Madison Lyric Stage Announces 2019 Season

Madison Lyric Stage, a professional theater company serving the Connecticut Shoreline, announced that its 2019 mainstage season will include: Carlisle Floyd's opera Of Mice and Men, based on the John Steinbeck classic, in May/June; the Stephen Sondheim fairy tale musical Into the Woods in July; and, for Halloween, Engelbert Humperdinck's enchanted opera Hansel and Gretel in October. All three productions will be directed by Marc Deaton.

The company will also produce a one-night-only fundraising concert Spring Will Come Again starring Marc Deaton on April 6.

In 2019, Madison Lyric Stage will continue its partnership with the Deacon John Grave House in the Madison historic district, and will present its entire season inside and on the grounds of the historic home. All productions will be presented in an intimate and immersive fashion, and therefore all performances will be for a maximum of only 40 people.

"As we enter our eighth season, we wanted to return to our roots when we were still performing in our barn, and present a season where audiences can be extremely near the performers and, in essence, become part of the action," said Marc Deaton, Artistic Director of Madison Lyric Stage. "Being inside the Grave House allows us to do what we do best - create innovative theatrical events for a limited number of audience members, who would not be able to have this type of up-close artistic experience anyplace else."

"We are pleased to welcome back Madison Lyric Stage to our historic House in the center of Madison," said Terry Roberts, President of the Deacon John Grave Foundation. "Our mission is to preserve this Madison treasure, and help connect people today to the three centuries of American country life that occurred here. By nurturing the arts, and bringing new generations into the House to experience it firsthand, we are ensuring that we become an even more relevant and vital resource in the community."

Money-saving subscriptions now available

Madison Lyric Stage will offer money-saving subscriptions for its three mainstage shows - Of Mice and Men, Into the Woods, and Hansel and Gretel. While individual tickets will be priced at $40, season ticket bundles are currently available for a limited time for $99.99 at madisonlyricstage.org or by calling 203-215-6329. Subscription purchasers do not have to select specific nights when buying a subscription and can make those decisions at a later date.

2019 Mainstage Season

The 2019 mainstage season at the Deacon John Grave House, which will include evening and matinee performances, features:

Season Fundraiser: Spring Will Come Again Concert and Auction - April 6

This fundraiser evening for Madison Lyric Stage celebrates the coming of Spring with songs by American composers of art songs, Broadway hits, opera arias and popular classics. Join tenor Marc Deaton and his special guests for this evening celebrating American song. Food and drink will be served, and guests will enjoy a dazzling silent auction of gift items, vacation packages and local gift certificates. Tickets are $50.

Of Mice and Men: May 31 - June 9 (Six Performances)
Visit the Grave House and Farm for this operatic treatment of John Steinbeck's classic novella, where we witness the hardships and disappointments of men and women struggling through depression-era California. Audiences will witness mankind's kindness and cruelty in this stunningly lyrical American drama. Composed in 1970, in English, by Carlisle Floyd, Of Mice and Men has become a true masterpiece of American opera. Marc Deaton stars as Lennie, the simpleton who doesn't know his own strength, with Daniel Hague as George, the only friend he's ever known. Join us 'on the farm' before the performance to enjoy chili and cornbread, and meet the ranch-hands who work the Grave House land.

Into the Woods: July 18-28 (Twelve Performances)
This Tony Award-winning musical by Stephen Sondheim, with a book by James Lapine, intertwines the plots of your favorite fairy tales, exploring the consequences of one's wishes and quests. Along the way, you'll meet Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and his Beanstalk, Rapunzel and Cinderella, as well as other beloved characters. The musical is tied together by a childless Baker and his Wife, the Witch who has placed a curse on them, and their journey into the woods to get their wish. For this production, we will be bringing the woods inside, and audiences will experience a closeness with their favorite storybook characters in a way they never thought possible. The House will be fully air-conditioned. Joanie Brittingham, Rebecca Ellis and John Johmann lead the professional cast.

Hansel and Gretel: October 4-13 (Six Performances)

Come inside the Grave House, if you dare, and into the Witch's lair with her giant hearth stove where children are transformed into gingerbread cookies. This classic operatic tale by Engelbert Humperdinck tells the tale of two hungry children in search of adventure and sugary treats. They stumble upon the enchanted Witch's House and what they find inside is startling and terrifying. Perhaps the most beloved opera of all time, Hansel and Gretel, which will be performed in English, serves as this season's young artist production and is suitable for all ages.

Madison Lyric Stage is an award-winning 501(c)(3) non-profit and arts collective serving the Shoreline of Connecticut. Its mission is to expand participation in the arts by presenting affordable, professional-quality entertainment from the worlds of opera, musical theater and drama. Past productions include: A Little Night Music, Agnes of God Blithe Spirit, Company, Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar, Macbeth, Peter Grimes, Salome, The Glass Menagerie, The Turn of the Screw and many others.

For more information about Madison Lyric Stage, visit madisonlyricstage.org.

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