The Glimmerglass Festival Brings THE MUSIC MAN to Oman

The Royal Opera House Muscat has invited The Glimmerglass Festival of Cooperstown, N.Y., to present its acclaimed 2012 production of The Music Man in Oman, located on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. 

This traveling production of The Music Man comes after The company closed its 2012 summer season with a more than 12 percent increase in ticket revenue over 2011. The Music Man will be presented at the Royal Opera House Muscat on October 9, 10 and 11. 

“Marcia Milgrom Dodge’s production of The Music Man was incredibly successful in Cooperstown,” Artistic & General Director Francesca Zambello said. “Now we bring the charms of Harold Hill and his Marian to Oman.”

While costumes and sets from Glimmerglass productions are frequently rented to other performance companies, Glimmerglass has never toured a production.  This inaugural trip will include more than 100 company members, including Zambello and Managing Director Linda Jackson, artists, musicians and Members of The production staff.

 “A lot of preparation has gone into this trip,” said Abby Rodd, Director of Production. “I am usually traveling by myself for our rentals program, and I love having the opportunity to travel with the Glimmerglass team to make this production happen abroad.” 

The scenery is on a 29-day ocean voyage from New York City to Muscat, while costumes and props are making their way by air.

The newly built Royal Opera House Muscat opened in October of 2011. Established by a Royal Decree, Royal Opera House Muscat is a multi-disciplinary arts and culture center pioneered and supported by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said.

In addition to The Music Man, The Glimmerglass Festival presented Verdi’s Aida, Lully’s Armide and Kurt Weill and Maxwell Anderson’sLost in the Stars during the 2012 Festival. In the summer of 2013, The company will present Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman, Lerner and Loewe’s Camelot, Verdi’s King for a Day and Passions – a double bill of David Lang’s the little match girl passion and Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater. More information is at www.glimmerglass.org.