Raleigh Little Theatre’s production of IN THE HEIGHTS was initially announced in February 2020, just before the Coronavirus pandemic shut down theaters across the country. So it’s a joy to finally see it make its way to the stage in June 2022. Directed by Patrick Torres, the story of Washington Heights is brought to life by talented local Latinx community members. Read BWW's critic's review!
This is the second program of one-act operas presented by Fletcher Opera this year to maximize performance opportunities during the pandemic.
LaCosse, artistic director of the A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute, said that singers have been called âsuperspreadersâ in these COVID-19 times.
âIt is especially challenging for opera singers to perform during the pandemic because their vocal projection can carry respiratory droplets farther than speaking,â LaCosse said.
He said one-act operas were chosen because they have small casts and allow for socially distant staging. There are three cast members for âSophie Arnouldâ and five for âLâheure espagnole.â
âSimply put, the one-act operas created a space with fewer people onstage for a shorter period of time,â soprano and Fletcher fellow Virginia Sheffield, who performs the title role in âSophie Arnould,â said in a press release.