American Stage And Opera Company Present JOHNNY SCHICCHI, 4/30-5/8

This spring, the St. Petersburg Opera Company and American Stage Theatre Company will co-produce Johnny Schicchi, an English-language version of Puccini's Gianni Schicchi. The show will run From April 30 to May 8.

A wealthy old man dies and the relatives gather for the reading of the will, only to discover he has left everything to a monastery. Aghast, the relatives reluctantly allow the local "fixer" to arrange a highly unorthodox new will. Puccini's sparkling music is the ideal counterpoint for the hilarious events as everyone jockeys for a share of the inheritance, including the love-sick Rinuccio, whose intended, Lauretta, is the daughter of the fixer, Gianni Schicchi.

The same team that brought you Cosi fan tutte and the upcoming Madama Butterfly, will conspire to make sure you get your due share of laughs from the will. American Stage's Todd Olson will stage direct and SPO's Mark Sforzini will lead the fabulous cast and small orchestra in his own transcription of the musical score.

Cast:
Johnny Schicchi: Richard Cassell
Lauretta: Phoenix Gayles

Relatives of Buoso Donati:
Zita, Buoso's cousin: Melissa Misener
Rinuccio, Zita's nephew: Adam Hall
Gherardo, Buoso's nephew: Joseph Peterson
Nella, his wife: Kelly Griffin
Gherardino, their son: Randolph Rose
Betto of Signa, Buoso's brother in law: Fred Furnari
Simone, Buoso's cousin: Rimas Karnavicius
Marco, his son: Anthony Zoeller
La Ciesca, Marco's wife: Michelle Rego
Spinelloccio, physician: Thomas Massey
Amantio di Nicolao, notary: Thomas Massey
Pinellino, shoemaker: TBA
Guccio, dyer: Brian Westlund

JOHNNY SCHICCHI ORCHESTRA
Mark Sforzini: Conductor & woodwinds
Joshua Quinn: Keyboards
Michael Galvin: Violin
Fred Gratta: Cello

Tickets prices are $25 to $39.50 depending on performance. For tickets, please call the American Stage Box Office at (727) 823-PLAY (7529) or visit www.stpeteopera.org or www.americanstage.org. American Stage Theatre Company is located at the Raymond James Theatre, 163 3rd Street North in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg, Florida.