Flurry Tale - A holiday opera for the entire family!

Vinteyra was originally commissioned and developed by Family Opera Initiative

Photo Jonas Persson

COMPOSER – Rusty Magee

LIBRETTO – Billy Aronson

CONCEPT & DIRECTION – Grethe Barrett Holby

LENGTH – 60 Minutes

AGE GROUP – All Ages

CAST

Dad (Baritone)
Snowman (Bass-Baritone)
Santa (Tenor)
Emma (Soprano)
Reindeer (Mezzo-Soprano)
Sugar Plum Fairy (Soprano)

INSTRUMENTATION

Chamber Orchestra (9)

Percussion
Woodwinds
Brass
Piano

Full Orchestra (25)

Orchestration upon request

DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS –

American Opera Projects
New York Area Schools (Trinity School, Nightingale-Bamford School)
New York Public Library

CREDITS – Flurry Tale Orchestra Premiere 2009 at Clark Studio Theater, Rose Building, NYC

MAJOR SUPPORT FROM -

The Victor Herbert Foundation
The Bagby Foundation for the Musical Arts
Laurie Tisch Illumination Fund

FLURRY TALE

When Emma’s distracted Dad proclaims his disbelief in Santa Claus and talking snowmen, a cast of familiar holiday figures set out to prove that they really do exist—resulting in a zany, whimsical adventure. After much squabbling amongst themselves, the mismatched group ultimately plot Dad's downfall, until Emma reminds them of the compassionate message of the season.

For music from the show please contact us at: info@ardeaarts.com

CREATIVE TEAM

RUSTY MAGEE, COMPOSER ( 1955-2003) was an accomplished composer and lyricist for theater, television, film, and commercials. He won the New York Outer Critics’ Circle James Fleetwood Award for Moliere's Scapin, which was produced at CSC Repertory Theatre, Yale Repertory Theatre, and American Conservatory Theater. His full-length musical theatre work, The Green Heart, was presented at Variety Arts Theatre, produced by Manhattan Theatre Club. Flurry Tale, a holiday opera, was commissioned by American Opera Project’s Family Opera Initiative, and presented at the Clarke Studio Theatre, NYC. Other credits include music and lyrics for American Repertory Theatre’s Ubu Roi, Servant of Two Masters and Imaginary Invalid. Co-writer of The Czar of Rock and Roll (Houston's Alley Theater), and arranger for The House of Blue Leaves (Lincoln Center and Broadway). His music has been featured on Comedy Central, Showtime, The Movie Channel, Nickelodeon and the Disney Channel.

BILLY ARONSON, STORY & LIBRETTO has written plays produced by Playwrights Horizons, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Woolly Mammoth Theatre, and Wellfleet Harbor Actor’s Theatre. Additional credits include original concept and lyrics for the hit musical Rent; Flurry Tale and Fireworks! for Family Opera Initiative; Cartoon Network, Children's Television Workshop (Sesame English and the Sesame Street home video), the Disney Channel, MTV, PBS, Nickelodeon, A&E International, The History Channel, and Comedy Central. Best American Short Plays 1992-1993, 1999-2000, and plays from the Woolly Mammoth. Aronson is a graduate of the Yale Drama School and Princeton University.

GRETHE BARRETT HOLBY (CONCEPT & DIRECTION) “Propelling opera into the 21st century” (NPR), and “An Artist Busting the boundaries,…Holby is at ease in worlds radical or traditional, and comfortable with combining the two.”(NYTimes). Her background and skills in theatre & storytelling, dance & movement, and architecture & visual design combine to compelling results in all her productions. She has directed, choreographed, performed, & collaborated on world premieres at The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center Festival, Houston Grand Opera, La Scala (Milan), and for opera companies from Los Angeles to Washington DC, Anchorage to Memphis. An originating cast member of Einstein on the Beach, she has collaborated with legendary artists as diverse as Leonard Bernstein, Lou Reed, Robert Wilson, Beth Gutcheon and Yusef Komunyakaa. Founding director of both Ardea Arts & American Opera Projects, she is a Rockefeller Fellowship recipient, and holds B.S. & M.S. degrees in Architecture and Design from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.