dead man walking visual guide

Visual companion to Wisconsin Public Radio’s broadcast of Madison Opera’s production

May 24, 2014 at 1pmProduction photography by James Gill

A Mad

ison Opera Prem

iere

Libretto by Terrence McNallyBased on the book by Sister Helen PrejeanSung in English

Jake HeggieDeaD ManWalking

Dead Man WalkingMusic by Jake Heggie

Libretto by Terrence McNally | Based on the book by Sister Helen Prejean, csjCommissioned by San Francisco Opera

Premiered October 7, 2000, San Francisco Opera

Madison Opera PremiereSung in English

Characters in order of vocal appearanceA Girl

A Boy

Joseph De Rocher

Anthony De Rocher

Sister Helen Prejean

Sister Rose

Sister Lillianne

Sister Catherine

A Mother

Jimmy Charlton

Mrs. Charlton

Motorcycle Cop

Father Grenville

Warden George Benton

Prison Guards

Solo Prison Inmates

A Paralegal

Mrs. Patrick De Rocher, Joseph’s mother

Her 19 year-old son

Her 14 year-old son

Owen Hart, father of the girl

Kitty Hart, mother of the girl

Jade Boucher, mother of the boy

Howard Boucher, father of the boy

Kate Mann*

Aaron Heaps*

Michael Mayes

Erik Sherpe

Daniela Mack

Karen Slack*

Gillian Hollis*+

Jessie Lyons*+

Megan Gloss*

Simon Johnson*

Jennifer DeMain

Erik E. Larson*

Clay Hilley*

Jeffrey Beruan

Nikolas Wenzel, Anthony Cao

George Abbott III*, Andy Ball*,

Scott Brunscheen+, Josh Sanders,

Glen Siferd

Gail Becker*

Susanne Mentzer*

Kenny Lyons*

Jeremiah Eenigenburg*

Alan Dunbar

Saira Frank

Jamie Van Eyck

J. Adam Shelton

Conductor

Stage Director

Chorus Master

Scenic Designer

Costume Designer

Lighting Designer

Hair and Make-up Designer

Sound Designer

Fight Director

John DeMain

Kristine McIntyre

Anthony Cao

Harry Frehner

Harry Frehner and Scott Reid

Marcus Dilliard

Jan Ross

Buzz Kemper*

Jeff Skubal

This production of Dead Man Walking is owned by Fort Worth Opera.

The performance will last approximately 3 hours, including one intermission.

* Madison Opera debut+ Madison Opera Studio Artist

“Watching You” Music and Lyrics by Jake Heggie (BMI)

Produced and arranged by Brian Culbertson*Jimmy Demers, vocals; Tolak Ollestad, harmonica; Mike Thompason, acoustic

and electric guitars; Larry Kimpel, bass; Todd Sucherman, drums and percussionRecorded at Megatrax by Eddie King, North Hollywood, CA

Mixed by Craig Bauer at Hinge, Chicago, IL

“A Kiss in the Dark”Music by Jake Heggie (BMI)

Performed by Dave Koz**, soprano and alto saxophonesProduced by Brian Culbertson, keyboards and arrangement

Recorded at BCM by Doug Rider and Brian CulbertsonMixed by Criag Bauer at Hinge, Chicago, IL

*Brian Culbertson appears courtesy of GRP Records**Dave Koz appears courtesy of Capitol Records

Louisiana, 1980s

PrologueA teenage boy and girl have been skinny-dipping at a secluded lake. They have the radio on in their car and are making out to its music. Anthony and Joseph De Rocher emerge from the shadows and turn off the radio. They attack the teens, raping the girl and shooting the boy. When the girl screams, Joseph stabs her until she is silent.

Act IScene 1: Hope House, run by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of MedailleSister Helen, with some of the other sisters, is teaching the children a hymn. After the children leave, Sister Helen tells Sister Rose that she has heard from Joseph De Rocher, the Death Row inmate with whom she has been corresponding. He has asked her to visit him and she has decided to go.

Scene 2: The drive to AngolaHelen drives to the Louisiana State Penitentiary and muses on her acceptance of De Rocher’s request. She is stopped by a motorcycle cop for speeding, but he lets her off with a warning.

Scene 3: Louisiana State PenitentiaryHelen is met at the prison by Father Grenville, the prison chaplain.

Scene 4: Father Grenville’s officeFather Grenville criticizes Sister Helen’s choice to work with De Rocher, claiming that the man is unreachable. Helen responds that it is her duty to help him. She meets with the prison warden, George Benton, who warns her that De Rocher may ask her to be his spiritual advisor, to be with him all the way until the end.

Scene 5: Death RowThe warden and Sister Helen walk through Death Row to the visiting room. Along the corridors, inmates call out, some shouting obscentities at Sister Helen, others asking her to pray for them.

Scene 6: Death Row visiting roomSister Helen and Joseph De Rocher meet. They get off to a rough start. He admits that he’s frightened, but says his brother killed the two kids, and he is innocent. He asks Sister Helen to be with his mother at the pardon board hearing and to be his spiritual advisor.

