Lawn Jockeys of Saratoga Springs

The lawn jockey is to Saratoga Springs what a garden gnome is to England. They are everywhere and they are in all sorts of colors and conditions. They are displayed prominently right at curbside, or they are nearly obscured by plants. Right handed, left handed; colorful, drab. Large, elaborately painted horses now compete with the jockeys for attention.

Opening Night Schicchi Buoso

All went well...

Change over

The repertory schedule at Lake George Opera necessitates quick changes from one set to another. On the day of the final dress of SCHICCHI and BUOSO, the crew had to change from a matinee performance of TRAVIATA in only about three hours.

Maestrocam

Singers and stage managers keep up with the conductor through a monitor system. This is especially important at Lake George Opera, where the conductor is behind and above the singers. Here are two shots of Mo. Mark Flint conducting TRAVIATA.

As our friend and colleague and stage manager Allison Merritt points out, one has to be very careful what one does when one is put in front of a camera for hours at a time.

TRAVIATA in Vegas

Three shots here, courtesy of Lake George Opera, from their Traviata in Vegas. With the orchestra behind the stage on a platform, the acoustics in the Spa Little Theatre are fantastic for opera. Frankly, it's loud and in-your-face like no other theatre. I think more opera ought to be done this way and Lake George should be very proud of its venue and their solution to using it.

Elizabeth Roberts, Mark Schreiner, and Kelly Anderson are a great cast.

Mikado at Seagle

Saw a lively MIKADO at the Seagle Colony in Schroon Lake, north of Saratoga and Lake George. It was an irreverent, contemporary approach. I was amazed at the amount of dancing that the director, John de los Santos, managed to get from his young cast. The "little list" was an equal time slam at Bush, Clinton, Obama, and McCain.

I could have done without the reference to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but it was a very small sour note in an otherwise terrific, energetic production.

Piano Dress

Some of the dysfunctional Donati family at piano dress rehearsal.

Orchestra Loft

The Spa Little Theatre where the Lake George Opera plays does not have an orchestra pit. Instead, there's a sort of "orchestra loft." You can see the orchesra above the stage set for the opening of PIRATES OF PENZANCE. The conductor views the stage with a TV monitor near the stand.

Article on Schicchi/Buoso in the Saratogian

"Memphis Opera’s Michael Ching was sitting at a breakfast table in Chicago about 15 years ago when the conversation turned to the question of what happens to opera characters after an opera is over...(link)"

Social events at LGO

Somehow the Lake George Opera managed to do a company picnic and an opera ball while rehearing three operas in rep. The company picnic was at a Rod and Gun club, and the Opera Ball was at the Gideon Putnam hotel near the theatre.