Saturday, October 12, 2024 | 7:30pm
Aaron Engebreth, President, John P. Wintergreen
Heather Buck, Mary Turner
Abigail Paschke, Diana Devereaux/Trixie Flynn
Neal Ferreira, French Ambassador/Kruger
Steven Goldstein, Vice President, Alexander Throttlebottom
Matthew DiBattista, General Adam Snookfield of the US
Alan Schneider, John P. Tweedledee
Thomas Oesterling, Senator Francis X. Gilhooley
Allyn McCourt, Senator Louis Lippman
Brendan Buckley, Senator Robert E. Lyons
Davron Monroe, Senator Carver Jones
David Small, The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
Ethan DePuy, Clerk, Doctor, etc.

Of Thee I Sing

Let 'em Eat Cake 

Music and Lyrics by George and Ira Gershwin

Books by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind

Saturday, October 12, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. ET

New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall, 30 Gainsborough Street, Boston, MA

Gil Rose, conductor

 

SYNOPSIS

“Of Thee I Sing” – a fictional lampoon through a 1930’s presidential campaign by way of a beauty pageant, a marriage, and some corn muffins – and  its sequel, “Let ‘Em Eat Cake” – a dystopian ultimatum plot hatched by a sore-loser president after failing re-election to either overturn the recent depression-era election or overturn the government – bring us an opportunity to revel in a timely critique of America's presidential tradition with a healthy dose of humor along the way.

The two, two-act musicals from the early 1930’s are both the yield of creative collaboration between George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind (collaborative writers) and the Gershwin brothers (George and Ira as composer and librettist respectively). Though less familiar today, this set of short compositions fit firmly into an early 20th century American tradition of “Book Musicals”. Both were premiered independantly on Broadway but met with contrasting receptions. “Of Thee I Sing” was a hit, going on to multiple Broadway revivals and receiving the Pulitzer Prize for Drama; “Let ‘Em Eat Cake” perhaps cut too deep with its satirical edge to obtain such a high public profile.

While neither of the pieces are frequently performed today, some songs may be familiar (especially “Who Cares?” and “Love is Sweeping the Country”). Odyssey Opera with Boston Modern Orchestra Project present a special opportunity to participate in the full sequel set, just in time for a very real election…

 

This performance runs approximately 150 mins.  Program is subject to change.