Opera Company of Philadelphia • March 24, 26, 29, 31, April 2, 5, 2000 at the Academy of Music

Scenic Design: Boyd Ostroff • Director: Jonathan Eaton • Lighting Design: John Stephen Hoey • Costume Design: Richard St. Clair • Conductor: Maurizio Barbacini

Tosca: Antonella Pianezzola • Cavaradossi: Viktor Afanasenko • Scarpia: Gregg Baker • Sacristan: John Davies

tosca_header “Director Jonathan Eaton (another promising company debut) provides effective and intelligent solutions to the tricky props-and-timing “business” of the piece. He and designer Boyd Ostroff have imagined a novel, strikingly frescoed second act set.” Philadelphia City Paper, 3/30/2000

“This home-grown production by the Opera Company of Philadelphia succeeds in almost every way. The sets and costumes are among the best the company has produced in recent seasons and serve the drama well.” – Mark H. Beers, Philadelphia Weekly, 3/30/2000

“One of the unexpected side effects of the good orchestra playing is that the old Boyd Ostroff-designed production seemed more handsome than before. Pictures can be improved by their frames, and this time, the frame was in sound.” – David Patrick Stearns, The Philadelphia Inquirer, 5/3/2011

“Special mention for set design goes to Boyd Ostroff, particularly his recreation of the stunning visual masterpiece at the end of the second act, after Tosca plunges her knife into secret police chief Scarpia, played with mischievous and murderous intent by baritone Richard Paul Fink.” -Craig Howle, Splash Magazines, 11/16/2005

“The borrowed Opera Company of Philadelphia production of Puccini’s beloved melodrama, which opened a four-performance run Tuesday at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, carefully prepares for this climactic moment in the heights. There’s the customary scaffolding for the hero, painter Mario Cavaradossi, in Act 1. But the villain Scarpia’s usually finely furnished room in Act 2 is being renovated, and a tall ladder is propped against an exposed brick wall — presumably so workers can complete the Michelangelo-like frescoes elsewhere on the walls. It subtly ups the vertical ante.

Then, in Act 3, the top of the Castel Sant’Angelo, where Cavaradossi is executed, boasts a huge crane and scaffolding supporting the statue that gives the castle its name. This scaffolding’s real purpose, however, is to provide the titular heroine with an even higher location from which to jump. And her jump — about 18 feet — is realistic and breathtaking. It was actually done Tuesday by stunt double Elle Alexander, who ungraciously gets no credit in the program book. It was also the most genuine thrill of the night.” – Charles Pasles, Los Angeles Times, 11/17/2005

Design Evolution

Final Design Sketches

Production Photos

Construction Photos

Backstage Photos

Design and Technical Drawings

Production Staff (2000)

Director of Design and Production: Boyd Ostroff • Production Manager: Matt Koropeckyj-Cox • Props Coordinator: Cindy Felice • Lighting Coordinator: Michael Voytko • Stage Manager: Kathleen Edwards • Asst Stage Managers: Lori Aghazarian, Maya Choldin • Costume Director: Richard St. Clair

Technical Director: John Callahan • Properties Master: Lou Petrucci • Master Electrician: Timothy Johnson • Flyman: Timothy Callahan • Asst Electrician: William Hennessy

Shop Carpenters: John Callahan, Matthew McIntyre, Paul Lodes, Thomas Bowen, John Damiani, Timothy Callahan, Doug McBrearty, Chris Hanes, William Hennessy, Steven Paul

Scenic Artists: Vanessa Fenton (Charge), Karen Tennant, Krzystof Bratun, Kendra Wadsworth, Jennifer Haley, Eurhi Jones, Michael Lane, Matthew Hamilton, William Lance

Props Artists: Deanna Lynette, Jennifer Margaret, Kate Carbone, Jennifer Haley, Nancy Steifeld, Jill Davis

Scenery Data

Built Jan-Mar, 2000 at the Opera Company of Philadelphia Production Center / Frankford Arsenal
Scenery construction budget: $101,095 • Actual cost: $121,302 • Total rental income: $92,500 as of May 2011
Load-in crew: 20 • Run Crew: 22 (carpenters, flymen and props only) • 20 hours required for load-in • 2 trucks required for shipping
Current status unknown

Tosca Revival

Opera Company of Philadelphia • May 1, 4, 6, 8, 2011 at the Academy of Music

Scenic Design: Boyd Ostroff • Director: Johnathan Eaton • Lighting Design: Drew Billiau • Costume Design: Richard St. Clair • Hair and Makeup Design: Tom Watson • Conductor: Corrado Rovaris

Tosca: Adina Nitescu • Cavaradossi: Thiago Arancam • Scarpia: Boris Statsenko • Sacristan: Kevin Glavin

Production Staff (2011)

Director of Design and Technology: Boyd Ostroff • Production Manager: Greg Prioleau • Lighting Coordinator: Drew Billiau • Asst Lighting Designer: Chris Frey • Props Coordinator: Christie Whisman • Production Stage Manager: Kerry Masek • Asst Stage Managers: Trevor Regars, RaShelle Bradley • Costume Director: Richard St. Clair • Asst Director: Seth Hoff

Technical Director: Christopher Hanes • Master Electrician: David Cecil • Properties Master: Paul Lodes • Asst Electrician: Richard Nordaby • Flyman: John Damiani

Production History

Opera Company of Philadelphia • March 24, 26, 29, 31, April 2, 5, 2000 (premiere) • Scenic Design: Boyd Ostroff • Director: Jonathan Eaton • Lighting Design: John Stephen Hoey • Costume Design: Richard St. Clair • Conductor: Maurizio Barbacini

Nashville Opera Association • October 9, 11, 2003 • Scenic Design: Boyd Ostroff

Austin Lyric Opera • September 17-20, 2004 • Scenic Design: Boyd Ostroff

Opera Pacific • November 15, 17, 19, 20, 2005 • Scenic Design: Boyd Ostroff • Director: Garnett Bruce • Costume Design: John Lehmeyer • Conductor: Christian Badea

Opera Omaha • September 27, 29, October 1, 2006 • Scenic Design: Boyd Ostroff • Director: David Gately • Conductor: Stewart Robinson

Calgary Opera Association • April 19, 23, 25, 27, 2008 • Scenic Design: Boyd Ostroff • Director: Albert Takazauckas • Conductor: Hal France

Opera Company of Philadelphia • May 1, 4, 6, 8, 2011 • Scenic Design: Boyd Ostroff • Director: Johnathan Eaton • Lighting Design: Drew Billiau • Costume Design: Richard St. Clair • Conductor: Corrado Rovaris