Carmen Jones, music by Georges Bizet with book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, choreography by Lisa Ruffin, musical direction by William Foster McDaniel, and directed by Jonathan Fox begins previews on Thursday, October 6 at 7:30pm, opens on Saturday, October 8 at 8:00pm and runs through Sunday, October 23, 2022 at The New Vic, 33 W. Victoria Street in Santa Barbara.
Carmen Jones is a thought-provoking adaptation of the beloved opera, CARMEN, by Geogres Bizet with new lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. The classic story of the bewitching Carmen is reset in a parachute factory during 1940’s World War II. Featuring an African American cast, in this revised version, the most provocative (and trouble-making) employee at the factory is Carmen Jones who is arrested by the military for once again causing trouble. She uses her seductive ways on the corporal assigned to guard her, Joe, who soon forgets his local sweetheart, Cindy Lou, and runs off to Chicago with Carmen. Husky Miller, a champion boxer on the military base, is also in Chicago for a major bout in the ring and a dangerous love triangle ensues when Carmen finds herself quickly drawn to the boxer . Several memorable musical numbers have come from this rarely performed new score, including “Dat’s Love,” “Dere’s a Café on de Corner,” “Stan’ Up and Fight,” and “Beat Out Dat Rhythm on a Drum.”
Santa Barbara’s professional theatre company, Ensemble Theatre Company, invites you to back to the theatre for this highly anticipated performance and to, once again, enjoy live theatre as only ETC can present it in the beautiful New Vic theatre.
The cast of Carmen Jones features Fredricka Meek as “Carmen Jones,” Chauncey Packer as “Joe,” Zelda Carmen as “Cindy Lou,” Troy Wallace as “Husky,” Nataley Carter as “Myrt,” Ashli Ferguson as “Sally,” Christopher James Hester as “Rum,” Michael Howard-Dossett as “Sergeant Brown/Higgins,” Constance Jewell Lopez as “Franky,” and Desmond Newson as “Dink.”
Carmen Jones is made possible through the generosity of ETC’s 2022-23 Season Sponsor Dana White and show sponsors Dana White and the Zegar Family Foundation. Additional Sponsorship from Eve Berstein, Helene Segal and George Konstantinow.
Performances are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm, and Sundays at 2:00pm and 7:00pm; with added performances on Tuesday, October 11 and October 18 at 7:30pm and Saturday, October 16 at 4:00pm. There will be no performance on Saturday, October 22 at 8pm and Sunday, October 23 at 7pm.
Ticket prices range from $40 – $84. Single tickets are available through the ETC box office at (805) 965-5400, or online at etcsb.org. Prices subject to change.
