Mozart's 'The Magic Flute' On Screen At Ridgefield Playhouse Dec. 3

**News Release Submitted by The Ridgefield Playhouse**

This December, bring the whole family to experience the Met Opera on the big screen! The Ridgefield Playhouse will host an encore presentation of Mozart’s The Magic Flute on Saturday, December 3, 2022 at 4pm as part of the FirstLight Home Care Classical Series and Xfinity Family Series, Underwritten by Liz & Steven Goldstone, and Sabina Slavin. Tickets in this series are free for children 18 and under! The Magic Flute is the Met’s abridged English-language version of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, a sublime fairy tale that moves freely between earthy comedy and noble mysticism. Prince Tamino and the bird-catcher Papageno are sent by the Queen of Night to save her daughter Pamina from the clutches of the evil lord Sarastro. To assist their mission, they are given musical instruments enhanced with magical powers, which they deploy to conquer the trials and tribulations placed in their path towards a deeper understanding of true love and happiness. This encore performance is from the Met Opera’s 2006 season, directed by Tony Award winner Julie Taymor (The Lion King). Under the baton of Maestro James Levine, a winning ensemble cast – including Nathan Gunn, Ying Huang, Matthew Polenzani, Erika Miklosa, and René Pape – brings fresh life to Mozart's timeless fairy tale. The imaginative and irresistible production filled with whimsical humor and breathtaking puppetry was the groundbreaking broadcast that launched the Met’s heralded Live in HD series, seen by opera lovers in movie theaters around the world.

Mozart wrote the original opera with the clear intention of appealing to audiences from all walks of life, making this abridged English-language version a great view for families at the holiday season! The Playhouse will screen a Live in HD presentation of Die Zauberflöte on Sat, June 3, 20223 at 1pm, conducted by Nathalie Stutzmann and directed by Simon McBurney.

Coming up next from The Met Opera Encore in HD is Kevin Puts’ The Hours on Sun, December 18, 2022 at 12:30pm. Reneìe Fleming, Kelli O’Hara, and Joyce DiDonato star in this powerful adaptation of the award-winning novel and film, which tells the dramatic story of a day in the life of three women from different eras whose stories intersect.

For more information or to purchase touchless print at home tickets ($25, Members & Seniors $20, Students $15, Children 18 & under FREE), go online at www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org or visit or call the box office at (203) 438-5795. The Ridgefield Playhouse is a non-profit performing arts center located at 80 East Ridge Road, parallel to Main Street, Ridgefield, CT and is committed to keeping the arts alive and available to all.

**News Release Submitted by The Ridgefield Playhouse**