Sea Change Theatre Company Brings Opera to Beverly

The new kid on the block has done it again. In the wake of their highly praised productions of “The Importance of being Earnest” and “Christmas Memories”, Sea Change Theatre Company, Beverly's newest non-profit theater company has joined forces with NYC based opera company Dramma per Musica to present Xerxes: A Comedy of Errors, a co-production of Handel's comic opera. The performances will take place on February 15, 16, 22,& 23 at 8:00 p.m. at Sea Change's newly renovated theater space at Dane Street Church, located at 10 Dane St. Beverly, MA.  

Known for their innovative and imaginative productions, Dramma per Musica has updated the action of this classic tale of monarchs behaving badly from Ancient Persia to the office of a present day Wall Street hedge fund. Their madcap comedy revolves around the machinations of a romantically frustrated C.E.O and his plot to steal his brother's girlfriend against a backdrop of zany but lovable office characters. The opera will be performed in English with piano accompaniment, and features an all-star cast of up and coming singers from both New England and the NYC metro area (including Boston-based tenor, Leslie Tay, and recent New England Conservatory graduate, Raymond Storms) as well as stage direction and set design by Claire Hafner, musical direction by Christine Pulliam, and a world-premiere English libretto by Sara Henry. Tickets are $15/Adults; $12/students & seniors and are be available for purchase online at www.seachangetheatre.com.

Sea Change Theatre Company is honored to have received support for the project in part by a grant from the Beverly Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. The choice to offer an opera as part of their inaugural season was a bold move on the part of Sea Change Theatre co-founders Jason Schaum and Staci Skiles Schaum. Not only does the opera genre suffer from stereotypes leaning towards the dry and out of date, but the sheer amount of work that goes into mounting a full scale opera production has kept Beverly from experiencing such a treat until now. Sea Change and Dramma per Musica tested the waters last August with “An Evening of Bel Canto” a delightful gala concert of opera scenes benefiting Sea Change's lighting fund. The audience was blown away by the level of talent, opening the door for something grander. Fortunately for Beverly, Sea Change plans to make opera a more regular occurrence for the community and is confident that both fans and newcomers will be thrilled. By presenting Xerxes in English with a modern and thoroughly relatable spin, they are certain that theater-goers of all backgrounds will find plenty to enjoy at the show. After all, who wouldn't be entertained by an evening of dysfunctional office hijinks headed by a CEO whose ego has trouble fitting through the door?

Sea Change Theatre Company is a new nonprofit theater on Dane Street in Beverly, Massachusetts. As our logo suggests, this theater sets its sights upon illuminating the human experience through theatrical works that seek to inspire purpose and offer hope. Sea Change Theatre Company engages the community through thought provoking theatrical works by producing classical plays, operas, and original works. By providing live theater at a modest price, we offer the theater-lover opportunities to see quality productions, the curious a chance to see a production in a convenient location, and the family-on-a-budget an outing with a compelling story. 

For more information, please contact us:  info@seachangetheatre.com or 978.500.3885

All performances will take place at Sea Change Theatre, Dane Street Church, 10 Dane Street, Beverly, MA.  Please feel free to take advantage of the ample parking at the rear of the building.