ASU Music Theatre and Opera season spotlights composers, students and masterworks
The ASU Music Theatre and Opera 2024–25 season kicks off Sept. 13.
The 2024–25 ASU Music Theatre and Opera season features projects that illuminate contemporary composers and writers, student-led work, and iconic masterworks that push the boundaries of opera and musical theater.
“All of our works this year show what ASU does best,” said Brian DeMaris, professor and artistic director of the ASU Music Theatre and Opera program. “They are all innovative works that blur the lines between opera and musical theater, telling new and timeless stories with the power of the human voice.”
The fall season opens with “Mutt,” a new musical comedy about the strength of friendship when two inseparable companions — a tri-pawed pit bull and his chew toy — embark on a quest for fame and fortune in Hollywood.
“Notes on Viardot,” by Michael Ching, is a “jukebox opera” that looks back at the life of one of the 19th century's most famous opera divas, Pauline Viardot (1821–1910).
“Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812,” by award-winning composer Dave Malloy, is an electropop opera based on a scandalous slice of Leo Tolstoy’s “War and Peace.” Young and impulsive, Natasha Rostova arrives in Moscow to await the return of her fiancé from the front lines. When she falls under the spell of the roguish Anatole, it is up to Pierre, a family friend in the middle of an existential crisis, to pick up the pieces of her shattered reputation.
“We are excited to collaborate with Arizona-based creative artist and writer Marcus Terrell Smith on ‘Mutt,’” said DeMaris. “We are also thrilled to welcome back Michael Ching, whose opera ‘Speed Dating Tonight’ we produced virtually in 2020.”
The spring season opens with Monteverdi’s and Striggio’s “L'Orfeo,” based on the Greek legend of Orpheus, which tells the story of his descent into Hades and his fruitless attempt to bring his bride, Eurydice, back to the living world. Originally written in 1607, it is among the earliest Italian operas.
Next up is student-led work that is directed, designed and performed by ASU students. “First Date” follows blind-date newbie Aaron on an arranged date with serial-dater Casey as a casual drink at a busy New York restaurant turns into a hilarious high-stakes dinner after other restaurant patrons transform into supportive best friends, manipulative exes and protective parents.
“As You Like It” is an immersive dream-like tale of faithful friends, feuding families and lovers in disguise, and follows family members who are forced from their homes into the Forest of Arden, a fantastical place of transformation, where all find community and acceptance under the stars.
In addition to those six productions, the season will also include the Music Theatre Solo Cabarets and Opera Scenes. The Music Theatre Solo Cabarets feature music theater performance students who develop, write and perform their own solo cabarets, designed to create an intimate musical experience. Opera Scenes feature opera and voice students performing scenes from various operas.
The final performance of the season, the Music Theatre Showcase, presents the class of 2025 in their final showcase featuring a diverse range of music to highlight their talents.
This year, all of the works performed are ASU and Arizona premieres. Tickets are available at the Herberger Institute Box Office three weeks prior to performances.
“Mutt — A New Musical Comedy”
Book and lyrics by Marcus Terrell Smith
Music and arrangements by Robin Schäfer
Orchestrations and arrangements by Chris Sargent
7:30 p.m, Sept. 13–14
2 p.m., Sept. 15
Evelyn Smith Music Theatre
“Notes on Viardot”
Words and music by Michael Ching
7:30 p.m., Oct. 4–5
2 p.m., Oct. 6
Evelyn Smith Music Theatre
“Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812”
By Dave Malloy
7:30 p.m., Nov. 22–23
2 p.m., Nov. 23–24
Evelyn Smith Music Theatre
“L’Orfeo”
Music by Claudio Monteverdi
Libretto by Alessandro Striggio
7:30 p.m., Feb. 28–March 1
2 p.m., March 2
Evelyn Smith Music Theatre
“First Date”
Music and lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner
Book by Austin Winsberg
7:30 p.m., April 4–5
2 p.m., April 6
Evelyn Smith Music Theatre
“As You Like It”
Adapted by Shaina Taub and Laurie Woolery
Music and lyrics by Shaina Taub
7:30 p.m., April 25–26
2 p.m., April 27
Evelyn Smith Music Theatre
Music Theatre Solo Cabarets
7:30 p.m., Apr. 29–30
ASU Kerr Cultural Center
Opera Scenes
7:30 p.m., May 8
Evelyn Smith Music Theatre
Music Theatre Showcase
7:30 p.m., May 9
Evelyn Smith Music Theatre
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