福利姬自慰

鈥淚 love performing, but I realized I really enjoy the creative side and analyzing not just a character I would play, but the whole show,鈥 Anna Theodosakis says (above photo courtesy Anna Theodosakis

Anna Theodosakis: first student to direct a major 福利姬自慰Opera production

For the first time in the history of 福利姬自慰Opera, a student rather than a faculty member will direct one of the major stage productions.

Anna Theodosakis directs this week鈥檚 production of Gian Carlo Menotti鈥檚 The Medium, a story of a dangerous series of s茅ances.

鈥淭hey told me in the summer and I was absolutely shocked,鈥 says Theodosakis, who is in the opera directing diploma program at the Faculty of Music. 鈥淣ormally, the opera directing students are not given main stage shows but are involved with the staging of opera scenes for concerts and assist with other directing projects at the Faculty.鈥

The decision to pass the director鈥檚 chair over to Theodosakis was an easy one, says Michael Albano, senior lecturer and resident stage director for the opera program. He knew she would be up to the task.

鈥淎nna is one of the most gifted students to come through 福利姬自慰Opera鈥檚 stage directing program,鈥 he says. 鈥淒irecting requires a unique combination of skills; creative ideas are not enough, one must be able to communicate those ideas with eloquence and specifity. This gift shows in her remarkable direction. She also represents, to me, a new and exciting generation of opera directors.鈥

photo of opera setTheodosakis鈥檚 directing approach is diplomatic as she strives for a collaborative atmosphere during rehearsal.

鈥淚 try to feed off what the actors are already bringing and see if I can enhance that, rather than impose my own idea on someone,鈥 she says. 鈥淭he whole process is far more enjoyable when the creation of art is a collective process. It helps that there are really amazing, vibrant and thoughtful singers in this piece!鈥

In this week鈥檚 production, The Medium follows the curtain-opener The Telephone. Menotti wrote both operas in the 1940s. The Medium centres on three characters: Madame Flora (Baba), her daughter Monica and a mute servant boy, Toby. Baba owns a s茅ance parlour and has a weekly appointment with people who truly believe they communicate with their deceased children through her.

photo of opera set with singers seated at seance table

鈥淚 want to create an intimate experience for the audience so they can really get to know these characters,鈥 says Theodosakis.

She set this production in New York during the Great Depression, in a tenement, because of her interest in how people dealt with hardship during that time.

鈥淔or people finding solace in spiritualism, even if they don鈥檛 have the means to commit to it,鈥 is a highlighted theme in this production, she says.

As with all 福利姬自慰productions, Theodosakis says, the lighting, set and costumes are of the highest calibre, allowing her to realize her interpretation of the opera as she would in the professional field. She says working with the lighting, set and costume designers at this stage in her career creates the opportunity to develop relationships that can help her after graduation.

photo of opera set showing woman standing and man kneeling on floor

Before coming to U of T, Theodosakis completed both her undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of British Columbia in Voice and Opera Performance. As a student at UBC, Theodosakis frequently created choreography for UBC Opera and musical theatre companies in Vancouver.

鈥淚 love performing, but I realized I really enjoy the creative side and analyzing not just a character I would play, but the whole show.鈥

The Medium and The Telephone production runs from Thursday, Nov. 5 to Sunday, Nov. 8 at MacMillan Theatre at 80 Queen鈥檚 Park. Starting time is 7:30 for the evening performances and 2:30 for the Sunday matin茅e. Students can purchase tickets for $10.

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Jacob Feldman is a writer for the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto

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