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Master Class

Presented by Salt Lake Acting Company at Salt Lake Acting Company

October 14-November 8, 2009

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Master Class by Terrence McNally focuses on legendary soprano Maria Callas during the early 1970's when, her voice broken and her career faded, she taught master classes at Juilliard in New York. Callas is teaching a master class in front of us, her audience. She's glamorous, commanding, larger than life ? and drop-dead funny. Triggered by each of her student's efforts and their choices of music, Callas lapses into reminiscences and daydreams; glories in her own career and deviations into the dark corners of her private anguish. With humor and resonance, her soul in all its turbulence dominates the stage. When SLAC first presented Master Class over a decade ago, extended due to its popularity, it was also directed by David Mong, with incomparable Anne Cullimore Decker. Ms. Decker has performed on nearly every stage in Utah. Her long history of SLAC credits include The Clean House, Rabbit Hole, K-Mille, Three Tall Women, and the world premieres of Seeing the Elephant and Madagascar. She has been seen at the Utah Shakespearean Festival in Mornings At Seven and My Fair Lady. With Utah Symphony/Opera, she has performed in The Gondoliers, The Merry Widow and A Little Night Music. She received the 2009 Governor's Individual Merit Leadership in the Arts Award for her extraordinary example of artistic dedication and excellence on-stage and off, as well as The Governor's Mansion Artist Award. Ms Decker said of Callas: 'When these classes were taught at Juilliard, the classroom wasn't filled just with singers. The public was coming out. Attorneys were leaving their offices to come and hear her. Celebrities were coming. They packed in- standing room only to see her.' Director David Mong said: 'I think this is a great time to do Master Class. At its heart, it is a play about the value of art. As the economy struggles and everybody tightens up and battens down, once again art is the 'poor cousin'. Art sustains us, elevates us, offers context and solace, and an altar to Praise and Lament, as the poet Rilke called the divine polarity of human expression.' The Accompanist, Paul Dorgan, is an adjunct professor in the School of Music at the University of Utah. Dorgan has performed as soloist and accompanist in Europe, Canada and the US, and also performs frequently in Salt Lake City. The students are played by Natalie Blackman, Shane Haag, and Stefanie Londino, all either current or recently graduated U of U students appearing at SLAC for the first time, and the stagehand by Josh Martin. SLAC's intimate Chapel Theatre offers a space tailor-made for this special honored presentation of Master Class. MASTER CLASS, a Tony award winner for best play, received its premiere at Philadelphia Theatre Company at the Plays and Players Theater in Philadelphia on March 1, 1995. Master Class runs at SLAC from October 14 to November 8 and is recommended for mature audiences.