Performing at the opera!
Tonight was absolutely magical. After some very hot and exhausting rehearsals, we were able to enjoy the fruits of our labor. Our Commedia ensemble performed in a beautiful opera in the outdoor amphitheater on campus. Furiosus was written by Roberto Scarcella-Perkins featuring a libretto by Flora Gagliardi. It is based on Orlando Furiosus by Ludovico Ariosto, one of the most famous works in the history of Italian literature. The Commedia students acted as a silent ensemble and performed in different roles, from soldiers to forest creatures, throughout the evening. I had never performed outdoors before, and it was such a perfect night to do so. The sky was clear, the air was cool, the theater was full, and the crickets were harmonizing with the extraordinary company of singers we shared the stage with. To make my Italian theater debut under the stars, in a piece so prominently linked to Italian culture, was an unforgettable experience. All of the work we put into the opera was more than worth it.