From Medicine to the Stage. Doctor to Act in Verismo Opera's Carmen.

Dr. James Garvin, Jr., M.D., Ph.D. will leave medicine briefly on April 26 and perform in the New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera’s Carmen at the Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC). Dr. Garvin will assume the acting role of Lillas Pastia, an innkeeper.

Dr. Garvin has appeared in several productions of Verismo Opera, the only grand opera company in Bergen County, New Jersey. He performed supernumerary, nonspeaking roles, such as a cardinal, a scribe, and a member of a firing squad. He was a soldier in Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida and even a corpse in Giacomo Puccini’s hilarious dark comedy Gianni Schicchi.

He has been involved with Verismo Opera, the house opera company of bergenPAC, for several years in various capacities and serves as president of the board of trustees. In April 2012, he received the organization’s Volunteer of the Year award in recognition of his contributions.

Dr. Garvin is Professor of Clinical Pediatrics and Director of the Alfano Family Foundation Program in Pediatric Neuro-Oncology at New York Presbyterian Hospital at Columbia University Medical Center. He is also Attending Physician in Pediatric Oncology in the Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of New York Presbyterian.

Carmen

The Fort Lee based Verismo Opera will perform Georges Bizet’s well-known opera at bergenPAC, located at 30 North Van Brunt Street in Englewood, New Jersey, at 3:00 p.m. The production will be presented in four acts with the libretto written by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on a novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée. bergenPAC is handicapped accessible. bergenPAC is handicapped accessible. Hearing assist systems are available upon request to the house manager in the lobby.

Tickets

Tickets may be purchased online, at bergenPAC’s box office, and by calling (201) 227-1030 or toll-free at 1-888-PACSHOW. Senior citizens receive a 10% discount. The company is offering a reduced rate of $10 on all tickets for children, ages 12 and under. The special senior citizen and children’s discount ticket rates are available at the box office only and must be requested before the purchase. For special rates for group sales only, call (201) 224-2809. Discount tickets are not available for purchase online.

Funding

The 2015 season is made possible, in part, with funds provided by the New Jersey Council on the Arts/Department of State, through grand funds administered by the Bergen County Department of Parks, Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs. Other supporters include Children’s Aid Foundation, Robert J. Campbell, MD, Cesare L. Santeramo, KSJ, Paul Weiss Matching Fund, The Gerda Lissner Foundation, Inc., and Vanguard Charitable Endowment Fund.

For more information about the grand opera company, visit Verismo Opera’s web site; like the company on Facebook; get updates on Twitter @NJVerismoOpera; follow the opera company on Pinterest; or call (201) 886-0561.