For Immediate Release
Fantasy Opera Sequel to “Sephro,” comes to the Fringe
Philadelphia, PA--- “Sephro: The Vengeance,” sequel to its predecessor, “Sephro” will be presented by Fantasy Weavers Original Theatre and Opera for Children and Adults. This company’s mission is to present new fantasy works with meaning to the underprivileged children and adults, and minorities everywhere.
Both the book and the music of Sephro were written by Kate Quinn, President of Fantasy Weavers.
Sephro itself 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. This past September, she presented the full opera to the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, at the Rotunda. It was very well received, boasting a fine sized audience, one of whom said that the whole experience was like “a preview to a Met performance.” Quinn is thrilled to premier “Sephro: The Vengeance,” for the Philadelphia Fringe Festival in 2012. 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: The Vengeance continues Sephro’s healing power of music, the universal language, that takes us on a journey of the great mystical mysteries of life, love, death, salvation and transformation. The coven of pagan witches from Earth, having lost their High Priestess, now join the Sephrons on their own planet. The aim is vengeance, as well as the conquering of their foes.
In the story of Sephro, Crystonian, the father of the coven, lost his wife Aera to a fire set by the evil Sephron renegade. Jondu joined forces with Corianna, the estranged adopted daughter of Crystonian and Aera. Together, they planned to destroy Sephro as it was, making it theirs to rule by keeping the Sephrons enslaved. Their attempts to invade Sephro and to destroy the co-creator of its sustenance, Torli, failed. Crystonian, the earth witch, saved the co-creator Lurin's life by interrupting a ritual in which Jondu and Corianna would have killed him.
Meanwhile, Crystonian’s son Cryss had forged a romance with a young Sephron girl named Craela in the astral world. Jondu, unwilling to be defeated, captured Craela from Cryss, while the two of them were declaring their love. To achieve his destruction, Jondu, along with Corianna, set the entire witch coven on fire. The High Priestess, Aera, wife of Crystonian and mother to Cryss, was killed in the fire. Cryss and Crystonian managed to escape. With the help of Craela, Lurin, and Ror Shoki Tanna, the overseer of Sephro, they were transported to Sephro.
Now begins our story, Sephro: The Vengeance. Once on the planet Sephro, Cryss immediately weds Craela. This is a great threat to Jondu, as love between the two planets is a powerful weapon. Crystonian, having been comforted in his grief by Lurin, unexpectedly falls in love with him. Their feelings are an added weapon as Lurin declares, "Love and Unity will destroy all evil!" With this double threat to Jondu and Corianna, there is a plethora of strength on Sephro's part. However, the forces of evil are determined and strong. Let the Vengeance begin!
The production will take place on Saturday, September 8th at 7pm and Sunday, September 9th at 3pm. Admission is $15.00 for the general public. Students and seniors get an additional $5 off with ID. Sephro the Vengeance is recommended for audiences 13 and up. Reservations can be made by visiting the Philadelphia Fringe Festival website at http://www.livearts-fringe.org/festival/ticket-info.cfm. You may also call 610-389-9572, Fantasy Weavers’ main number, or just purchase admission at the door.
Featured in the cast are, among others, soprano Eve Edwards(Corianna), Tenor James R. Longacre(Jondu), Soprano Elizabeth Oliver(Craela), Bass-Baritone John Rudolph(Crystonian), Mezzo-Soprano Kate Quinn(Cryss), tenor Dennis Kalup(Lurin), and baritone Stephen Ream(Ror Shoki Tanna). Production is by Fantasy Weavers Original Theatre and Opera for Children and Adults, Stage Direction is by Dorothy Cardella, and Musical Direction is by Jane Hulting. Choreography is by Patty Nasuti, Digital and Special Effects are by Echo Shi, and Costumes are by Amy Chmielewski and Lois Babbitt. Above artwork is by Colleen Quinn.
LISTINGS INFORMATION:
What: Sephro: The Vengeance, a science fantasy opera.
Where and When:
Saturday, September 8th, 7pm, and Sunday, September 9th, 3pm, at the Rotunda, 4014 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
About Fantasy Weavers, visit www.fantasyweavers.org
About the Rotunda visit www.therotunda.org
About the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, visit www.livearts-fringe.org
Media Contact: Kate Quinn
info@fantasyweavers.org
610-389-9572