Scene 7: The pardon board hearingAt the pardon board hearing, Mrs. Patrick De Rocher, Joseph’s mother, pleads for her son’s life. Owen Hart, father of the murdered girl, lashes out in anger. Mrs. De Rocher admits that she would hate her son, too.

Scene 8: The courthouse corridorThe four parents of De Rocher’s victims speak angrily to Sister Helen, accusing her of not understanding their pain and sorrow, and in fact siding with their children’s murderer. A paralegal announces that the pardon board has denied De Rocher’s appeal.

Scene 9: Death Row visiting roomDe Rocher and Helen meet again. He is angry about the pardon board and rejects her suggestions to confess and make peace with his actions.

Scene 10: The prison waiting roomHelen attempts to find change to get something to eat from a vending machine. She begins to hear voices in her head – of the children at Hope House, the motorcycle cop, De Rocher, his mother, the parents of the victims, and her fellow nuns. The warden tells her that the governor has refused to intervene, and Joseph De Rocher is a dead man. She faints.

THE STORY OF THE OPERA

Act IIScene 1: Joseph De Rocher’s cellA guard tells De Rocher, who is doing pushups, that his execution date has been set for August 4, midnight. Joseph angrily contemplates his fate.

Scene 2: Sister Helen’s bedroomHelen wakes up in terror from a nightmare, alarming Sister Rose, who begs her to stop working with De Rocher. Helen says she cannot; the two women pray for the strength to forgive De Rocher.

Scene 3: Joseph De Rocher’s cellIt is the evening of the execution. Joseph and Sister Helen talk, discovering a shared love for Elvis Presley. Joseph admits that he is afraid. Sister Helen again urges him to confess and make peace with what he has done; again he refuses. A guard informs them that Joseph’s family is there to see him.

Scene 4: The visiting roomMrs. De Rocher and her two younger sons visit with Joseph. She asks Helen to take a last picture of her family together. Joseph attempts to apologize, but his mother will have none of it, preferring to believe to the end that he is innocent. As the guards lead Joseph away, she looks after him, losing control. Sister Helen attempts to comfort her.

Scene 5: Outside the Death HouseHelen encounters the victims’ parents, there to witness Joseph’s execution. They want to know if she has a confession or apology for them. When she says she does not, they are angry. But Owen Hart takes her aside and confesses that he is less sure of what he wants now than he was; he tells her that he and his wife have separated due to the stress. Helen attempts to console him; he suggests they part as “fellow victims of Joseph De Rocher.”

Scenes 6/7: Joseph’s holding cellAs the hours tick down, Helen and De Rocher converse one last time. Once again she attempts to get him to confess to the murders. This time, he breaks down and tells her the entire story. He expects Helen to hate him. Instead, she forgives him and tells him that he must look at her when he is in the execution chamber, as she will be “the face of love” for him. The warden and guards enter; the final preparations for the execution begin.

Scene 8: March to the execution chamber / The execution chamberGuards, inmates, the warden, the chaplain, and protesters assembled outside the prison sing the Lord’s Prayer as Sister Helen recites a passage from the book of Isaiah. Helen is separated from Joseph at the door of the execution chamber. The warden asks if Joseph has any last words; he says he does, and asks forgiveness from the parents of the murdered teenagers. The warden gives the nod, and the execution proceeds. De Rocher dies telling Helen he loves her. The opera ends as Sister Helen repeats her hymn.

PRODUCTION PERSONNEL

Production Manager.........................................................................................................................................................................................................Kenneth FerencekTechnical Director............................................................................................................................................................................................................................Billy LarimoreProduction Stage Manager............................................................................................................................................................................................................Jill KrynickiAssistant Stage Managers............................................................................................................................................................Sean Corcoran, Kate GoodallAssistant Conductor...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................Kyle KnoxRehearsal Pianist..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................Scott GendelChorus Pianist............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................Kirstin IhdeCostume Supervisor..................................................................................................................................................................................................Karen Brown-LarimoreCostume Crew.......................................................................Virginia Bessert, Brenna Farmer, Laurie Everitt, Janine Wardale, Sharon WhiteWig and Make-up Designer................................................................................................................................................................................................................Jan RossWig and Make-up Crew.......................................................Leslie Frank-Taylor, Fran Nahabedian, Nicole Nilson, Liz Rathke, Bob RossProperties Master.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................Jennifer ChildersProperties Coordinator...............................................................................................................................................................................................................Susan RathkeProperties Crew.......................................................Benjamin Bakunovich, Katherine Dutcher, Paolo Desiati, Elaine Staley, Jane TavesSupertitles Cue Master....................................................................................................................................................................................................................Aileen WallScenic Decorator....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................Liz RathkePreview Artists.....................................................................................................................Scott Brunscheen, Jamie Van Eyck, Kirstin Ihde, Joseph RossMaster Carpenter..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................Greg SilverAssistant Lighting Designer...................................................................................................................................................................................................Spencer LyonsOverture Hall Technical Director...............................................................................................................................................................................Steve SchroederHouse Carpenter...............................................................................................................................................................................................................David Gerschbach Head Electrician................................................................................................................................................................................................................................Gary ClevenTheater Technicians..................................................................................................................................Davin Pickell, Jim Schaefer, Frank Schneeberger

