Frankenstein

WORLD PREMIERE

Arizona Opera’s eagerly-awaited third World Premiere, based on Mary Shelley’s iconic novel by the same name, comes to the stage to open the 2023/24 Season in the McDougall RED Series. With a riveting, cinematic score and libretto by Gregg Kallor, the living, feeling Creature is brought to life only to be forsaken by its creator, Victor Frankenstein. Embracing Shelley’s original text, Frankenstein gives poignant voice to The Creature’s struggle and lays bare the horror of alienation and “otherness” with exquisite nuance. At the core of this heartbreaking tale lies an exquisitely wrought plea to look deeper within ourselves to find our commonality and to uphold our responsibility to one another.

Frankenstein was workshopped at Arizona Opera in Phoenix in December 2022 to great success. It follows Arizona Opera’s first two gripping World Premieres, Riders of the Purple Sage and The Copper Queen Film, the latter of which was released in fall 2021 as a feature-length film. As stewards of the 400-plus year art form, Arizona Opera thrives on re-imagining its productions, commissioning new operas, and supporting up-and-coming artists.

Performed in English with English and Spanish supertitles

PERFORMANCE DATES:

Phoenix – October 13 - 15, 2023 – Herberger Theater Center
Tucson – October 21 & 22, 2023 – Temple of Music and Art

WARNING: Frankenstein contains repeated episodes of violence and assault, including the murder of a child. It also includes the appearance of a gun (not fired) and possible strobe/bright light effects and haze.

#azofrankenstein
 

Estimated Running Time: 2 hours and 19 minutes, including one 30-min intermission
 

Frankenstein is part of the McDougall Arizona Opera RED Series. New commission funded, in part, by a gift from Linda and Stuart* Nelson. Production made possible, in part, through generous support from Ron and Kay McDougall, Karen Wadman, Dr. Herschel Rosenzweig, Billie Jo Herberger, Carol Franc Buck Foundation, Susan Esco Chandler, Richard P Stahl Charitable Trust, Michael and Beth Kasser, Lewis Roca, Peggy Reiley and Richard Sheaff, in honor of Dana Sheaff, Bankers Trust, GymGuyz, and SRP. The company debut of Sarah Ina Meyers was partially supported by OPERA America’s Opera Grants for Women Stage Directors and Conductors, generously funded by the Marineau Family Foundation.

Arizona Opera’s 2023/24 Opening Night RED Party is sponsored in part by Billie Jo Herberger, Lewis Roca, Peggy Reiley and Richard Sheaff, in honor of Dana Sheaff, Bankers Trust, GymGuyz, and SRP.