Stage Notes: Early Auriga Productions; ‘Memorias Flamencas’ will close the Oak Cliff Flamenco Festival

“King Lear” from Auriga Productions. (Courtesy picture)

Stage Notes is a weekly article on theatre, classical music and stage news, events, reviews and other relevant information.

Make way for a new theater group

The North Texas theatrical landscape expands this week as Auriga Productions debuts. The company, founded this year, will present King Lear which opens on Friday. The outdoor production will run for a total of eight performances. Started by Bert Pigg and Meagan Harris, according to his information on his press release and Facebook page“Auriga Productions is a loose affiliation of like-minded theater practitioners dedicated to producing works of quality, resonance and timelessness.”

Lear is directed by Pigg and stars Malcolm Stephenson in the title role.

“Lear is a freak and I wanted to take on the challenge of seeing if I can shed light on something in a performance context that will have universal meaning to an audience,” director Bert Pigg said in the show’s announcement.

Pigg will bring a distinct feel to the show that blends contemporary and classic natures.

“I didn’t want the show to be perceived by the public as taking place in a particular period. Hence the rock ‘n’ roll costume design. The characters in Lear all have big egos, and their public personas often mask what’s going on with them internally — a trait shared by rockers almost out of necessity. Hopefully this idea will make assimilation easier and more immediate for an audience,” he said.

Tickets are available here. Lawn seating will be available and attendees are encouraged to bring their own picnic blankets, food and drink.

The Dallas Opera’s 65th anniversary season will open with Verdi Rigoletto

Rigoletto at Houston Grand Opera (Courtesy of TDO)

The Dallas Opera kicks off its season with Verdi Rigoletto, the first of four new Dallas productions to hit the stage in 2022/23. Production begins at Winspear on October 8. Directed by Tomer Zvulun, the opera features the debuts of George Gagnidze and Madison Leonard and stars René Barbera, Raymond Aceto and Nadia Krasteva.

After the opening night show, all are invited to join the lobby for a post-show party with live performances by Ricki Derek, free appetizers and cash bars throughout the Winspear.

Emmanuel Villaume, Music Director for Ms. Eugene McDermott, will conduct the Dallas Opera Orchestra in Verdi’s thrilling and popular score, while Stephanie Havey will join Mr. Zvulun as Associate Co-Production Director of the Dallas Opera, Houston Grand Opera and Atlanta Opera. . Erhard Rom updates the production in 1930s Fascist Italy as a set designer, Jessica Jahn is a costume designer, Robert Wierzel is a lighting designer, and David Zimmerman is a wig and makeup designer. Chorus master Alexander Rom prepares The Dallas Opera Chorus.

Performances run until October 16. Tickets are available here.

Undermain will launch a new season with the collaboration of the Bishop Arts Theater

The cast of ‘Fairview’ by Bishop Arts Theater and Undermain Theatre. (Courtesy picture)

Bishop Arts Theater and Undermain Theater have teamed up to present Fairview by Jackie Sibblies Drury who won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The co-production starts from October 21 to November 21. 6 year old kicks off the 39th season of Undermain. However, the play will be performed on the BAT stage in Oak Cliff.

From Undermain about Fairview:

It starts out as a casual comedy about a middle-class black family reunion for a birthday dinner and ends somewhere else completely. A play about race, but not just about race, it ultimately brings audiences into the acting community to confront the deep-seated biases in our society.

The cast includes Christina Cranshaw, JuNene K., Nadia DeWolf and Jon Garrard and is directed by Jiles King.

Tickets are available here.

Flamenco Fever Fusion Series to present Flamenco Souvenirs as the grand finale of the Oak Cliff Flamenco VIII festival

Flamenco Souvenirs is part of Flamenco Fever’s ambitious Fusion series. Since 2016. Julia Alcántara, company founder, co-produces with various companies to expand and educate the flamenco fan base in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Next weekend, Flamenco Souvenirs will host Jorge Pardo, the father of flamenco jazz, as well as local jazz musicians will perform Pardo’s music alongside international actors and dancers at Oak Cliff Flamenco Festival VIII. The show will close the festival at the Majestic Theater on October 8.

The festival lineup includes a Friday Night Jazz Musician showcase by Pardo with six guest flamenco artists from Spain, Italy, Argentina and seven local musicians and dancers who have been training to develop his compositions as a team for 2020. This will be the first show that features choreography to his music.

The concert will serve as the grand finale of the Oak Cliff Flamenco Festival VIII. The week-long festival runs from October 1-9 in various locations celebrating both music and dance.

Event calendar :

Sept. 30: Workshops with Paco de Andrea. Flamenco dance workshops for beginners and intermediates with one of the greatest Spanish artists. Live music in the studio provides a totally authentic experience. 6 p.m.-9 p.m.

Oct. 2: Workshops with Paco de Andrea. Flamenco dance workshops for beginners and intermediates with one of the greatest Spanish artists. Live music in the studio provides a totally authentic experience. noon-3:30 p.m.

Oct. 3: Welcome dinner for artists. The artists will meet and greet each other over dinner and close the evening with a short contextual performance. 7-10 p.m. at Café Madrid. Reservations recommended by calling 214-528-1731.

Oct. 4: Catalog sessions. The artists will compare styles of music and demonstrate how close flamenco is to jazz in its origins and structure. Improvisation techniques will be explained and demonstrated. 7-10 p.m. at the Free Man Jazz Cafe. $10 at the door. Reservations recommended: 214.377.9893

October 5: Movie night – Trance. This recently released documentary film centers on Jorge Pardo and his life as an internationally renowned musician.
Outdoor setting so bring chairs or a blanket. Location to be determined.

October 6: Bishop Art Barrage/Street Party. Several Bishop Arts restaurants will host flamenco acts headquartered in Laughing Willow.

Oct. 7: Jazz Jam and Solo Dance Showcase. This intimate setting will provide the intimate and personal experience of a Spanish tablao. 8-10 p.m. at the Artstillerie.

October 8: Ida y Vuelta Flamenco presents Flamenco Souvenirs. 8 p.m. at the Majestic Theatre.

For more information, click here. For tickets to the grand finale concert, click here.

Opening this week: