VANESSA

Composed by Samuel Barber
Libretto by Gian Carlo Menotti
Newly Arranged by Dan Schlosberg
Adapted by Jacob Ashworth

Directed by R.B. Schlather
Co-Music Directed by Jacob Ashworth and Dan Schlosberg

9 PERFORMANCES:
Thursday, July 17 at 7 pm
Saturday, July 19 at 6:30 pm
Sunday, July 20 at 6:30 pm
Thursday, July 24 at 7 pm
Saturday, July 26 at 6:30 pm
Sunday, July 27 at 6:30 pm
Thursday, July 31 at 7 pm
Saturday, August 2 at 6:30 pm
Sunday, August 3 at 6:30 pm

Samuel Barber is one of the most celebrated American composers of the twentieth century, and Vanessa was a hit upon arrival at the Metropolitan Opera in 1958 and won the Pulitzer. It could have remained in the canon as one of the great American operas of all time, but its unique brand of gothic creep and fiercely emotional music did not jive with the overly-academic tastes of the time, and over the following decades the piece receded into near-obscurity. Together with director R.B. Schlather, we have planned a reinvention of this classic, stripping away the gewgaws and doilies of its original imaginings, and allowing the riveting extremes of these palpable characters to break through. Heartbeat's version, adapted by Jacob Ashworth, pares the work down to five singers, trapped inside their own circumstances, with a new arrangement by Dan Schlosberg.

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Music by Giacomo Puccini/Libretto by Luigi Illica & Giuseppe Giacosa

10 performances: July 11, 13m, 20m, 22m; August 1, 4m, 7, 9m, 14, 16m

Tosca, a tempestuous diva, lives for art—and for love. When Cavaradossi, her lover and a revolutionary painter, is targeted by Rome’s corrupt chief of police, Tosca is determined to save him—but at what price? Puccini’s lush score, written on the heels of La bohème, contrasts moments of exquisite tenderness with heart-stopping sonic spectacle.

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Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by James Lapine
Originally Directed on Broadway by James Lapine
Orchestrations by Michael Starobin
Originally Produced on Broadway by The Shubert Organization and Emanuel Azenberg
By arrangement with Playwrights Horizons, Inc. New York City which produced the original production of Sunday in The Park With George in 1983.

9 performances: July 12, 17, 19, 21m; August 2, 5m, 8, 10, 17m

Inspired by Georges Seurat’s groundbreaking painting, Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, this musical is a meditation on the artistic process, seen through the eyes of Georges Seurat in 1884 and an imagined great-grandson, also an artist, in 1984. Nominated for 10 Tony Awards and Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Sondheim’s innovative score explores pointillism in sound before opening out into one of the most glorious choral finales in the repertory.

This production of Sunday in The Park With George was licensed by Music Theatre International.

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All tickets for VANESSA must be purchased directly from Williamstown Theatre Festival, via their webpage. Heartbeat Opera is not selling tickets directly. Performances of VANESSA are included in all weekend passes for the Festival, see here. Single tickets are here, and WTF donors get first dibs. For the latest ticket info, head over to the VANESSA page here.

It’s 90 minutes long.

VANESSA will be performed at The Annex, a new Festival venue located at 245 State Road in North Adams, MA (inside the North Adams Gateway Center). WTF transformed a former Rent-A-Center into this flexible performance space to create an intimate, non-traditional theatre experience.

Williamstown Theatre Festival is located at 1000 Main Street, Williamstown, MA. It’s about a 3-hour drive from NYC.

From the East Side:
Take FDR Drive North to Willis Avenue bridge to Major Deegan Expressway/Route 87 North, to Saw Mill River Parkway North, to Taconic Parkway North. Follow directions from the Taconic Parkway below.

From the West Side:
Take the Henry Hudson North to Saw Mill River Parkway North, to Taconic Parkway North. Follow directions from the Taconic Parkway below.

Once on the Taconic Parkway:
Follow the Taconic approximately an hour and a half to Chatham exit, Route 295 East (exit is marked “last exit before toll”). Follow Route 295 East to Route 22 North. Take Route 22 North (through Lebanon, NY, jogging left at the fork at the end of the New Lebanon strip) to Route 43 East (in Stephentown, NY). Route 43 will be a sharp right at a traffic light (Cumberland Farms will be on your left) approximately 5 miles outside New Lebanon. Follow Route 43 for 17.3 miles, until it dead-ends in a “T” at Route 2 in Williamstown. Take a left onto Route 2 West and follow 0.4 miles to WTF. The Theatre will be on your right, just before the junction of Routes 2 & 7.

Prefer not to drive?

• Berkshire Flyer (Amtrak) runs Fridays and Sundays between NYC and Pittsfield (seasonal, July–Sept).

• Amtrak to Albany + car rental (50 mins from Williamstown).

• Peter Pan Bus Lines also services Williamstown from NYC and Boston—drops you just 200 yards from the theater!

Yes! Between Amtrak (to Albany or Pittsfield), Peter Pan buses, and local transit, there are several ways to get to Williamstown without driving. And once you're in town, the theater is walkable from most accommodations.

Yes! Williamstown and the Berkshires offer lots of cozy and convenient lodging options—but things book up fast during Festival season. Here are some great nearby picks that WTF recommends (all under 10 miles from the theater).

Yes! And plenty of it. The Annex is a new Festival venue in the North Adams Gateway Center, located at 245 State Road in North Adams, MA. WTF tranformed a former Rent-A-Center into a flexible performance space for an intimate, non-traditional theatre experience. How exciting!

Masks are optional. (WTF’s policies may change, so check closer to the date.)

Yes! The Annex is wheelchair accessible. WTF asks that you request accessible seating when booking. A limited number of assistive listening devices are available at the ‘62 Center and The Annex—first come, first served. Have questions? The Box Office is happy to help: (413) 458-3253.

According to WTF’s ticket policies, which you can find here, you can exchange single tickets (same show, different date) up to 48 hours in advance for a $5 fee. Full weekend passes can be exchanged for a different itinerary (also $5).

Please note:

• No refunds.

• You can’t exchange individual performances within a weekend pass.

• If you can’t attend, consider donating your tickets back for a tax deduction!

Whatever you feel good in! There’s no dress code, come as you are.

VANESSA is held indoors at The Annex.

We recommend arriving at least 30 minutes before curtain. That gives you plenty of time to park, grab your tickets, and settle in.

Policies may vary by production, but Heartbeat’s production of VANESSA is for all ages. If you’re thinking of bringing little ones, we recommend calling the Box Office at (413) 458-3253 or emailing tickets@wtfestival.org for advice on age-appropriateness.

So much! Williamstown is packed with culture, nature, and charm.

Here are a few local gems:

Culture & Museums:

• The Clark Art Institute – stunning art and trails

• Williams College Museum of Art – vibrant and diverse collections

• Williamstown Theatre Festival – of course!

Outdoors & Parks:

• Field Farm – hiking + sculpture garden

• Mountain Meadow Preserve – trails with mountain views

• Pine Cobble Trail – short but scenic climb

Family-Friendly Spots:

• Linear Park – picnic, fish, or stroll by the river

• Margaret Lindley Park – great for a swim or nature walk

Nearby Adventures:

• MASS MoCA (North Adams) – epic contemporary art

• Mount Greylock – hike or drive to the highest point in MA

Possibly! While WTF’s website doesn’t list specific discounts, your best bet is to call the Box Office at (413) 458-3253 or email tickets@wtfestival.org to ask about current offers.