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Ida by Lamplight & Sitcom Workshop Presentation
August 8, 2025
Ida by Lamplight

Ida by Lamplight

from The Summer Place

Jeremy Gill, composer

Jerre Dye, librettist

Steven Osgood, conductor

Ida by Lamplight was commissioned by the Chautauqua Opera Company thanks to a dedicated anonymous gift.

The Summer Place was commissioned by the Chautauqua Opera Guild.


Cast
Ida Tarbell: Lindsey Weissman  
Kate Kimball: Kathiana Dargenson
Mrs. Talbot: Victoria Lawal  
Mrs. McNeil: Rosamund Dyer 
John Heyl Vincent, Seoyong Lee

Ensemble
Miriam Charney, piano

Synopsis


When: 1886

Where: An office of The Chautauquan, late at night

As the editor of The Chautauquan, it’s Ida’s duty to take on the arduous, time-consuming job of correspondence with the reading circles and the over 25,000 individual Chautauquan readers across the United States. She is passionate about having personal correspondence with each individual.



Sitcom

Sitcom

Luke Styles, composer

Alan McKendrick, librettist

Steven Osgood, conductor


Sitcom was developed in collaboration with Opera Philadelphia and Producing Fund Partner Andrew Martin Weber. 


Cast 
Bettina: Kathiana Dargenson 
Joan: Emily Finke 
Vendetta: Lindsey Weissman 
Max: Chuanyuan Liu 
Bouncer: Robert Ellsworth Feng 
Manager: Rosamund Dyer 
 
Council 
Carlos Ahrens 
Joel Clemens 
Antonio Domino 
 
Crowd 
Carlos Ahrens 
Joel Clemens 
Antonio Domino 
Rosamund Dyer 
Lwazi Hlati 
Erik Tofte 
 
Ensemble
Nathaniel LaNasa, harpsichord 
Rick Hoffenberg, keyboard 


Synopsis 

As in classic television sitcoms, Sitcom’s four main characters are delightfully trapped in the eternal present of their own worlds. Conceived as four 30-minute “episodes,” each episode will take Max, Bettina, Joan and Vendetta on hugely transformative journeys, but crucially return each of them to their status quo for the beginning of the next episode. 


Content Advisory: SITCOM

Please be advised that the second workshop presentation, SITCOM, contains sexual content, strong language, substance use, and suggestive physicality. It may not be suitable for children under 13.

The first workshop presentation, Ida by Lamplight, is appropriate for all audiences. If you prefer not to view SITCOM, you are welcome to exit during the short break. 

 

Leadership & Staff:

General & Artistic Director: Steven Osgood
Music Administrator/Chorus Master: Carol Rausch
Music Staff: Miriam Charney, Rick Hoffenberg, Nathaniel LaNasa, and Allison Voth
Director of Production: Michael Baumgarten
Production Stage Manager: Valerie Wheeler 

Assistant Stage Managers: Hanna Atkinson and Alexandria Griner
Technical Director: JP Woodey
Costume Shop Supervisor: Cristine Patrick 

Costume Shop Crew: Larissa McConnell and Gabriela Hertel 

Wig Supervisor: Martha Ruskai 

 

Manager: Helen Hassinger
Arts Marketing Specialist: Holly Weston
Company Scheduler: Rick Hoffenberg
Management Associate: Summer Bugbee
Marketing and Management Assistant: Aviva Harris 

Opera Guild Intern: Michael Burns