Fantasy Opera comes to the Fringe
Friday, September 10th and Saturday, September 11th at 7:00 pm
Philadelphia, PA— “Sephro,” a science fiction fantasy opera in one act, will be presented by Quinn Compositions, a unique company that specializes in writing music, operas and musicals for commission. Both the book and the music of Sephro were written by Kate Quinn, executive director of Quinn Compositions
Sephro took Kate Quinn fourteen years to write and compose, having first began the project in 1996. Arias and duets from Sephro were premiered with such musical groups as the Main Line Opera Guild, BCV Performing Opera and Concert Artists, Delaware Valley Opera Company and Kit Crissey’s Composer Showcase. After much hard work and dedication, Quinn finally finished the opera in December of 2009 and is thrilled to present it to the Fringe Festival this year. Quinn’s operatic and science fiction background are combined in this unique story, which should be fascinating to audiences looking for something a little different from the usual fare. Both children and adults alike will appreciate the fantasy and reality dichotomy and the melodious music that keeps the story moving.
Sephro, a fantasy opera, uses the healing power of music, the universal language, to take us on a journey of the great mystical mysteries of life, love, death, salvation and transformation. When a coven of pagan witches unite with beings from another planet, divine spirituality of humankind triumphs over evil. Crystonian, the father of the coven, has saved Planet Sephro from certain destruction, and is asked to further aid them, as evil threatens. His wife, Aera, is a realist and does not believe in Sephro. Their son, Cryss, is in love with Craela, a mysterious young girl from the planet. Amidst their conflict, each character must make a decision that will change the course of his or her destiny.
The Fringe production will take place on Friday, September 10th and Saturday, September 11th at the Rotunda, 4014 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA. Admission is $15.00 with a discount of $12.00 for seniors. Reservations can be made by calling 215-951-9989(Quinn Compositions) or by visiting the Fringe Website. The Fringe box office number is 215-413-1318.
Featured in the cast are, among others, mezzo-soprano Kate Quinn(Cryss), soprano Jessica Brams-Miller(Craela), bass-baritone John Rudolph(Crystonian), soprano Mary Punshon(Aera), and tenor James R. Longacre(Jondu.) Production is by Quinn Compositions, Directorship is by Dorothy Cardella, Musical Direction is by pianist William Gatens, Choreography is by Patty Nasuti, Digital and Special Effects are by Echo Shi, and Costumes are by Amy Chmielewski.
FESTIVAL INFORMATION
The Philadelphia Live Arts Festival & Philly Fringe runs from September 3rd through to September 18th. Festival Guides, which include dates, times, and venues for all performances for both Festivals, will be available mid-August at all Festival venues, and other locations throughout the city.
The Philadelphia Live Arts Festival & Philly Fringe were originally founded in 1997 as the Philadelphia Fringe Festival. Today, the Live Arts Festival serves as a series of selected cutting-edge, boundary-breaking performing arts events, created by some of the most renowned contemporary artists from our region and around the world.
The Fringe serves as a collective home for artists bringing their work to audiences in every conceivable form - in traditional and untraditional venues, using new artistic forms and established ones, breaking rules or refining them.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
About Sephro, visit www.quinncompositions.com
About other shows by Quinn Compositions, visit www.planetdiscord.com
Media Contact: Kate Quinn
Hazelkate67@msn.com
215-951-9989(home)
610-389-9572(cell)