Orpheus in the Underworld
- Parental guidance suggested
- Strobe lights are used in this production
Offenbach’s
Orpheus in the Underworld
(Jeremy Sams Translation)
Western Washington University’s Opera Studio presents Jacques Offenbach’s satirical take on the famous Greek legend of Orpheus—the god of music—and his wife Eurydice. The classic myth tells the tale of a bereaved Orpheus who travels to the underworld to retrieve his beloved wife. In Offenbach’s telling, however, Orpheus can’t stand Eurydice, but is bullied by “Public Opinion” (the head camp counselor) to journey to hell to rescue her, encountering a cast of zany characters along the way. Jeremy Sams’ modern translation gives the opera a contemporary spin, made even more uproarious by its setting at a summer music camp where the counselors are presenting the annual camp play, this year during COVID. Laughs, lampoonery, and lively music abound!
By arrangement with Boosey & Hawkes, Inc., Agent in the USA for Josef Weinberger, Ltd., London, publisher and copyright owner.
Photography by Rachel Bayne
Sophie Finstad
Public Opinion: guardian of morality
Genevieve Hurlocker
Eurydice: wife of Orpheus
Ethyn McLaughlin
Orpheus: a musician
Andrew Garratt
Pluto (disguised as Aristaeus): god of death, brother of Jupiter
Adam Freemantle
Mars: god of war
John Styx: ghost of the King of the Beotians
Allie Orozco
Venus: goddess of love
Olivia Sutherland
Cupid: god of love, son of Venus
Johnathon Lyons
Jupiter: king of the gods
Katy Oettel
Juno: queen of the gods, Jupiter’s wife
Mia Shami
Diana: goddess of the moon and hunting, Jupiter’s daughter
Mia Falcone
Hebe: goddess of youth, Jupiter’s daughter
Brooke Beals
Minerva: goddess of wisdom, Jupiter’s daughter
Aidyn Stevens
Cybele: goddess of nature
Sean Diamond
Mercury: messenger of the gods
Miranda Loupas
Violin
Artistic & Stage Director, Heather Dudenbostel
Music Director & Pianist, Mark Davies
Stage Manager, Light Board Operator, & Subtitle transcription, Shachaf Zahavy-Mittelman
Assistant Director & Camp Counselor Intro Producer, Paden Koltiska
Assistant Music Director & Audio Operator, Nia Pristas
Costume Designer, Aidyn Stevens
Production Manager & Lighting Designer, Savannah LeCornu
Audio Producer & Recording Studio Manager, Nicholas Hastings
Video Producer & Live Stream Coordinator, Quin Wilder
Publicity Art Design, Delisle Merrill
Patrick Roulet
Heather Dalberg
Lee Anne Frahn
Mark Kuntz
Marc Mixon
David Saxton
Fred Ramage
Justene Merriman
Chris Casquilho
Gretchen Rumsey-Richardson
Jeffrey Gilliam
Milica Jovanovic
Jay Rozendaal
Greg Otterholt
Ryan Dudenbostel
Disability Accommodations
For disability accommodations, please contact the department presenting the event. Disability access information is available online at Parking Services, and further resources can be found by contacting Western's Disability Access Center.