The Springfield Municipal Opera (The Muni) recently announced its shows for th 2024 Season with Jersey Boys, Music Man, Cinderella and Disney’s The Little Mermaid. "From the dreams of aspiring musicians to the dreams of a princess and a mermaid,t he Muni is sure to have audiences singing along and rooting for the dreams of our main characters,” said Muni President Steve Rotello.
The Muni will present Jersey Boys, directed by Craig Williams II and Christie Lazarides and sponsored by Edward Jones, from May 31-June 2 and June 5-June 8; Meredith Wilson’sThe Music Man, directed by Laurie McCoy and sponsored by Sikich, from June 21-23 and June 26-29; Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, directed by Laurie Barnes and Betsy O’Brien and sponsored by UCB, from July 12-14 and July 17-20; and Disney’s The Little Mermaid, directed by Tiffany Williams and Donna Ragan and sponsored by Springfield Clinic, from August 2-4 and August 7-10. All shows start at 8:30 p.m.
Williams is no stranger to directing at The Muni and has collaborated with Lazarides on many productions. They are both excited to bring JerseyBoys to The Muni stage for the first time. Jersey Boys is the story of four blue-collar kids who became one of the greatest successes in pop music history. The musical follows the evolution of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons as they hit stardom with hits like "Sherry,” "Big Girls Don’t Cry,” and"Can't Take My Eyes Off You.”"Jersey Boys will blow you away with its non-stop energy, fantastic harmonies, and music that will have you singing and dancing all night long.”
Laurie McCoy directed 2023’s Fiddler on the Roof at The Muni and is looking forward to bringing another classic to the stage this summer with The Music Man. The Music Man follows fast-talking traveling salesman Harold Hill, as he takes advantage of the dreamers in River City, Iowa, conning them into buying instruments for a band he vows to organize even though he knows nothing about music. Eventually, the town gets the best of him, and one resident transforms him into a respectable citizen.
Laurie Barnes is a long-time Muni director but will be co-directing with her daughter, Betsy O’Brien, to bring Cinderella to life. In this version of Cinderella, a young woman forced into a life of servitude by her cruel stepmother dreams of a better life. Her Fairy Godmother transforms her into an elegant lady who catches the eye of the prince, and Cinderella is able to enlighten him about the injustices in his kingdom."We're thrilled to unveil a fresh and updated rendition of Cinderella on the Muni stage, in which classic enchantment meets contemporary flair. Get ready to witness Munimagic like never before as we breathe new life into this timeless tale!" said O’Brien.
Finally, Tiffany Williams and Donna Ragan make their directorial debuts at The Muni with Disney’s The Little Mermaid. A family favoriteat The Muni, TheLittle Mermaidtells the storyof King Triton’syoungest daughter, Ariel, and her dream to trade her mermaidtail for legs so she can be with Prince Eric. This show includessongs like "Under the Sea,” "Kissthe Girl,” and "Part of Your World.”"What better way to debutas directors, than in a world of bright colors, spellbinding sounds, and a girl who fearlessly follows her dreams?” said Tiffany Williams.
Those interested in auditioning are encouraged to attend the 2024 Audition Workshop in February at the Hoogland Center for the Arts. More information about the workshops and auditions will be available on The Muni website.
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