle Rofrano worked with the amazing student-run orchestra to provide the music for the performance, and students from the SUNY Potsdam Department of Theatre and Dance handled all of the behind-the-scenes technical work. Click below for a visual look back at the rehearsals leading up to the performances and the students who brought the opera to life!
Full Cast
Friday, Nov. 8th Cast
Susanna: Emma Marhefka
Figaro: Craig Smith
Countess: Kayla Kovacs
Count: Chris Sarkis
Cherubino: Cara Navaretta
Marcellina: Dominique Santiago
Bartolo: Jared White
Basilio: Will Whisenhunt
Curzio: Ben Lewandowski
Barbarina: Madonna Champagne
Antonio: Nicholas Rondinelli
Bridesmaids: Tessa Spencer & Jacqueline Conlon
Chorus:
Kimberley Casey, Jackie Conlon,
Grace Donofrio, Olivia Faul,
Christian Gomez, Nicholas Hausman,
Jacob Hernandez, Ryan Horncastle,
Ben Johnson, Ben Lewandowski,
Ryan MacCarthy, Nicholas Rondinelli,
Zara Smith, Tessa Spencer,
Naomi Steele, Matthew Varden.
Saturday, Nov. 9th Cast
Susanna: Callie Damouras
Figaro: Craig Smith
Countess: Grace Craig
Count: Chris Sarkis
Cherubino: Gianna Grigalonis
Marcellina: Dominique Santiago
Bartolo: Jared White
Basilio: Will Whisenhunt
Curzio: Ben Lewandowski
Barbarina: Kimberly Casey
Antonio: Nicholas Rondinelli
Bridesmaids: Tessa Spencer & Jacqueline Conlon
Chorus:
Madonna Champagne, Jackie Conlon,
Grace Donofrio, Olivia Faul,
Christian Gomez, Nicholas Hausman,
Jacob Hernandez, Ryan Horncastle,
Ben Johnson, Ben Lewandowski,
Ryan MacCarthy, Nicholas Rondinelli,
Zara Smith, Tessa Spencer,
Naomi Steele, Matthew Varden