Transformations (1997)
An Entertainment in Two Acts from the Book by Anne Sexton
Music by Conrad Susa
Libretto by H. Wesley Balk and Conrad Susa
Produced by permission of E. C. Schirmer Music Company, Boston.
Transformations was commissioned by The Minnesota Opera and first performed at the Cedar Village Theater, Minneapolis, Minnesota, on 5 May 1973.
Dates of Performance
June 8, 11, 14, 20, 26
1997 Season
Madame Butterfly   Così fan tutte
Transformations   The Tale of Orpheus
Photo Gallery
Cast
Nancy Allen Lundy
Singer 1 (Princess)
Sheri Greenawald
Singer 2 (Anne Sexton/ Witch)
Jennifer Dudley
Singer 3 (Good fairy)
Richard Drews
Singer 4 (Wizard)
Matthew Lord
Singer 5 (Magic object)
Michael Galanter
Singer 6 (Prince)
Michael Hayes
Singer 7 (King)
James Butler
Singer 8 (Neighboring king)
Musicians
Robert Coleman
Clarinet/ Saxophone
Thomas Drake
Trumpet
Timothy Myers
Trombone
Christopher Carson
String Bass
Gail Hintz
Keyboards
Barbara Liberman
Keyboards
Richard O’Donnell
Percussion
Creative Team
John DeMain
Conductor
Keith Warner
Stage Director
John Conklin
Set Designer
Gabriel Berry
Costume Designer
Allen Hahn
Lighting Designer
Ronald William Howell
Choreographer
Tom Watson
Wig & Makeup Designer
Gail Hintz
Repetiteur
Diane Cornish
Assistant Director
John R. Novak
Stage Manager
Cristabel K. Koch
Assistant Stage Manager
Elise Sandell
Assistant Stage Manager
Synopsis
I. The Gold Key
Prologue to the entire work. Our need to understand ourselves. It is not enough to read Hesse and drink clam chowder—we must have the answers.
II. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
The ambivalent relationship of mother and daughter. Rolling her china-blue doll eyes open and shut. Open to say, Good Day Mama, and shut for the thrust of the unicorn.
III. The White Snake
The divine madness of the artist. There was a day when all the animals talked to me. And then I knew that the voice of the spirits had been let in—as intense as an epileptic aura—and that no longer would I sing alone.
This production is made possible by a major gift from Rudolph W. Driscoll and the Driscoll Endowment for Contemporary Opera.
Additional underwriting support for Transformations was received from OPERA America’s The Next Stage, a program to promote subsequent productions of under-performed works by North American artists.
The soloists are sponsored in part by a generous grant from the Pulitzer Publishing Company, Inc.
The sets and costumes are underwritten in part by a gift from the Edgar Foster Daniels Foundation.
Additional support for Transformations was generously provided by Mr. & Mrs. Robert L. Scharff, Jr. and The Aaron Copland Fund for Music.
Explore the 2025 Festival Season
Season tickets on sale now! Save up to 15% off and snag exclusive subscriber benefits.
