Organization

Stage director

Josh Shaw

Costume designer

Maggie Green

Singer

Bass

Ben Lowe

Don Procopio

Soprano

Rachel Policar

Bettina

Baritone

Armando Contreras

Ernesto

Tenor

Jon Lee Keenan

Odoardo

E Scott Levin

Don Andronico

Pacific Opera Project

California

United States

This production generously sponsored by Scott Fraser and Cathy Jurca

POP is back and getting "Bizet" again with Don Procopio, an Italian bel canto opera buffa in the style of Don Pasquale or L'elisir d'amore composed by Georges Bizet (of Carmen fame). POP shenanigans will be on full display in this 1910s setting, a perfect fit for Heritage Square.

Directed and Designed by Josh Shaw
Conducted by Charlie Kim
Costumes by Maggie Green
Sound Design by Veronica Mullins
Assistant Director Carson Gilmore
Stage Manager Tiffany Strong

CAST
Don Procopio - Ben Lowe
Bettina - Rachel Policar
Ernesto - Armando Contreras
Odoardo - Jon Lee Keenan
Don Adronico - E. Scott Levin
Eufemia - Jessica Gonzalez-Rodriguez
Pasquino - Matthew Ian Welch

Chorus of Ostrich wranglers
Rachel Grundler, Soprano
Eleen Hsu-Wentlandt, Mezzo-soprano
William Grundler, Tenor
Matthew Ian Welch, Bass

Ostrich Ballet "Dancers"
Rachel Grundler
William Grundler

Synopsis/Setting
1910 Highland Park, Los Angeles

Ostrich farmer Don Andronico, an old miser, wants to marry his niece Bettina to another miser, Don Procopio, because he is worried that a young man will spend all her money. Bettina is however in love with Odoardo. Assisted by her aunt Eufemia and brother Ernesto, she plans to thwart the old men. Procopio is terrified that Bettina appears to be a grasping spendthrift, and tries to get out of the marriage. When she insists that he do so, he pulls out of the wedding, leaving the door open for a happy ending for Bettina and Odoardo.

Orchestral Arrangement by Chris van Tuinen

Video Recording Produced by
Robert Webb
Phil Pritchard
Tammy Mora

Director of Photography
Phil Pritchard (Los Angeles Arts Development Project)

Camera Operators
Phil Pritchard
Robert Webb

Video Editing
Robert Webb
Matthew Ian Welch

Don Procopio Bizet

Public

Approved

Photos