Directing 70 youths of Detroit in “The Happy Prince,” Detroit Opera House, April 2013. Photographer: Mitty Carter.
(To find photos of these productions, click here)
DIRECTION
Nokh tsvelf baynakht [After Midnight] (Dayksel), April-May 2015—Two Muses Theatre, West Bloomfield, MI (Yiddish)
A fantastical drama in Yiddish, performed in the original language (with projected English translations) by students of Frankel Jewish Academy in West Bloomfield, MI—made possible through a generous grant from the Fishman Family Foundation for Yiddish Culture.
How Nanita Learned to Make Flan (Gonzalez-Medina), April 2015—Michigan Opera Theatre, Community Programs Department (various schools around Michigan, especially the Latino community of Southwest Detroit, “Mexicantown”) (English and Spanish)
A bilingual opera for children, sung by adults; produced by MOT as part of an effort to reach out to Michigan’s Spanish-speaking population
Brundibár (Krása) and Lilies Among Thorns (Yashinsky), March 2014—Detroit Opera House main stage, Detroit, MI (English, Yiddish, and German)
Performed by Michigan Opera Theatre Children’s Chorus; a one-act by Yashinsky, drawing on children’s poetry from Theresienstadt, preceded the performance, and featured an appearance by Ela Stein Weissberger, Shoah survivor and the Cat from the Theresienstadt production of Brundibár
The Happy Prince (Williamson, based on Wilde fairy tale), April 2013—Detroit Opera House main stage, Detroit, MI
Performed by MOTCC—as part of the project, the children in the MOTCC engaged in a variety of service projects throughout Detroit, also the setting of our adaptation
Il turco in Italia excerpt (Rossini) (Italian)
La Juive excerpt (Halévy) (French), April 2011—Lowell House Library, Harvard University
Both as part of Lowell House Opera’s “Volumes: Opera Scenes in the Library”
Tosca (Puccini) (Italian), February-March 2010—Lowell House Opera main stage, Harvard University
A production set in Mussolini’s Italy
Iolanta excerpt (Tchaikovsky) (Russian), December 2009—Pforzheimer House Holmes Living Room, Harvard University
As part of Lowell House Opera’s performance “The Joy of Opera”
The Gondoliers: or, The King of Barataria (Gilbert & Sullivan), April 2009—Agassiz Theatre, Harvard University
Performed by the Harvard-Radcliffe Gilbert & Sullivan Players
Carmen excerpt (Bizet) (French)
Il barbiere di Siviglia excerpt (Paisiello) (Italian), October 2008—Lowell House Junior Common Room, Harvard University
Both as part of Lowell House Opera’s “Undergraduate Scenes”
ASSISTANT DIRECTION
Elektra (R. Strauss), October 2014—Detroit Opera House main stage, Detroit, MI
Under director Nicholas Muni; starring Christine Goerke
La traviata (Verdi), November 2013—Detroit Opera House main stage, Detroit, MI
Under director Mario Corradi; starring Nicole Cabell
Il barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini), October 2012—Detroit Opera House main stage, Detroit, MI
Under director Mario Corradi; starring Rodion Pogossov, Elizabeth DeShong
Mikhl Yashinsky: Theatrist & YIDDISHIST 