Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Toronto, 14 November 2011…Toronto Operetta Theatre presents Imre Kálmán’s greatest hit, THE GYPSY PRINCESS (Die Csárdásfürstin) at the St. Lawrence Centre during the Holiday Season on December 28, 30, 31, January 4, 6, 7, 8 (mat.), 2012. “Music theatre – whether you call it operetta, comic opera, zarzuela, opera bouffe or Broadway Musical - is fun for the whole family” says TOT”s Guillermo Silva-Marin, “and I’m so pleased that we can continue to give Toronto audiences a work of this calibre, seldom seen and heard in Canada featuring 100% Canadian talent.”
Imre Kálmán was one the great trio of operetta composers in the Austro-Hungarian tradition that included Franz Lehar and Johann Strauss. The glamorous cabaret diva of the title will be played by Lara Ciekiewicz, last heard by TOT audiences as Countess Maritza. Ms. Ciekiewicz recently starred as another fiery female - Musetta - in Opéra de Montréal’s LA BOHEME. TOT favourite Elizabeth Beeler, Angele Didier in TOT’s THE COUNT OF LUXEMBOURG, will be Countess Stasi and Keith Klassen, just back from Manitoba Opera, stars as the dashing Prince Edwin, with Stratford Festival alumni Ian Simpson as Count Boni. Canadian Opera Company maestro Derek Bate leads the full production staged by Silva-Marin at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts.
Social and class struggles are at the core of our gypsy princess’s story with Sylvia as the cabaret star and Edwin as her beloved Prince. His parents have other plans for the Prince and oppose any relationship with a commoner. Matters come to a surprising conclusion after revelations of past peccadilloes that level all ranks. THE GYPSY PRINCESS premiered at the Johann Strauss Theater in Vienna in December of 1915 and was an immediate hit. Musically Kálmán mines the riches of his native Hungary to great effect and matches Lehar waltz for waltz. Uniquely for the time, he also weaves the rhythms of American pop music into his creation and the sizzle of the cabaret scenes is unbeatable.
NEWS FLASH!!! – TOT’S EVER POPULAR NEW YEAR’S EVE DINNER AND DANCE RETURNS TO THE HOTHOUSE CAFÉ ON DECEMBER 31st. Following the Austro-Hungarian New Year’s Eve tradition, you’ll enjoy the operetta, a sumptuous dinner, dancing and champagne at midnight, all in the presence of Hungarian Ambassador His Excellency László Pordány
NYE Gala Subscription packages are still available with savings of up to 30%. A special TOT’s budget priced FAMILY NIGHT OUT offers discounts of up to 50% for children and youth less than 16 years of age. Groups of 20 and over are offered a 30% discount.
Toronto Operetta Theatre is grateful for the support of Deutsche Presse (media sponsor), the Jackman Foundation, the Bedolfe Foundation, KPMG, Barrick, Marriott Hotels, the Canada Council, Toronto Arts Council and the Ontario Arts Council. The TOT Friends Campaign partners are HotHouse Café, Hotel Victoria, Hernando’s Hideaway, and Café Nicole. All performances at the wheel chair accessible St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts – Box Office (416) 366-7723 or 1-800-708-6754. On line sales www.stlc.ca. For information, call TOT at (416) 922-2912.
2011-11-14
Toronto: Toronto Operetta Theatre presents Kálmán’s masterpiece “The Gypsy Princess” for the holidays