Organization

Singer

Mezzo-soprano

Megan Marino

Carmen

Ashley Dixon

Tenor

Richard Trey Smagur

Don José

Baritone

Michael Mayes

Escamillo

Theo Hoffman

Soprano

Jasmine Habersham

Michaela

Calvin Griffin

Dancaire

Brian James Myer

Nathan Munson

Remendado

Alejandra Sandoval

Frasquita

Gabrielle Beteag

Mercedes

Spoken

Tom Key

Lillas Pastia

Sonia Olla

Flamenco Dancer

Stage director

Tomer Zvulun

Conductor

Jorge Parodi

Lighting designer

Marcella Barbeau

Costume designer

Joanna Schmink

Set designer

Julia Noulin-Mérat

Video designer

Erin Teachman

The Atlanta Opera

French

The Threepenny Carmen

Atlanta

United States

Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre

A brand new production of Bizet's Carmen, crafted by Tomer Zvulun, Jorge Parodi and Tom Key. Megan Marino and Trey Smagur star in The Atlanta Opera's 2021 Big Tent Opera film. With Jasmine Habersham, Michael Mayes and flamenco superstar Sonia Olla.

The Threepenny Carmen: Carmen Bizet

Public

English

Approved

Carmen is no stranger to The Threepenny Bar. In this watering hole at the crossroads of nowhere, everyone has a story.

The Atlanta Opera’s all-new version of this beloved classic explores a modern Carmen. Set at the fringes of society, Bizet’s music is intertwined with the dramatic stomps and flourishes of flamenco.

The Threepenny Carmen walks a thin line between lust and death in one of opera’s most iconic love triangles.

Starring Megan Marino as Carmen, Michael Mayes as Escamillo, Richard Trey Smagur as Don Jose, and Tom Key as seedy bar owner Lilas Pastia. This production features flamenco superstar Sonia Olla.

The Threepenny Carmen is not simply a stripped down version of the original opera, it digs into what Bizet’s 1875 classic might mean for audiences today. Capturing its essence as an exploration of sexual freedom, social hierarchies and the class system.

Directed by Tomer Zvulun, The Atlanta Opera General & Artistic Directior, this world premiere production updates the action to a Spanish-themed dive bar, where Carmen works as a cabaret singer. Designed by ArtsImpulse Theatre Award-winner Julia Noulin-Mérat and Joanna Schmink respectively, the sets and costumes draw inspiration from the films of Pedro Almodóvar, using bold primary colors and a larger-than-life aesthetic to reflect the bar owner’s crudely reductive approach to the cultures he exploits.

Bright colors, costumes, and Flamenco are featured, and the production marks the Atlanta Opera debut of Flamenco dance legend Sonia Olla, “a furnace of earthy sensuality” (New York Times) whose extensive choreography credits include Madonna’s 2015-16 world tour.

Performed in French with English supertitles

The Big Tent at Cobb Energy Centre

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Cast

Crew