Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Toronto, December 2, 2015… Toronto Operetta Theatre’s 2015-2016 season continues with a new production of Sigmund Romberg’s popular hit musical, THE STUDENT PRINCE, opening with a matinee on Sunday, December 27 (3 pm) with further shows on December 28 & 31, 2015 (Gala New Year’s Eve package available) and matinees at 3 pm on January 2, 3, 2016.
“Romberg’s tale of young love in Olde Heidelberg was the longest running show of its time” says Toronto Operetta Theatre’s General Director Guillermo Silva-Marin. “At 608 performances it even outlasted ‘Showboat’, another popular hit from that era.” Romberg’s many musicals were filled with one great tune after another but none was so packed with hits as THE STUDENT PRINCE. The students Drinking Song, Deep In my Heart, Prince Karl Franz’s Serenade and Golden Days are just a few of the immortal melodies that flowed from his pen. Dorothy Donnelly’s book and lyrics are based on Meyer-Förster’s play Old Heidelberg and tells a bittersweet tale of young love, innocence and the call of duty in the fictitious German principality of Karlsberg. Prohibition had closed the bars and beer halls of the USA in the 1920s and calls to ‘Drink, Drink, Drink’ echoing from the stage of the Jolson Theatre were especially welcome to thirsty, young New Yorkers!
Dedicated to supporting Canada’s wealth of vocal talent, TOT has assembled a stellar cast of singer/actors led by tenor Ernesto Ramírez as Prince Karl Franz. His Heidelberg sweetheart is Kathie, the innkeeper’s daughter, sung by debuting soprano Jennifer Taverner. TOT favourite Curtis Sullivan returns to the St. Lawrence Centre stage as Dr. Engel and the student corps will be led by Stefan Fehr as Detlef and Cian Horrobin as Captain Tarnitz. Herr Ruder, the innkeeper, will be played by Stuart Graham and the musical’s comedic foil is Sean Curran as Lutz, the prince’s valet. The Canadian Opera Company’s resident conductor Derek Bate leads the cast, chorus and orchestra and Silva-Marin directs the fully-staged production.
Continuing the Toronto Operetta Theatre’s Viennese Silvesterball tradition, there will be a Gala New Year’s Eve performance and dinner/dance on December 31, 2015 at the HotHouse Restaurant and Bar. Dinner, show, dancing and champagne at midnight with friends and family! Special package discounts are available.
The St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts is wheelchair accessible and close to public transit and municipal parking. Call the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts at 416-366-7723, 1–800-708-7654 or on line at www.stlc.com.
Photo: Album cover for The Student Prince. ©1954 RCA Victor.
2015-12-03
Toronto: Toronto Operetta Theatre presents "The Student Prince" December 27, 2016-January 3, 2016