Production Stage Crew....................................................................................................................................................................Members of IATSE 251

Photographer.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................James GilVideographer............................................................................................................................................................................................Jim Hoffmann, Video MemoriesProduction Therapy Dog.............................................................................................................................................................................................................Peter Barker

251

Anthony Cao, Chorus Master

Kristen BondKatie DavisMegan GlossWendy Jones HillGillian Hollis+Jessie Lyons+Julie Ottum

SOPRANOGail BeckerJennifer DeMainDale KaufmanLaura MullerErin Selbee

MEZZO-SOPRANOGeorge Abbott IIIScott Brunscheen+Patrick ChounetRobert GoderichMichael HokeMatthew LeaKenny LyonsJosh SandersTom Stone

TENORAndy BallRobert DinndorfJames EnzlerDavid FlandersStan HillJohn ItsonErik LarsonBrian SchultzGlen Siferd

BASS/BARITONE

+Madison Opera Studio Artist

MADISON OPERA CHORUS

John DeMain, Music DirectorVIOLIN I Suzanne Beia ConcertmasterNaha GreenholtzOlga PomolovaAlice BartschEleanor BartschBeth Larson Jon VriesackerTim KampsMary TheodoreOlga Draguieva

VIOLIN IILeanne Kelso LeagueWendy BuehlRachel HauserErica CrossRolf WulfsbergKa Ming TanValerie Sanders Geri Nolden

VIOLA Christopher DozorystKatrin TalbotDiedre BuckleyRenata HornikElisabeth EllenwoodSharon Tenhundfeld

CELLO Karl LavineMadeleine Kabat Karen CorneliusLindsey Crabb BASS Carl DavickSteve Kasprzak

FLUTEStephanie JuttElizabeth MarshallScott Metlicka

PICCOLO/ALTOScott Metlicka

OBOEMarc FinkJennifer MorganAndrea Gross Hixon

ENGLISH HORNJennifer Morgan

CLARINET Joseph MorrisNancy Mackenzie

BASS CLARINETGreg Smith

BASSOONCynthia Cameron-FixAmanda Szczys

CONTRABASSOONCarol Rosing

HORNLinda KimballRicardo Almeida Michael Szczys William Muir

TRUMPETJohn AleyDave CooperRob Rohlfing TROMBONEJoyce MesserAdam HoukMichael Allsen

HARPKaren Beth Atz

KEYBOARDScott Gendel

TIMPANIJohn Jutsum

PERCUSSIONTim PattersonGeoff Brady

MADISON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Keith Ahlvin Michael Bickel Jeffrey Jensen Joshua K. Paffel Bryan Royston

SUPERNUMERARIES

Ben AubyEmma AubyElizabeth EverittEmma EverittNathaniel Johnson

Simon Johnson Jack KjentvetZoe KjosLogan MoslingKylie Peters

Haddie RyanNathaniel RyanEmily SchmidtStuart ThomasonJessica Wang

Julia WhiteHannah Wollack

Michael Ross, Artistic and Executive DirectorNicole Sparacino, Managing Director

Lynn Hembel, Margaret Jenks, Lisa Kjentvet, Lisa Shimon, Marcia Russell, Margaret Stansfield, Randal Swiggum,

Conductors

MADISON YOUTH CHOIRS

MaDison opera | DeaD Man Walking | act i

The intermissions for the WPR broadcasts include discussions hosted by WPR’s Lori Skelton. The Dead Man Walking discussion features the opera’s composer Jake Heggie.

IntermIssIon

MaDison opera | DeaD Man Walking | act ii

Revenge is best seRved with meat pies. After 15 years of unjust imprisonment in a penal colony, the barber Sweeney Todd returns to the gas-lit streets of Victorian London seeking vengeance. A thrilling American masterpiece!

A Mad

ison Opera Prem

iere

The Demon Barber of Fleet StreetA Musical Thriller

Sweeney Toddmusic & lyrics by stephen sondheimbook by hugh WheelerFebruary 6, 7, & 8, 2015 | capitol theater at overture center

sung in english With projected text

Shave and a romcom, two bitS. A count in multiple disguises, a young woman trying to outwit her guardian, and a barber being paid to ensure a happy ending — what could possibly go wrong? Whether you’ve seen this opera a thousand times or never, you’ll want to grab your seat in this barber shop.

BaRBERTHEOF SEvil lE

by gioachino rossini april 24 & 26, 2015 | overture hallsung in italian With projected english translations

by ludWig van beethoven november 21 & 23, 2014 | overture hallsung in german With projected english translations

FidelioA M

adis

on Opera Staged Premiere

Love is stronger than Fear. Beethoven’s only opera is an ode to freedom. To rescue her husband, a political prisoner, the noblewoman Leonore disguises herself as a man and works at the prison where she believes he is held. Come hear and feel the power of this magnificent opus.

2014/15 SEASON • LET US ENTERTAIN YOU

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dead man walking visual guide

Documents

sister helen prejeansung

san francisco opera

fort worth opera

brian culbertsonmixed

joseph stabs

jake heggie libretto

jake heggie bmiperformed

dave koz