[This is a guest post by Jennifer Pugsley, media relations manager at the Canadian Opera Company. Jennifer and technical director David Feheley have been blogging about the COC's tour of The Nightingale and Other Short Fables to the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM).]

You can’t have an opening night without an opening night party, and BAM did not disappoint. Cast, crew, chorus and orchestra wasted no time in getting the festivities started once the curtain came down on the opening performance of The Nightingale and Other Short Fables on Tuesday, March 1. A standing ovation deserves celebration!

BAM Executive Producer Joseph V. Melillo opened the party, thanking everyone who made this production possible, before passing the mic over to COC General Director Alexander Neef, who was equally proud of the night’s achievement. Then the group was set loose on the dance floor and to enjoy the nibblies and refreshments that BAM had arranged for the opening night reception.

Among the guests in attendance at the party was a familiar face: former COC chorus master, and now chorus master for the Metropolitan Opera, Donald Palumbo was there to celebrate with old friends and colleagues. Some new faces in the crowd that had people buzzing were Cheryl Henson, daughter of puppeteer Jim Henson and a puppeteer herself, and renowned British actor Alan Rickman.

It’s fair to say that Mr. Rickman did not know what hit him when he joined the party, although he took the enthusiastic reception to his presence in stride. Many COCers clamored to share with him their appreciation and respect of his work as well as politely ask for a photo (top photo: Alan Rickman with members of the COC chorus). I can report that everyone conducted themselves with dignity and while there were many hushed whispers of joy and sunbeam-strong smiles, there were no screams of delight to be heard or sudden outbreaks of unnecessary hand clasping and hugging with Mr. Rickman.

An interesting Alan Rickman-COC connection was discovered at the party. In chatting with the COC’s music administrator, Sandra Gavinchuk, Mr. Rickman not only shared how much he loved Nightingale but the little known detail that he had toured the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts when it was being built.  I know I speak for many at the COC when I say we hope he will now make a visit to the opera house to witness its finished state as well as take in a performance by the opera company.

  

Above, Nightingale’s stage manager Jenifer Kowal and assistant director Marilyn Gronsdal, whose behind-the-scenes hard work has helped make the production such a hit, with Alan Rickman. Photo: Gene Wu

 

Here's contralto Meredith Arwady, who has wowed NY audiences and critics with her commanding performance as “Death” in Nightingale, with Alan Rickman. 

Alan Rickman was just one of two famous and brilliant actors that artists and staff of the COC have had the chance to meet so far in New York. With Wednesday, March 2 being a dark night for The Nightingale and Other Short Fables, many in the production took the opportunity to go across the street to BAM’s Harvey Theater and attend a performance of The Diary of a Madman, directed by Neil Armfield (who stages the COC’s upcoming Ariadne auf Naxos) and starring Geoffrey Rush. On a side note: the production is brilliant, Mr. Armfield and his creative team are geniuses and Mr. Rush lives up to all the critical acclaim he has ever received, and more! But I digress. After the performance, those in attendance from the COC were kindly invited by BAM to attend a reception being hosted by Madman sponsor Bank of America. Not only did these COCers get to hear Mr. Rush talk about the genesis of the show (which he first did in 1989), but many had the chance to angle for a photo. The last I heard about the efforts of this very lucky bunch, Nightingale’s assistant stage managers Michael Lewandowski and Kristin McCollum and soprano (and former Ensemble Studio member) Teiya Kasahara were overheard conversing with Mr. Rush about Neil Armfield as well as extending him an invitation to come to Toronto. Again, I know I speak for many at the COC when I say we hope he will make a visit.

Photos © Gene Wu 2011.