× Upcoming Events Past Events
Image for As the Così Crumbles: A Company-Developed Piece
As the Così Crumbles: A Company-Developed Piece
July 27, 2021 - August 02, 2021
Chautauqua Opera Company presents

As the Così Crumbles: A Company-Developed Piece is a one-act production that explores the following questions: “What would happen if singers let us know what they really think about the characters they play? If given free rein, what arias and roles would they choose, and which would they throw off?” 

These are the questions that Chautauqua Opera Company’s Young Artists have explored, led by Chauncey Packer (Director), Steven Osgood (Conductor), and the composer team of Frances Pollock (Composer-in-Residence), Sage Bond (Composer Fellow), and Jasmine Barnes (Composer Fellow). 

As the Così Crumbles reimagines beloved arias and ensembles from opera’s greatest hits in bold, surprising, and genre-bending adaptations that you will not hear on any other operatic stage. 

opera.chq.org

Production Dedication

This production is dedicated to all twenty of Chautauqua Opera Company’s 2020 Young Artists—Samina Aslam, Zachary Barba, Eric Botto, Michael Colman, James Eder, Jared V. Esguerra, Celeste Godin, Yazid Gray, Kelly Guerra, Nicole Heinen, Shafali Jalota, Chasiti Lashay, Daniela Magura, Michael Miller, John David Nevergall, Max Potter, Aaren Rivard, Jake Skipworth, Hilary Grace Taylor and Wan Zhao.  Seeing the artistic agency each of these singers took last summer, in the face of extraordinary challenges, was a source of endless inspiration to me. In fact, it was the catalyst for this piece. While we were able to invite only five of these twenty singers to join our company this summer, it is their collective spirit and their voices which live and breathe in As the Così Crumbles.

Cast, Creative & Production
Cast 

Soprano
Chasiti Lashay*

Mezzo-Soprano
Kelly Guerra*

Tenor
Jared V. Esguerra*

Baritone
Yazid Gray*

Lyric Bass
Michael Colman*

 

Creative 

Composer/Arrangers
Frances Pollock, Composer-in-Residence  
Jasmine Barnes, Composer Fellow 
Sage Bond, Composer Fellow 

Conductor  
Steven Osgood

Director  
Chauncey Packer*  

Assistant Director
Diane Machin

Set Designer 
Efren Delgadillo, Jr. 

Lighting & Video Designer  
Michael Baumgarten 

Resident Costume Designer & Costume Shop Supervisor 
B.G. FitzGerald

Wig and Makeup Designer  
Martha Ruskai 

Audio Engineer for Performance Pavilion on Pratt & Sound Designer 
E. M. Gimenez

 

Production 

Technical Director 
John P. Woodey 

Production Stage Manager 
Valerie K. Wheeler*  

Assistant Stage Manager 
Emily Barber* 

Properties Master/Scenic Artist 
Theresa Granger 

Assistant Costume Supervisor 
Cristine A. Patrick 

 

Stage Operations 

Head Video/Steward 
Graham Riggle 

Head Electrician 
Jeff Emory 

Head Audio 
Colin Braeger 

 

Credits 

Scenery constructed by Local @66 I.A.T.S.E.

Sound and staging supplied by Advanced Production Group 

Lighting supplied by 4 Wall  

Video supplied by Grise Visual Center 

 

Crew is represented by I.A.T.S.E. 266
*The noted artists are members of the American Guild of Musical Artists

Chautauqua Opera Orchestra

Violin
Diane Bruce

Piano
Emily Jarrell Urbanek 

Personnel Manager 
Marian Tanau 

Principal Librarian 
Lara Sipols

Leadership & Staff

General and Artistic Director 
Steven Osgood 

Music Administrator/Chorus Master 
Carol Rausch

Director of Production and Resident Lighting & Video Designer  
Michael Baumgarten

Managing Director 
Daniel Grambow

Arts Marketing Specialist 
Makayla Santiago-Froebel

Company Manager 
Amanda Seal  

Coach/Accompanist, Company Scheduler, COVID Safety Supervisor 
Rick Hoffenberg 

Coach/Accompanist/Diction/Supertitles Operator 
Allison Voth 

Coach/Accompanist  
Emily Jarrell Urbanek 

Arts Marketing Associate 
Suzanne Olson

Special Thanks

Emily Roller

Zach Stahlsmith

Rachael Fox

Young Artist Program

Chautauqua Opera provides Young Artists with performance tools essential to establishing a professional career in opera. All Young Artists receive extensive musical coaching from nationally recognized coaching staff drawn from the finest universities, conservatories, and opera houses in the US. They are offered classes in movement, combat, makeup, and acting, while appearing in our mainstage productions.

