The Golden Ticket
Encyclopedia
The Golden Ticket is an opera based on Roald Dahl’s
classic book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
by the contemporary American composer Peter Ash, with a libretto by Donald Sturrock. The Golden Ticket was commissioned by American Lyric Theater
, Lawrence Edelson, Producing Artistic Director; and Felicity Dahl. It premiered at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
on June 13, 2010 in a co-production between OTSL, Ireland’s Wexford Festival Opera
, and American Lyric Theater
.
, but early workshops initiated by the composer and librettist revealed the challenges of producing an opera under the auspices of a theater company that did not regularly employ classically trained singers. An early concert version of the score was presented by the Manchester Camerata
shortly thereafter. This concert was considered by most to be a failure, in part due to the fact that family audiences had expected a fully staged version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – not an opera in concert. After receiving funding from the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts in the UK, Ash and Sturrock created a 25 minute recording of excerpts of the opera to promote it to potential producers. In 2006, this recording came to the attention of American Lyric Theater’s Producing Artistic Director, Lawrence Edelson, who commissioned the completion of the opera in partnership with Felicity Dahl, widow of Roald Dahl. American Lyric Theater developed the opera over a three-year period, including two extensive workshops in New York City, prior to partnering with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis in 2010 for the world premiere production.
Chorus of Gargoyles, Townsfolk, Oompa Loompas, Squirrels
A co-production between Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, American Lyric Theater, and Wexford Festival Opera.
Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl was a British novelist, short story writer, fighter pilot and screenwriter.Born in Wales to Norwegian parents, he served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, in which he became a flying ace and intelligence agent, rising to the rank of Wing Commander...
classic book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a 1964 children's book by British author Roald Dahl. The story features the adventures of young Charlie Bucket inside the chocolate factory of the eccentric chocolatier, Willy Wonka....
by the contemporary American composer Peter Ash, with a libretto by Donald Sturrock. The Golden Ticket was commissioned by American Lyric Theater
American Lyric Theater
American Lyric Theater an opera company based in New York City and specialising in the development of new works. It was founded by Lawrence Edelson in 2005.- Programs :...
, Lawrence Edelson, Producing Artistic Director; and Felicity Dahl. It premiered at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis is a summer opera festival held in St. Louis, Missouri. Typically four operas, all sung in English, are presented each season, which runs from late May to late June. Performances are accompanied by the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, which is divided into two...
on June 13, 2010 in a co-production between OTSL, Ireland’s Wexford Festival Opera
Wexford Festival Opera
The Wexford Festival Opera is an opera festival that takes place in the town of Wexford in South-Eastern Ireland during the months of October and November.-Festival origins under Tom Walsh, 1951 to 1966:...
, and American Lyric Theater
American Lyric Theater
American Lyric Theater an opera company based in New York City and specialising in the development of new works. It was founded by Lawrence Edelson in 2005.- Programs :...
.
History
The Golden Ticket was originally conceived as a project for London’s Royal National TheatreRoyal National Theatre
The Royal National Theatre in London is one of the United Kingdom's two most prominent publicly funded theatre companies, alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company...
, but early workshops initiated by the composer and librettist revealed the challenges of producing an opera under the auspices of a theater company that did not regularly employ classically trained singers. An early concert version of the score was presented by the Manchester Camerata
Manchester Camerata
The Manchester Camerata is a British chamber orchestra based in Manchester, England. The orchestra was founded in the 1971–1972 season. A sub-group from the orchestra, the Manchester Camerata Ensemble, specialises in chamber music performances....
shortly thereafter. This concert was considered by most to be a failure, in part due to the fact that family audiences had expected a fully staged version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – not an opera in concert. After receiving funding from the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts in the UK, Ash and Sturrock created a 25 minute recording of excerpts of the opera to promote it to potential producers. In 2006, this recording came to the attention of American Lyric Theater’s Producing Artistic Director, Lawrence Edelson, who commissioned the completion of the opera in partnership with Felicity Dahl, widow of Roald Dahl. American Lyric Theater developed the opera over a three-year period, including two extensive workshops in New York City, prior to partnering with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis in 2010 for the world premiere production.
Musical Forces and Language
The opera is written for a virtuoso chamber orchestra of 23 players, a cast of 12 principal singers, and a chorus of 24 adults with an optional children's chorus. No children’s chorus was used in the World Premiere production.Role Distribution
- Charlie: Treble
- Willy Wonka: Bass Baritone or Baritone
- Mike Teavee: Countertenor
- Veruca Salt: Mezzo Soprano
- Lord Salt: Baritone
- Violet Beauregard: Coloratura Soprano
- Augustus Gloop: Tenor
- Grandpa Joe: Tenor
- Mr. Beauregard/Grandpa George: Bass
- Mrs. Gloop/Grandma Georgina: Dramatic Soprano
- Mrs. Teavee/Grandma Josephine: Contralto or Mezzo Soprano
- Candy Mallow/Squirrelmistress:Mezzo Soprano
Chorus of Gargoyles, Townsfolk, Oompa Loompas, Squirrels
World Premiere
The World Premiere Production Team and Cast:- Director: James Robinson
- Conductor: Timothy Redmond
- Scenic Design: Bruno Schwengl
- Costume Design: Martin PakledinazMartin PakledinazMartin Pakledinaz is an American costume designer for stage and film.He won his Tony Awards for designing the costumes of Thoroughly Modern Millie and the 2000 revival of Kiss Me Kate, which also earned him the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Costume Design.He worked on the 1995 production of...
- Choreographer: Seán CurranSeán CurranSeán Curran is an American dancer and choreographer. Curran's dance company, the Seán Curran Company is based in New York City.As a boy in the Boston suburb of Belmont, Massachusetts, Curran began dancing by learning traditional Irish step dancing...
A co-production between Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, American Lyric Theater, and Wexford Festival Opera.
- Charlie: Michael Kepler Meo
- Willy Wonka: Daniel OkulitchDaniel OkulitchDaniel Okulitch is a Canadian bass-baritone. He first came to attention on Broadway as Schaunard in Baz Luhrmann's production of La bohème in 2002/03 – a role he repeated when the production traveled to Los Angeles the following year, for which he received the Ovation Award for Best Ensemble...
- Mike Teavee: David Trudgen
- Veruca Salt : Jennifer Rivera
- Lord Salt: David Kravitz
- Violet Beauregard: Tracy Dahl
- Augustus Gloop: Andrew Drost
- Grandpa Joe: Frank KelleyFrank Kelley (tenor)Frank Kelley is an American tenor, who has performed in concert and in opera throughout North America and Europe. He holds music degrees from Florida State University and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music...
- Mr. Beauregard/Grandpa George: Oren Gradus
- Mrs. Gloop/Grandma Georgina: Kristin Clayton
- Mrs. Teavee/Grandma Josephine: Mary Ann McCormick
- Candy Mallow/Squirrelmistress: Jennifer Berkebile