“The Fairy Queen,” an opera by Henry Purcell inspired by William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” will be performed by Hofstra Opera Theater on Friday, Feb. 2 through Sunday, Feb. 4 at the Toni and Martin Sosnoff Theater, John Cranford Playhouse.
“The Fairy Queen,” considered to be Purcell’s greatest composition, is a fantastical tale of romance and magic. Hofstra Opera Theater’s contemporary telling of the story follows four young lovers’ escape to an enchanted forest. First performed in London in 1962, this “semi-opera” was originally written as a “masque” — light entertainment featuring lavish costumes and scenery. This production of “The Fairy Queen” at Hofstra offers audiences a variety of vocal talent, alongside innovative choreography and compelling acting. It also features some of the most famous music of the Baroque period.
Conducted by Mark Shapiro, “The Fairy Queen” features direction by Isabel Milenski and James Smith and choreography by Hofstra student Julian Donahue (’19). Performance times are 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $10, $8 for senior citizens. Members of the Hofstra community receive two free tickets upon presentation of a current HofstraCard.
For tickets and more information, call the Hofstra Box Office at 516-463-6644 or purchase tickets online at www.hofstra.edu. If tickets are still available on the day of performance, tickets will be sold at the door starting 90 minutes prior to show time at the theatre box office window.