Read more about our program.

Chautauqua Opera Guild

The Chautauqua Opera Guild serves as the advocacy group in support of the Chautauqua Opera Company. Memberships support our Young Artists, the Children’s Opera Education Program, and grant you access to events all summer long. 

Join today!

The Chautauqua Opera Guild Board of Directors thanks the following members for their outstanding support of the 2021 Chautauqua Opera season
(Current as of 7/26/2021) 

Archangel ($1,000+)
Jack Connolly and Peg Barrett
Gregory S. Ferriss
Chris and Sue Martin
Joreta and Richard Speck
Ralph G. Walton, MD
Drs. Jeanne E. Wiebenga and E. Jane Stirniman

Angel ($500-$999)
Adele M. Thomas Charitable Foundation, Inc.
Virginia H. Cox
Joseph and Toni Goldfarb
Arlene Gottlieb and Chaz Miller
Brad and Deanna Johnson
Patricia L. King
Lynn Moschel
Richard J. Osborne
Linda Steckley and Pete Weitzel
Steve and Pat Telkins
Beth Thomas
Katherine (Kay) White
Mary Louise Williamson

Benefactor ($250-$499)
Paul E. Cawein
Richard and Marty Davis
Deborah and Ted First
Mr. and Mrs. James Groninger
Nancy Langston
Cynthia Norton
Mary and Bob Pickens
Robin and Mark Robbins
Carol Schaal
Jana Stone
Sue and Gary Tebor
Barbara Turbessi
Angela M. Twist

Sponsor ($125-$249)
Nancy Adams
Shirley Adams
Philip and Susan Allen
Edith Benson
Carolyn Benton
Loretta Bower
Judith Claire and Robert Van Every
Mary Clements
Dr. and Mrs. William E. Cooley, Jr.
Sally Craig
Paul and Judith Farber
Marwin L. Feldman
Cheryl Gorelick and Jake Zeigler
Terrie Vaile Hauck
Sallie L. Holder
John and Jill Hopkins
Carol and Bob Hopper
Susan Kuhn
Blossom Leibowitz
Sharon and Dick Levick
John Lloyd
Mike and Nancy Lott
Dr. Narwhals and Gina Mating
Sanford and Margery Nobel
George and Melissa Orlov
Richard and Mary Lou Parlato
John and Sue Ann Power
Christopher Rupp and Sandy Sandoz
Nancy A. Seel
Rabbi Samuel and Lynn Stahl
Jenny and Tim Stitely
John and Wilma Twinam
Nancy Waasdorp
Elizabeth A. Welch and Stephen E. Glinick

Member ($50-$124)
Mark Altschuler
Anna Antemann
Nancy Bohn
Ann and Stan Borowiec
Christi and Rob Bowser
Jim and Barbara Brady
Joyce and Scott Brasted
John Burden
Carolyn Byham
Tom and Kathy Clingan
Christopher, Roslyn and Charlotte Dahlie
Jo Ann Deblinger
Jean and Sigo Falk
W. Jane Foster and Arthur S. Willson
Christopher Gibbs
Marjorie Gingell
Marjorie Girth
Judy and Al Goldman
Don and Kathleen Greenhouse
Arlene Hajinlian
Carol and John Hardenburg
Ellen Harmon
Catherine Jarjisian
Bob Jeffrey
Livia and Phil Kades
Herb Keyser
Doug Kreider
Rich and Karin Lewis
Dr. F. Palmer Lindblom
Susan Rowan Masters
Ann Monastra
Casey and Marilyn Neuman
John and Esther Northman
Susan D. Nusbaum
Hale and Judy Oliver
Douglas Pohly
Barbara Rait
Carole Reeder
Martha and Rich Reitman
Drs. Alice and Robert Rosenthal
Suzanne Shull
Joan and Bob Spirtas
Rosalind Stark
Suzanne Taub
Jo-an M. Webb

Contributors

Chautauqua Institution and Chautauqua Opera acknowledge the generous support provided by the following contributors in support of opera through significant annual giving and sustained endowment funds. 

 

The Amphion Foundation, Inc. 

