Ithaca College Presents “The Magic Flute” Reimagined for a Modern Audience

By Melina Cicigline '23, May 7, 2021
Leaning into a classic and lifting the curtain on violence.
stage

Production of "The Magic Flute." (Photo credit: Alexa Regan)

Production of "The Magic Flute." (Photo credit: Alexa Regan)

Ithaca College Theatre and the School of Music invites you to experience Mozart’s operatic masterpiece, “The Magic Flute.”  In this modern reimagining of a classic story, director Ellen Jackson’s adaptation of “The Magic Flute” is set in the current day United States, which allows for criticism of radical politics, capitalistic values and poverty.

In the story, Sarastro runs a cult in southern Florida and abducts Pamina in hopes of antagonizing The Queen of the Night. Tamino is recruited to save Pamina and must conform to the cult through a series of initiations.

Viewing Information

In accordance with New York State COVID-19 guidelines and campus protocols, Ithaca College Theatre Arts recorded two performances of “The Magic Flute” and is sharing it via a free streamed link on May 15 at 7:50 p.m. on our social media channels.  “Like” and follow our social media outlets @ictheatrearts (Instagram) and Ithaca College Theatre Arts (Facebook) for further viewing instructions.

It’s “The Magic Flute” like you‘ve never seen before. Rather than using the same, controversial story, Director Ellen Jackson seeks to reveal what this work can teach us about how we presently live, and what it means to produce it now.

“The themes Flute peddles do more harm than good,” said Jackson. “I perceived in the piece an ideological violence: against people of color, against women, in favor of submission to an opaque patriarchy. Rather than chop it up and patch it back together in an attempt to hide the unsavory bits, it was important to me to meet Flute where it is, revealing the violence in the work by leaning into it.”

“The Magic Flute” is produced in collaboration with Ithaca College’s School of Music and the Department of Theatre Arts in the School of Humanities and Sciences. These programs attract students from around the world to learn and practice the art and craft of producing theatre, opera and dance.  This production showcases the hard work of students and faculty at Ithaca College.

Cast

The Cast of “The Magic Flute” features:

  • Matisse Boor
  • Olivia Brice
  • Anchal Dhir
  • Felicity Davis
  • Amber Ward
  • Rachel Magil
  • Maddie Hoerbelt
  • Isabel Vigliotti
  • Malaya Press
  • Athena Rajnai
  • Thomas Koo
  • Anthony Pilcher
  • Evan Sacco
  • Louis Bavaro
  • Jack Hogan

 The Chorus features:

  • Ava Dunton
  • Marissa Plati
  • Jessica Laddin
  • Torie Brooks
  • Syona Ayyankeril
  • Sofia Medaglia
  • Alexandra Lombardo
  • Lindsay Cherin
  • Julia Alexa Callaghan
  • Nick Capodilupo
  • Byron De Leon
  • Tynan Butler
  • Tommy Socolof
  • Joey Albano Bass
  • Jaden Levine

The Creative Team features:

  • Stage Director: Ellen Jackson
  • Music Director: Christopher Zemliauskas
  • Scenic Designer: Ben Tiber
  • Lighting Designer: Kathryn Potts
  • Costume Designer: Nicole Brooks
  • Production Stage Manager: Chris Griswold
  • Dramaturg: Peter McGarry