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A Co-Production Syracuse University in Florence,
Teatro Comunale with the cooperation of
Fondazione Meyer Where the Wild Things are
[Annalisa Miglietti]
SUF is co-producing with the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino the children opera "Where the Wild Things Are," based on the famous book by Maurice Sendak,(1963) with music by the contemporary English composer Oliver Knussen. (1984) This opera is a premiere in Italy. The book, whose popularity has reached mythical proportions in the United States and can be compared to Pinocchio in Italy or the Little Prince in France, is relatively unknown in Italy, and the staging of the opera thus contributes to a furthering of cross-cultural understanding.
The story of the book is only “386 words, the essential length which enhances children’s creativity” stated Sendak. The protagonist is Max, a wild little boy. He wears his wolf suit around the house and gets into some mischief. His mother sends him to his room without supper. Suddenly a forest grows in his room and Max is on a wild rampage. Max dances and plays with the wild monsters, but soon decides he is lonely. He realizes that no place is better than home, and comes back to his room with supper waiting for him.
The project has involved many professors, staff and students of SUF as: MARCO FALLANI designed the stage set, KATHY KNIPPEL reproduced the dresses of the book doing amazing costumes. The Artistic director Amy Luckenbach, who is an internationally renown puppet-maker of Teatro Minimo, had the original idea of turning the protagonist Max into a puppet. It was greeted by Maurice Sendak with the words "this is brilliant". Also faculty members from the home campus are involved: Carole Brzozwoski, Dean of the School of Visual and Performing Art at SUF, will sing the role of the mother at the gala evening and at one of
the morning performances, and SU faculty member Alex Koziara is the lighting designer. Two exhibitions which will be shown at the same time of the opera at the Hospital Meyer, it shows the art of Maurice Sendak and its influence on Italian artists and a second one in the foyer of the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino many photos by FRANCESCO GUAZZELLI (professor of photography at SUF) about the opera making off. Also several SUF students are involved as interns: in the stage set design, in the sewing of costumes for the monsters, in the linguistic presentation of the text at the Florentine schools. To children from elementary, middle and high schools, as a preparation for their opera visit, and as part of their English and music classes.
Students of Mass Communications wrote some articles for SUF organ “LA GAZZETTA DI SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY” which will be sent to US universities and to 200 host family in Florence. Last but not least, the most touching experience working in the project with the hospitalized children of Meyer on the creation of the monsters made of paper machée. The project has been huge and sometimes tiring but their amazed, astonished faces once the first monster has been finished pay back all our efforts.
23 January 2005 ore 20,30
“Gala of charity” for Pediatric hospital Meyer of Florence
25 January at 20,30 and 18,19,20,22 January at 10:30
at IL PICCOLO DEL TEATRO COMUNALE
(first time performed in Italy)
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http://suabroad.syr.edu/programs/florence/