THE ROSENBERGS, an opera
USA premiere, April 2018
Boston Playwrights’ Theater, USA
The Rosenbergs, an opera, is a tragic love story about family, political passions, and betrayal. It focuses on the married couple Ethel and Julius Rosenberg, who were accused of spying for the Soviet Union, passing on top-secret files revealing the U.S.A.’s nuclear weapon designs. They were both convicted and sentenced to death, which raised a massive, global movement protesting against their execution. Their insistence that they were not guilty didn’t help their case, especially when Ethel’s brother, also accused of espionage, made a plea bargain, sending both Ethel and Julius to the electric chair in June 1953.
Written and directed by: Rhea Leman
Music: Joachim Holbek
Singers: Christie Lee Gibson and Brian Church
Musicians: Daniel Padgett, Miriam Eckelhoefer, and Abigale Reisman
Scenic Design: Cameron Anderson
Lighting Design: Christopher Ostrom
Costume Design: Rachel Padula Shufelt
Music Director: Cristi Catt
Dramaturg: Kate Snodgrass
Written and directed by: Rhea Leman
Music: Joachim Holbek
Singers: Christie Lee Gibson and Brian Church
Musicians: Daniel Padgett, Miriam Eckelhoefer, and Abigale Reisman
Scenic Design: Cameron Anderson
Lighting Design: Christopher Ostrom
Costume Design: Rachel Padula Shufelt
Music Director: Cristi Catt
Dramaturg: Kate Snodgrass
Photos: Kalman Zabarsky
“Something thrilling can transpire when a primarily theatrical director/producer finds a connection to an opera,”one of the most visually moving tableaux I’ve seen in quite some time.”
Joshua Collier, The Boston Musical Intelligencer
“Opera comes in many sizes. On one end, there are the grand-stage, orchestra-in-the-pit, audience-in-Sunday-best operas. On the other, a few singers in a room, with a piano.” “In between there’s chamber opera – a modest amount of instruments, a small cast of singers, simple sets. This version can be the most accessible, and the most rewarding. “The Rosenbergs (An Opera),” onstage now at the Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, proves it.”
Keith Powers, The Patriot Ledger
“The production at the Boston Playwrights Theatre was tight and powerful. It’s a limited space for an opera and musical trio, both in full voice, but what put us on the edge of our seats was not mainly the space, but more the tension and lyric power.”
James Foritano, Artscope
“Populated by just two actors and three musicians, The Rosenbergs is small in scope but large in ambition; it is an accomplished and moving work that demands attention.”
“Full credit to the artistic team behind the current North American premiere of The Rosenbergs at the Boston Playwrights Theatre for thoroughly grasping the creators’ intent. They understand the emotional pitch and scope of the opera and successfully illuminate the difficult issues at play. In other words, this production gets it right.”
Steve Provizer, The Arts Fuse
