The Merry Widow (2009)

Franz Leher's
The Merry Widow

Feb. 15, 16, 22 & 23, 2009 at 8 pm
Feb. 17 & 24, 2009 at 2 pm

Directed by Debbie Niezgoda
Music Directed by Joseph Sorge

Cast

Hannah - Denise Young
Count Danilo - Philip Bender
Baron Mirko Zeta - Michael Galizia
Valencienne - Alicia Oliver-Krueger
Camille de Rosillon - John Day
Raoul de St. Brioche - Peter Oliver-Krueger
Cascada - Richard Gorbutt
Njegus - Robyn Martinez
Kromov - Don Mitchell
Olga - Jackie Maloney
Bogdanovich - Carlton Maryott
Sylviane - Gaye Freese
Pritschitsch - Rand Huntzinger
Praskowia - Syril Kline

Grisettes - Felicity Brown, Tara Hockensmith, Katelyn Jackman, Sherry Mitchell, Madeleine Smith

Ensemble - Stephanie Desjardins, Gaye Freese, Lyle Jaffe, Ralph Johnson, Jane Maryott, Fritz Miller, Maureen Roult, Carla Rountree, Pamela Sears-Rogan, Rusty Suter, Jessica Vega, Ed Vilade

Orchestra

Violin 1 - Steve Natrella (CM), Bonnie Barrows, David Friedlander, Carolyn Larson
Violin 2 - Martin Brown, Peter Mignerey, Edwin Schneider
Viola - Amanda Laudwein, Victor Ontiveros
Cello - Michael Stein, Andrew Schneider, Laurie Brown
Bass - Pete Gallanis
Flute - Jackie Miller, Louise Hill
Oboe - Gwen Earle, Mary Haaser
Clarinet - Laura Langbein, Laura Bornhoeft, Jim Bensinger
Bassoon - Richard Sargeant
Horn - James Kocsis, Kathy Bartolomeo
Trumpet - Curt Anstine, Bernie Rappaport
Trombone - Steve Ward, Alan Potter, Frank Eliot
Percussion - George Huttlin, Jim Henriksen
Keyboard - Jenny Craley Bland

Production Staff

Producer - Denise Young
Assistant Producer - Michael Galizia
Assistant Music Director - Jenny Craley Bland
Choreographers - Felicity Brown, Carlton & Jane Maryott, Ann Yu
Stage Manager - Blair Eig
Assistant Stage Manager -Tony Dwyer
Lighting Designer - Ayun Fedorcha
Set Design - Original by Tony Cizek, Adapted by Dave Kaysen
Scenic Artist - Rebecca Meushaw
Costumes - Denise Young
Master Carpenters - William Kolodrubetz, Ed Byrdy
Set Construction - William Kolodrubetz, Tony Dywer, Ed Byrdy, Rebecca Graber, Lisa Freese, Pete Oliver-Krueger
Rehearsal Pianist - Jenifer Craley Bland
Photography - Harvey Levine
Program - Denise Young
Graphic Design - John Boulanger
Publicity - Sandy Rovner
Properties - Carlton & Jane Maryott
Educational Outreach program - Lisa Freese
House Management - Merle Haber
Set Storage - Rockville Civic Center

Synopsis

Act I – The Pontevedrian Embassy, Paris, France.
The annual ball celebrating the birthday of the country’s ruler, the Grand Duke, is underway. Valencienne, the wife of Baron Zeta, the Pontevedrian ambassador, is in love with a French aristocrat, Camille de Rosillon. Valencienne’s unsuspecting husband is dealing with a matter of state: Hanna Glawari, the widow of the old Pontevedrian court banker, who has left her 20 million, has just arrived in Paris. If she marries a Frenchman, her millions will be lost to Pontevedro, pushing the Fatherland into bankrupcy. The ambassador is determined to get Hanna married off to a Pontevedrian husband. He has selected the first secretary of the embassy, Count Danilo Danilovitch, as the ideal bridegroom.

But the ambassador is worried. The handsome Danilo has not yet appeared at the party. Hanna Glawari arrives, escorted byher suitors. The Merry Widow sweeps into the ballroom, observing that her suitors may actually be in love with her millions, rather than with her. Count Danilo, who has been found at Maxim’s, arrives. He hasn't slept for several nights, so he decides to take a nap.

Fleeing her insistent suitors for a while, Hanna walks into the room and awakens the sleeping Danilo. The two meet — again. Years ago Danilo had wanted to marry Hanna, but she was the daughter of a farmer, and his aristocratic uncle would not consent; thus Hanna married the old Glawari. She reminds Danilo of their tender affair, but he tells her that, despite all her money, he will never propose. When ladies’ choice is announced, all the men hope to dance with the widow, but she chooses Danilo.

Act II – Garden at Hannah Glawari’s Paris residence
The following evening, Hanna throws a real Pontevedrian garden party at her house. She sings the famous “Vilia,” about an alluring forest sprite. After various complications, including the misappropriation of Valencienne’s fan, on which Camille has written “I love you,” Hanna announces her engagement to Camille. Danilo, unable to disguise his jealousy, storms off to Maxim’s, and Hanna realizes at last that he still loves her

Act III – Ballroom at Hannah Glawari’s Paris residence
Everybody meets at Maxim’s, where the grisettes perform their famous dances. By now, Ambassador Zeta, convinced that his wife is having an affair with Camille, decides to divorce her, and in the name of the Fatherland ask for Hanna’s hand. She tells him that unfortunately, by the will of her late husband, she loses all her money if she remarries. Danilo interrupts her: if she loses everything, he can now propose. She accepts and triumphantly explains that when she loses the money, it becomes her husband’s property. All rejoice!

Musical Selections

Act I

Pontevedro in Paree (Cascada, Zeta, Chorus)
A Highly Respectable Wife (Valencienne, Camille)
Gentlemen, Behave! (Hannah, St. Brioche, Cascada, Men)
I’m Off to Chez Maxim’s (Danilo)
The Past is Over (Hannah, Danilo)
Finale (Ensemble)

Act II

Introduction & Vilia (Ensemble & Hannah)
Silly, Silly Cavalier (Hannah, Danilo)
Girls, Girls. Girls, Girls, Girls! (Danilo, Zeta, St. Brioche, Cascada, Pritschitsch, Bogdonovitch)
Melodrama (Hannah, Danilo)
Just as the Rose in Springtime (Camille, Valencienne)
Finale (Ensemble)

Act III