Chace & Josephine B. Anderson Opera Endowment Fund

John E. Anderson Opera Endowment 

The Peggy and Andy Anderson Family Fund for Opera 

The Cynthia Auerbach Fund for Opera 

Bemus Endowment for Opera 

Mr. and Mrs. Stacey Berger Scholarship 

Joel Brandwein Memorial Scholarship 

The Anne C. Britton Memorial Scholarship 

The Indiana-Peggy Hoover Bryan Voice Scholarship 

JoAnn and Gene Buffo Voice Scholarship 

The Edwin L. Bullock Scholarship 

The Lillian B. Bullock Scholarship 

The Anne and John Burden Opera Fund 

Burden-Staples Music Scholarship 

Chautauqua General Scholarship 

Chautauqua - NFMC Dorothy Dann Bullock Award 

Chautauqua Opera Endowment Fund 

The Chautauqua Opera Guild Endowment Fund 

The Chautauqua Opera Guild Endowment for Connolly Residence Hall 

The Chautauqua Voice Scholarship 

Chautauqua Women's Club Award 

Clarkson Family Scholarship 

The Thomas and Kathleen Clingan Fund for Opera  

The Connolly Family Fund for Opera 

Connolly Residence Hall Endowment 

The John A. and Emily McKnight Corry Opera Fund 

Eleanor B. Daugherty Scholarship Fund 

The Barbara Baldwin DeFrees Opera Fund 

Diamond Jubilee Class of 1948 Scholarship 

The Mardelle Dressler Dobbins Scholarship 

David and Miriam Yanes Eddleman Voice Scholarship 

Ms. Eleanor C. Eisenmenger 

Mary Cummings Paine Eudy Scholarship 

The Walter F. Ferchen Opera Fund 

Beverly and Marvin Fiegelman Scholarship Fund for the Performing Arts 

The Luella Morris Forney Memorial Scholarship 

Wilbur D. Forney Memorial Scholarship Fund 

The Eleanor B. Franks Fund for the Opera 

Sheila Gitlitz Scholarship Endowment 

Toni and Joseph Goldfarb Scholarship 

The Toni and Joseph Goldfarb Scholarship Fund for Fine & Performing Arts 

Bluie & Kitty Greenberg Voice Scholarship 

The James and Elisabeth Groniger Fund for Opera 

The Jane A. Gross Opera Endowment 

Grover Family Scholarship Fund 

Hebrew Congregation Voice Award 

Heitzenrater Family Voice Scholarship 

Lillian B. Hersh Music Scholarship 

The Kay Frantz Israel Fund for Opera 

The Lucinda Ely Johnson Scholarship 

The Max and Edythe Kahn Scholarship Fund 

Naomi Kaufman Voice Scholarship 

Audrey and Kenny Koblitz Scholarship 

The John and Mary Lou Kookogey Scholarship 

The Kullberg Scholarship 

Felicia and Andy Landis Memorial Fund 

The Mildred Lesenger Fund for Opera 

The Kay H. Logan Opera Fund 

The Martha Marcks Mack Award 

The Annette Pickens Malvin Memorial Fund for Opera 

The Christopher and Susan Martin Opera Fund 

The Margaret Clark Mercer Fund for Opera 

Ms. Laura Miller Voice Scholarship 

Laurie Miller Voice Scholarship 

The Ralph E. Miller and Paul E. Cawein Fund for Opera 

Ralph E. Miller Memorial Scholarship for Music 

The Sylvia Lucas Miller Scholarship in Music 

The Steve Z. and Mary G. Mitchell Family Fund 

The Reverend Lloyd V. Moffett Opera Endowment Fund 

The Augusta L. Ebert Molyneaux Scholarship 

The Elmer G. Molyneaux Scholarship 

The Mary Louise Molyneaux Scholarship 

Moore Scholarship Fund for Music 

National Endowment for the Arts 

National Federation of Music Clubs Award 

The Marian A. Neubauer Scholarship 

New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature 

The Robert G. and Lillian Vitanza Ney Family Opera Fund 

Lily Lee Nixon Fund 

Hale and Judy Oliver Endowment for Connolly Residence Hall

Mary Elizabeth Peffer Music Scholarship 

Pennybacker Memorial Scholarship 

The Joseph A. and Anne T. Prezio Opera Endowment Fund 

Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Rait Scholarship 

The Richards Family Opera Fund 

The Molly Rinehart Fund for Opera 

Mary McQueen Ross Scholarship 

The Richard B. Rubin Scholarship Fund 

James Scamman Memorial Scholarship 

The Charles G. Schwartz Scholarship 

The Sabina Mooney Seifert Memorial Scholarship 

The Suzanne Gaider Sroka Scholarship 

Alfredo Valenti Scholarship Fund 

The Wadsworth Fund 

Charles Weaver and Family Fund for Opera  

Donald Welch Memorial Scholarship Fund 

Dr. Fred R. Whaley and Helen A. Whaley Fund for Opera 

Katherine Karslake White School of Music Scholarship 

The Robert & Virginia Young Opera Fund 

Zemsky Endowment for Opera

Guest Experience Survey

Thank you for attending our performance at the new Performance Pavilion on Pratt. We value our patrons and ask that you provide feedback on your experience with us today. 

Take the survey