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News Of the Day 1981

August 1 - 28, 1981

Hindemith’s comic work…

…contemporary with Weill’s Threepenny Opera, also combines elements of musical revue, vaudeville, cabaret humor and social satire in a parable about publicity and modern image-makers.

Music By
Paul Hindemith
Text By
Marcellus Schiffer, revised by the composer
English Version By
Don Moreland

Synopsis

Act I

The scene is set in the recent past. Laura and Eduard have no sooner returned from their honeymoon when they begin quarreling and decide they must get a divorce. In the midst of their violent dispute, Miss Pick, a reporter, enters the room and begins snapping photos for a possible news story.

At the divorce bureau, Eduard and Laura learn that they lack sufficient grounds for a divorce. They decide to follow the advice of two other couples who succeeded in securing their divorces through the help of the Baron d’Houdoux, director of the Universal Service Association. At the urging of Miss Pick, d’Houdoux takes on this case and his first service to the couple is in the form of Hermann, a handsome young man skilled in furnishing couples with grounds for divorce.

The Venus Gallery of the Museum is the site chosen for the rendezvous of Hermann and Laura. Their tryst is interrupted by Eduard, who is outraged to find that Hermann is not the old, ugly “other man” he was counting on. In a jealous rage, Eduard hurls the priceless statue of Venus at Hermann, smashing it to pieces. Eduard is imprisoned for his crime against culture.

Pick then plants Hermann in Laura’s suite in one of the luxurious Universal Hotels. Laura finds Hermann in her bathtub, and the whole compromising scene is captured on film by Miss Pick. Amid all the confusion, Laura realizes that her sole desire is to be reunited with Eduard.

Act II

Laura is alone in her suite, Eduard is in prison. D’Houdoux visits Eduard, offering to pay his bail and reunite him with Laura, but only on the condition that the couple agree to star in a traveling revue financed by the Baron. They consent and immediately a huge publicity campaign and tour are arranged. But Laura and Eduard soon tire of being exploited in d’Houdoux’s sensational show and decide to escape to private life far from the lights and the headlines. D’Houdoux has no difficulty finding a new couple to take their place as the “news of the day.”

Publicity marches on.

Artists

Mary Shearer

Soprano

Laura

William Workman

Baritone

Eduard

Jean Kraft

Mezzo-soprano

Miss Pick

James Atherton

Tenor

Hermann

William Dooley headshot

William Dooley

Bass-baritone

Baron d'Houdoux

Kerry McCarthy

Soprano

Elli

Robin Kay-Sims

Mezzo-soprano

Olli

William Chamberlain

Tenor

Ali

Lawrence Evans

Baritone

Uli

Wilbur Pauley

Wilbur Pauley

Baritone

Marriage License Clerk

John Holyoke

Baritone

Museum Guide

Jane Williams

Soprano

Chambermaid

John Andreesen

Baritone

Headwaiter

Robert Hancock

Baritone

Universal Hotel Manager

Michael H. Putsch

Tenor

Agent

Daniel Greif

Tenor

Agent

Clifford Williams

Baritone

Agent

Gary L. Prettyman

Baritone

Agent

Terence Hodges

Bass

Agent

Kurt Link

Bass

Agent

Bruce Ferden

Conductor

Lou Galterio headshot

Lou Galterio

Director

Maxine Willi Klein

Scenic Designer

Steven B. Feldman

Costume Designer

Craig Miller headshot

Craig Miller

Lighting Designer

Wesley Fata

Choreographer

George Manahan headshot

George Manahan

Conductor

Chorus Master