Chrisman Studio Artists and Alumni in The Light in the Piazza, 2023; photo by Zach Mendez
ON STAGE
The Light in the Piazza
Center Stage Theater | March 23-26, 2023
OSB Premiere
Premiered 2005 on Broadway
Music and Lyrics by Adam Guettel; Book by Craig Lucas
Genre: Romantic Drama
Running time: 2 hours and 30 minutes
Venue: Center Stage Theater
Based on the 1960 novella by Elizabeth Spencer, The Light in the Piazza tells the story of Margaret Johnson, a wealthy Southern woman and her daughter Clara, who falls in love with a young Italian man during a vacation in Italy. The show opened on Broadway in 2005 and ran for 504 performances. With a sophisticated score that lends itself to operatic voices, the Chicago Tribune hailed it as “the most soul-satisfying score written for Broadway so far this century”, The Light in the Piazza soon entered the repertoire of opera companies across the country.
This production will feature current and past members of our Chrisman Studio Artist Program, which is named in recognition of the support of Roger and Sarah Chrisman. Thanks to the recent expansion of the Studio Program, Opera Santa Barbara selected a studio showcase that highlighted the growth and talent of our studio artists. Husband-and-wife singers and CSA alumni, Matthew Greenblatt and Brooklyn Snow, will star in the March 23 and March 25 performances as Clara Johnson and Fabrizio Naccarelli. Current Studio Artists Ariana Horner Sutherland and Kyle Rudolf will portray the young couple on March 24 and 26. Singing the roles of the mothers, Margaret Johnson and Signora Naccarelli will be mezzo sopranos Christina Pezzarossi and Georgia Jacobson, with Signor Naccarelli sung by Matthew Peterson and Elijah Cineas. Omar Rodriguez will sing the role of Fabrizio’s brother, Giuseppe, and his wife Franca will be portrayed by long time OSB chorus member, Adrien Roberts, marking her 22nd production with Opera Santa Barbara. The production will be directed by Layna Chianakas, director of last season’s production of Speed Dating Tonight and the mainstage production of Tosca, and will be accompanied by members of the Opera Santa Barbara Orchestra under the direction of OSB Principal Pianist and Director of the Chrisman Studio, Tim Accurso.
Tickets
Location
Center Stage Theater
751 Paseo Nuevo
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Cast & Credits
DIRECTION
Conductor:
Tim Accurso
Director:
Layna Chianakas
ARTISTS
Clara Johnson/ensemble:
Brooklyn Snow
Clara Johnson/ensemble:
Ariana Sutherland Horner
Margaret Johnson/Signora Naccarelli:
Christina Pezzarossi
Margaret Johnson/Signora Naccarelli:
Georgia Jacobson
Fabrizio Naccarelli/ensemble:
Matthew Greenblatt
Fabrizio Naccarelli/ensemble:
Kyle Rudolf
Giuseppe Naccarelli:
Omar Rodriguez
Franca Naccarelli:
Adrien Roberts
Signor Naccarelli/Priest:
Matthew Peterson
Signor Naccarelli/Priest:
Elijah Cineas
Artists
Ariana Sutherland Horner
Kyle Rudolf
Adrien Roberts
Timothy Accurso joined the Opera Santa Barbara team as Principal Pianist in September 2018. Tim has been on music staff with Utah Opera, Palm Beach Opera, Opera Las Vegas, Opera Saratoga, and the Seagle Music Colony. Originally from Glen Lyon, Pennsylvania, he completed his undergraduate studies at Susquehanna University in Vocal and Piano Performance. To further his studies in opera, Tim received a Master’s of Music in Vocal Coaching and Accompanying from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he studied with Dr. Julie Jordan Gunn. Following his studies, Tim was a resident artist with Utah Opera from 2015-2017. In his work with Opera Santa Barbara, he plays all mainstage rehearsals, serves as chorus master of the Opera Santa Barbara chorus, directs the Chrisman Studio Artist program for emerging singers, and performs in community concerts throughout Santa Barbara and the central coast. In addition to his work at Opera Santa Barbara, Tim was named the Artistic Director of the Santa Barbara Gay Men’s Chorus in the fall of 2022. When not performing or practicing, Tim enjoys exploring the food and wine scene here in beautiful Santa Barbara!
In a career that has spanned three decades, Stage Director, Mezzo-Soprano, and Voice Teacher, Layna Chianakas has portrayed over 50 leading opera roles across the United States, including over 80 performances of Carmen. Most recently, she was heard with Intermountain Opera, in the role Mme. Larina in Eugene Onegin and with Livermore Valley Opera as Filipyevna in Eugene Onegin. She returns to both companies this spring as Emilia in Verdi’s Otello, and Marcellina in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro. 
A native of Duluth, Minnesota, French-born, Greek-American mezzo-soprano Georgia Jacobson’s recent engagements in 2022 include covering the role Virginia Woolf in the world premiere/concert version of The Hours by composer Kevin Puts and librettist Gregory Pierce at the The Philadelphia Orchestra, covering the role of Hermia in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Des Moines Metro Opera, as well as her debut as Cherubino in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaroat the University of Cincinnati- CCM. In March 2022, Jacobson returned home to Minnesota to premiere two song cycles, both commissioned for her by The Schubert Club and composed by Carol Barnett (Young/Old Witches, Bat) and Linda Kachelmeier (Lake Superior Songs). Jacobson looks forward to returning to the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra in May 2023 as the mezzo-soprano soloist in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, as well as debuts with Kentucky Opera as Tisbe in La Cenerentola and Maggie in The Gift of the Magi, and Opera Santa Barbara as Lucilla (cover) in La scala di seta,Margaret/Signora N in The Light in the Piazza, and Waltraute in Die Walküre. In previous seasons, she covered Mary Johnson (Fellow Travelers) as an Apprentice Artist at Des Moines Metro Opera (2021), and premiered the role of Sage (Everything Comes to A Head) with Lyric Opera of the North (2021). In January of 2021, Jacobson was a Metropolitan National Council Encouragement Award winner in the South Carolina district. Additionally, Ms. Jacobson won 1st Place in the National Opera Association’s 2020 Carolyn Bailey and Dominick Argento Vocal Competition. Jacobson has a special affinity for French repertoire, and she was proud to make her professional debut with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in their production of Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortilèges as Maman/Tasse/La libellule under the baton of Maestro Louis Langrée. A consummate musician and lover of new music, she workshopped the roles of Virginia Woolf (The Hours), Ruth (Awakenings) and Vesta (Fierce) with Opera Fusion: New Works and Cincinnati Opera. Her other recent roles include Zweite Dame (Die Zauberflote) and Endimione (La Calisto) with CCM Opera. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Voice Performance from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, and Master’s of Music (Voice) from University of Cincinnati – College Conservatory of Music, where she has recently received an Artist Diploma (Opera Performance).
Praised by the Colorado Spring’s Gazzette for his “stunning” singing with “power and beauty”, Matthew Peterson is an up and coming Baritone acclaimed for his rich voice and expressive acting ability.