“Dr. Miracle” and “Savitri”
Performance Dates
Friday, Dec 16 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, Dec 17 at 4 pm and 7:30 pm
Sunday, Dec 18 at 4 pm
UAA Fine Arts Building – Recital Hall
3700 Alumni Drive
Anchorage, AK 99508
For TICKETS call 907-786-4849 (4TIX) at UAATix.com or CLICK HERE
About the Show
Anchorage Opera & the UAA Opera Ensemble present two one-act operas in one evening! Dr. Miracle by Georges Bizet & Savitri by Gustav Holst.
In a story within a story, Savitri portrays the virtues of a wife’s devoted love for her husband. When Death comes to take her husband away, her strength of character impresses him so much that he grants her the wish of a full and complete life. When she reveals that a complete life is not possible without her husband, Death agrees to bring him back to life.
The young lovers in Dr. Miracle who are inspired by “Savitri” and romanticize her ideals. Sela is the mayor’s daughter, and Shaggy is an aspiring singer-songwriter who is aware of the mayor’s prejudice against artists. The mayor’s wife, Corva, is modeled after Alaskan socialite Margy Johnson, the current Vice-President of Alaska Dispatch News and matriarch of Alaskan politics. She embodies the qualities of a capable and compassionate politician, and also champions Sela’s romantic choice. Shaggy therefore comes in a Duck Dynasty disguise, with the name Mean Buck, to secure a job in the mayor’s house. Intrigue and mayhem ensue, until finally the lovers win the mayor’s blessing.
The performances feature UAA voice majors and community singers. As the second collaborative production between UAA and Anchorage Opera (AO2Go), this production will tour to schools and communities beginning in 2017. Libretto adaptations, music and stage direction by Mari Hahn. Accompanied by Janet Stiles. Set Design by Carrie Yanagawa. Light Design by Cedar Cussins. Costume coordinator Lailani Cook.
Cast List
Savitri
Savitri: Kira Eckenweiler/Zaide Manzano
Satyavan: Phil Cheasebro/Dustin Jorgenson
Death: George Yang
Dr Miracle
Mayor Whitt: Don Endres/Jacob Jones
Corva: Linda Porter/Briana Gomez
Sela: Allison Polowy/Hana Rondeau
Shaggy: Edward Washington II
The Cast
Production Team
Kira Eckenweiler – Savitri
Phil Cheasebro – Satyavan
George Yang – Death
Jacob Jones – Mayor Whitt
Briana Gomez – Corva
Hana Rondeau – Sela
Zaide Manzano – Savitri
Dustin Jorgenson – Satyavan
Don Endres – Mayor Whitt
Linda Porter – Corva
Allison Polowy – Sela
Edward Washington II – Shaggy
Mari Hahn – Stage & Music Director/Librettist
Cedar Cussins – Lighting Designer
Carrie Yanagawa – Set Designer
Lailani Cook – Costume Coordinator