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Skylight & Milwaukee Opera Theatre Team Up to Tell 'The Tales of Hoffmann'

Photo by Mark Frohna
Ariana Douglas (Coppélius), John Kaneklides (Hoffmann), Cecilia Davis (Olympia) and Jill Anna Ponasik (Stage Director) in rehearsal for Skylight Music Theatre’s production of The Tales of Hoffmann, March 16-29 on the Cabot Theatre stage.";s

Offenbach’s operetta The Tales of Hoffmann is a classic. It’s the story of the poet Hoffmann, his quest to find true love, and his three ill-fated love affairs. In its full glory, the original lasts well over three hours, requires a couple of dozen singers, and, in true operatic fashion, various characters die after singing.

It’s safe to say that the version of the show to open this Friday at the Skylight Music Theatre isn’t at all like that. Well, except for the dying after singing part… Lake Effect's Bonnie North met stage director Jill Anna Ponasik and translator and adapter Danny Brylow at the stage during a recent rehearsal to find out more:

Bonnie North
Bonnie joined WUWM in March 2006 as the Arts Producer of the locally produced weekday magazine program Lake Effect.