October 2123, 2022

The Tri-Cities Opera Center

Madness and

The Medium

An Operatic Haunted House

Music and Lyrics by Gian Carlo Menotti and Others

This new take on Menotti’s dark masterpiece pairs a full production of The Medium with scenes of murder and madness from other operas in a walk-through haunted house experience. Addressing themes of suffering, violence, and addiction with a healthy measure of gorgeous singing and deeply human story telling, “Madness and The Medium” creates an opera experience like no other.

Join us as we watch the riveting story of Baba, an alcoholic con-woman who (with the help of her subjugated daughter Monica and the “adopted” mute orphan youth, Toby) swindles grieving clients by claiming to be the medium, Madame Flora. When the lines between her con and her contact with the spirit realm become muddied, the chaos that ensues yields terrifying results.

The audience for the “Madness” portion of the production is split into two staggered show times. For those of you participating in the 7pm and 3pm showtimes, the haunted “Madness” tour of the cavernous Tri-Cities Opera facility will culminate in a themed reception of sweet and savory treats thoughtfully crafted by local gourmet partners. At the end of this reception, the 7:30 and 3:30 showtime attendees will land at the lobby (after their haunted tour) for a brief intermission before all of our guests are spirited away to their seats and into the “faded 1920s” world of The Medium.


Please Note:

This production contains subject matter that may disturb some viewers, including abuse and violence, and is recommended for audience members ages 13 and up.

Limited seating will be available during the haunted tour for patrons with mobility issues. All patrons will be seated for The Medium.

Blank gunshots will be heard as part of the production.

Performance Information

Run Time

Approx. 2 hrs with one intermission.

Language

Performed in English.

Location

The Tri-Cities Opera Center, Binghamton, NY.

Tickets

Cast

Monica
Sarah Joyce Cooper
Madame Flora
Hannah Penn
TCO Debut
Toby
Felix Aguilar Tomlinson*
Mrs. Gobineau
Kyrie Laybourn*
Mrs. Nolan
Janine Dworin*
Mr. Gobineau
Bernardo Medeiros*
* denotes Tri-Cities Opera Resident Artist
denotes Binghamton University MM Opera candidate

Creative

Conductor
Christian Capocaccia
Director
Jennifer Williams
TCO Debut

Felix Aguilar Tomlinson

Tenor

2022–24 Resident Artist

2023/24 Season at TCO: Papagayo in Papagayo; Actor in All Is Calm; Lewis in The Fantasticks; Sergeant/Count Almaviva (cover) in The Barber of Seville

Hometown: Minneapolis, MN

Recently: Tri-Cities Opera: Don Basilio/Don Curzio in The Marriage of Figaro, King Kaspar in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Toby in The Medium, Ralph in Mystery on the Docks; Chautauqua Opera: Tobias Ragg in Sweeney Todd, Shakur in Thumbprint, Thaddeus Stevens in The Mother of Us All; Boston Lyric Opera: Luis (Cover) in Champion; Boston Conservatory Opera: Albert in Albert Herring, Tito in La clemenza di Tito, Ernesto in Don Pasquale, Younger Thompson in Glory Denied

Last updated August 2023

Kyrie Laybourn

Soprano

2022–24 Resident Artist

2023/24 Season at TCO: Day/Night Creature in Papagayo; Gangster/Mother/Prosecutor in I Am a Dreamer Who No Longer Dreams; Lewis’ Mother (Bellomy) in The Fantasticks; Berta in The Barber of Seville

Hometown: Coppell, TX

Recently: Tri-Cities Opera: Countess Almaviva in The Marriage of Figaro, Mrs. Gobineau in The Medium, Edwina in Mystery on the Docks; Opera Steamboat: Joanne in Company; CU NOW: Joan of the Ground in Joan of the City; Eklund Opera: Lady with a Cakebox in Postcard from Morocco, Annina in La traviata, Gertrud in Hänsel und Gretel; Boulder Opera Company: Countess Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro, Lucia in Cavalleria Rusticana, Rosine in Signor Deluso

Last updated August 2023

Janine Dworin

Mezzo-Soprano

2022–24 Resident Artist

2023/24 Season at TCO: Day/Night Creature in Papagayo; Actor in All Is Calm; Matt’s Mother (Hucklebee) in The Fantasticks; Rosina (cover) in The Barber of Seville

Hometown: Austin, TX

Recently: Tri-Cities Opera: Marcellina in The Marriage of Figaro, Mrs. Nolan in The Medium, Narrator in Mystery on the Docks; UNT Opera: Lucretia in The Rape of Lucretia, Estelle Oglethorpe in Later the Same Evening, Orfeo in Orfeo ed Euridice; The Dallas Opera: Jack’s Mother & Giant’s Wife in Jack and the Beanstalk; Opera in the Ozarks: Madame de la Haltière in Cendrillon; Houston Grand Opera: Strega Nona in Strega Nona, Music Student/Ensemble in Marian’s Song; Moores Opera Center: Mama McCourt in The Ballad of Baby Doe, Zulma in L’italiana in Algeri, Smeraldina in The Love for Three Oranges, Malacorpa in The Inspector

Last updated August 2023

Bernardo Medeiros

Baritone

2022–23 Resident Artist

2022/23 Season at TCO: Big Al in Mystery on the Docks; Mr. Gobineau in Madness & The Medium; King Melchior in Amahl and the Night Visitors; Count Almaviva (Cover) in The Marriage of Figaro

Hometown: Smithtown, NY

Recently: Long Island Lyric Opera: Masetto in Don Giovanni; Central City Opera: Rigoletto in Rigoletto; Indianapolis Opera: Masetto in Don Giovanni; Indianapolis Opera: Jigger Craigin in Carousel; Opera Project Columbus: Malatesta in Don Pasquale

Last updated October 2022