Groundbreaking Opera Coming To Cleveland

CIM:Three Northeast Ohio cultural institutions are collaborating on a thrilling, creative staging of The Juniper Tree, a moody modern opera based on a dark tale by the Brothers Grimm.

Featuring opera theater students at the Cleveland Institute of Music, the production – to be performed at CIM’s Mixon Hall – will intertwine stage action with a feature-length film made by students at the Cleveland Institute of Art. The film was shot in October at an historic home at Hale Farm & Village in Bath, which is part of the Western Reserve Historical Society.

The Juniper Tree will be performed October 31 and November 2 and 3 at 7:30pm.

The opera was composed in 1984 by Philip Glass and Robert Moran. It follows the story of a boy who is murdered by his jealous stepmother and then fed in a stew to his unsuspecting father. The boy’s half-sister buries the bones under a tree, after which the boy is transformed and exacts revenge on his stepmother.

Students from CIM and CIA created the movie at Goldsmith House, which was built in 1831 in Willoughby and stands now as an educational site at Hale Farm. The home provided perfect texture for the film, which will be intricately integrated into the live action of the performance. The idea of combining live staging with a projected film featuring the same cast that appears on stage was conceived by Dean Southern, director of CIM Opera Theater.

“The choice of The Juniper Tree itself is a big change for us, and through it we wanted to try a new approach to storytelling,” said Southern, who is now in his first full season as director of CIM Opera Theater. “Sometimes the singers on stage carry the action, at other time the focus shifts to the screen, and often stage and screen work in tandem. We want the whole thing to feel fluid.”

Southern contacted Jacob Koestler, lecturer in CIA’s Photo + Video Department, who introduced the project to students in his Digital Cinema II course.

“I always wanted to do something this adventurous. I’m so happy and grateful to be working with Jacob and his wonderfully imaginative students at CIA,” Southern said. “The creativity between the students at both schools has been fun and inspirational to watch and experience. Filming at beautiful Hale Farm & Village was a thrill for everyone involved, and it was the final piece we needed to make this project come together.”

Koestler says that it was the opportunity for his students to become involved in a project outside the classroom and Southern’s vision that motivated them to work together with CIM on The Juniper Tree.

“It’s always exciting for the students to get out of the classroom and get real-world experience. Traditionally in this course, our students have worked on a single short film for the entire 16 weeks, and much of that time has been spent on casting and developing props. In this case, CIM is creating the props, costumes, makeup and hair, and of course bringing trained actors and musicians,” Koestler said. “Dean has a vision for the opera, but he also has been open to what our students have been able to offer as the production has developed. It has just been a very high-level professional experience.”

Jason Klein, director of Hale Farm, says this production could lay the groundwork for additional collaborations among the institutions.

“Hale Farm & Village is happy to partner with two renowned Northeast Ohio cultural institutions on this film and opera. Our historic 19th century village is sure to set the scene for a unique adaptation of The Juniper Tree,” Klein said. “We’re always open to these types of activities and would be happy to collaborate again in the future.”

To purchase tickets to this inventive production of The Juniper Tree, go online or contact the CIM Box Office at 216.795.3211 between 10am and 3pm Monday through Friday.

Parking: There are a wide variety of parking options, including metered and unmetered street parking on Hazel Drive, Juniper Road and Magnolia Drive, and paid lots at neighboring institutions. CIM’s parking lot will be inaccessible until summer 2020 due to construction. Visit cim.edu/parking for more information.

CIM Opera Theater productions are funded in part by a grant from the John P. Murphy Foundation.