From singing and dancing to the intrigue of love and politics, three debut performances of “The Merry Widow” by Opera Wilmington the weekend of July 25-27 promise something for everyone.
“What’s wonderful about opera is that it combines everything: it’s theatre, it’s singing, it’s the orchestra, it’s the dance and it’s the dramatic stories,” said Wendy Fingerhut, executive director of Opera Wilmington.
“It’s the complete art form. It has everything,” added Jerry Fingerhut, treasurer.
Before the Fingerhuts moved to Wilmington from New York City in 2011, they were longtime season ticket holders to the Metropolitan Opera. When Nancy King, a professor in the music department at University of North Carolina Wilmington, shared her intent to launch an opera company in Wilmington at the end of 2013, the couple was on board. Things moved quickly from there.
A fundraiser provided all of the seed money the company needed, and after the spring semester wrapped up in May, the creative team was off and running with auditions. After weeks of rehearsals, the company is excited to share something new with the Wilmington community.
The crew was careful to address any feelings of intimidation or hesitation people might feel toward opera, tailoring the show to satisfy both seasoned opera aficionados and newcomers. Jerry Fingerhut joked that King, now artistic director of Opera Wilmington, took out all the boring parts.
“That’s the reason for doing ‘The Merry Widow,’ which is an operetta,” he said. “It’s light. … That’s why we priced the tickets at $20. We want children to come. We really are trying to encourage people and remove any impediments.”
“The Merry Widow” tells the story of a group of matchmaking German aristocrats in Paris who attempt to remarry a wealthy widow to keep her money in their struggling home country. Coincidentally, they pair the widow with her childhood sweetheart, who refuses to admit he still harbors feelings for her, and multiple schemes transpire before the lovers can be together.
The show is performed by talented locals and cast with people from all walks of life who left the doctor’s or real estate offices each workday for hours of evening rehearsals. For many, the creative outlet has been invigorating.
“Performers want to perform, and when performers don’t get to perform on a regular basis, they lose a little piece of themselves. What’s been really dreamy about this production is that everybody’s had a little chance to step back on stage and be a kid again,” King said.
The enthusiasm has been contagious, and the crew hopes the public will get caught up in the excitement.
“This group of people has been waiting for the opportunity to do this and they’ve all come alive because of it. … That’s the energy that’s coming off the stage,” Wendy Fingerhut said.
The show starts at 8 p.m. July 25 and 26 and 3 p.m. on July 27. All performances will take place on the Main Stage Theatre at the University of North Carolina Wilmington Cultural Arts Building.
Tickets are available through the Kenan Auditorium Box Office, 910-962-3500.
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