The play Master Class written by Playwright Terrence McNally, opened the exciting 2024-2025 season at the Music Theatre of Connecticut (MTC) in Norwalk, Connecticut. Directed by MTC Artistic Director and Co-Founder Kevin O’Connor, the 1996 Tony-Award Best Play, tells the story of the legendary opera soprano Maria Callas as she gives a master class in New York City. The talented cast includes Irene Glezos as Maria Callas, Zachary Anderson, Heidi Giberson, Constantine Pappas, Jim Schilling, and Emily Solo. The play runs until September 29, 2024, and is the perfect start to their fabulous 38th season. Bravo!
Irene Glezos (Maria Callas) –
Master Class
We saw the play on opening night on September 14, 2024, and it was spectacular. The play takes place at a recital hall in Manhattan in the 1970s, where soprano opera singer, Maria Callas (1923-1977) is giving a master class to students who have come to seek her guidance, her “nod of approval,” and her wisdom and key to success. It is also a time of reflection as Callas looks at her own life as she watches the students perform.
Emily Solo (Sophie) & Irene Glezos (Maria Callas) – Master Class
Irene Glezos is riveting in her portrayal of the renowned Callas. She brings such fiery passion to the role that she embodies the legendary “La Divina,” and delivers a world class performance. Maria Callas’ life was as rich as an Italian opera; born to Greek parents in New York City, when the parents’ marriage dissolved, her mother moved back to Greece with Maria and her sister.
Irene Glezos (Maria Callas) – Master Class
During her outstanding career, Maria Callas performed major operatic roles at La Scala (Teatro alla Scala) in Milan, Italy, for which she is still remembered as a preeminent and influential opera singer and had world-wide success. Professionally a success for a long time, her personal life was filled with conflict and scandal. While her sister was the “pretty one” it was Maria who had the talent and despite being overweight (she later lost weight in 1953), was nearsighted, and had “bad skin,” she rose to the top of the opera world.
Heidi Giberson (Sharon) & Irene Glezos (Maria Callas) – Master Class
When Maria tells the audience about her life, including marrying the wealthy and much older Giovanni Battista Meneghini who was 53 years old to her 26 years, in 1949, her performance is heartbreaking. After ten years of marriage, when the extremely wealthy but very crass shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis (1906 – 1975) came calling, she thought it was a love match and that he wanted to marry her. For him, it was a dalliance; he had the money, she brought him class, and ironically, he did not even like opera. Callas was devastated when he left her for the widowed Jacqueline Kennedy whom he married in 1968.
Constantine Pappas (Tony) & Irene Glezos (Maria Callas)
Master Class
Poignant and heartrending, the play shows not only the talent, but also the underlying fragility of not only the students played by the talented Emily Solo as Sophie (First Soprano), Heidi Giberson as Sharon (Second Soprano), and Constantine Pappas as Tony (Tenor), but Maria Callas as well, as she critiques each of them, while reflecting on her own life.
Zachary Anderson (Manny) –
Master Class
Rounding out the cast, Zachary Anderson plays Manny (Accompanist), who provides the music for the students, and acts as Callas’ sounding board as she waits for the students to arrive. Jim Schilling plays the put-upon Stagehand, who adds a comedic touch, often without saying a word, as he meets the ongoing demands from the Diva Callas to lower the lights, to bring her a footstool, to bring her a cushion, or to bring her water, with his deft use of body delivery to define his character. As always, MTC Director, Executive Artistic Director & Co-Founder Kevin O’Connor elicits the very best from his talented cast.
Irene Glezos (Maria Callas) – Master Class
Master Class is much more than a Tony-Award winner for Best Play, it is also a master class in life, where Callas tells her students that it is not enough to just have a good voice, you need to have courage, to have presence, to have the desire to succeed. Some will make it professionally, some will not. The choice is often up to them and their ability to stand up for themselves. Master Class is a play that will have you talking about, and reflecting upon, long after you leave the theatre. Bravo to playwright Terrence McNally for his dynamic script, and to the MTC and the actors who deliver the goods perfectly. Master Class at the Music Theatre of Connecticut runs until September 29, 2024.
Heidi Giberson (Sharon) & Irene Glezos (Maria Callas) – Master Class
Until next time, keep enjoying and supporting the arts!
Master Class Crew
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Terrence McNally
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Playwright
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Jon Damast
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Sound Design
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RJ Romeo
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Lighting Design
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Diane Vanderkroef
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Costumer Design
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Arielle Silbert
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Prop Design
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April M. Bartlett
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Scenic Design
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Abbey Murray
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Stage Manager
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Kevin O’Conner
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Director
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Jim Schilling (Stagehand) –
Master Class
Master Class Cast
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Zachary Anderson
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Manny
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Heidi Giberson
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Sharon
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Irene Glezos
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Maria Callas
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Constantine Pappas
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Tony
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Jim Schilling
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Stagehand
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Emily Solo
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Sophie
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Performance schedule: Thursdays at 7:00 pm, Fridays at 8:00 pm, Saturdays at 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm, and Sundays at 2:00 pm. Master Class runs until September 29, 2024.
For information or to purchase tickets, please visit the website: https://www.musictheatreofct.com/, call the box office at 1-203-454-3883, or email them at: admin@musictheatreofct.com.
The box office is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 am until 3:30 pm and 2 hours before every performance.
Sponsors: The 2024/2025 MainStage Season is sponsored by: Kaplan Girls Music Fund, The Burry Fredrik Foundation, and The Schnurmacher Foundation.
Music Theatre of Connecticut’s 2024 – 2025 MainStage Productions
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Master Class
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September 13-29. 2024
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Irving Berlin’s White Christmas
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December 6- 22, 2024
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Ken Ludwig’s Moon Over Buffalo
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February 7 – 23, 2025
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La Cage aux Folles
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April 4- 19, 2025
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About MTC
“Music Theatre of Connecticut is the premier provider of musical theatre performance and training. Founded in 1987, we produce an annual series of Equity productions featuring New York professionals (MTC MainStage), numerous annual student productions, and a conservatory-style School of Performing Arts with curriculum-based training for students ages four through high school, including the nationally recognized College-Bound in the Performing Arts program for performance career-focused high school students.”
“The Music Theatre of Connecticut (MTC) was founded in 1987 by Kevin Connors (Artistic Director and Co-Founder) and Jim Schilling (Co-Founder), where MTC’s focus is musical theatre performance and training.”
For more information on the Music Theatre of Connecticut, please visit their website: www.MusicTheatreofCT.com.
Music Theatre of Connecticut
509 Westport Avenue (look for the large white sign)
Norwalk, Connecticut 06851
United States
Box Office: +1-203-454-3883
Fax: +1-203-557-0496
Website: www.MusicTheatreofCT.com
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