Theatre and Dance Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde Production Poster

The Threepenny Opera

Play with music after John Gay's The Beggar Opera, in Three Acts
Music by Kurt Weill German translation by Elisabeth Hauptmann; adaptation and lyrics by Bertolt Brecht
English translation of the dialog by Robert MacDonlad
English translation of the lyrics by Jeremy Sams
Directed by Halena Kays
Music Directed by Lyn Koenning

Performances: February 18,19, 24, 25, 26 at 8:00 p.m.
February 20, 27 at 2:00 p.m.
Oscar G. Brockett Theatre

Tickets: $20/$17/$15

Media and Resources:

Synopsis: A milestone of 20th century musical theater, The Threepenny Opera (Die Dreigroschenoper) rolls on unstoppably into the 21st. In their opera “by and for beggars,“ composer Kurt Weill (1900–1950) and playwright Bertolt Brecht (1898–1956) transformed saccharine, old-fashioned opera and operetta forms, incorporating a sharp political perspective and the sound of 1920s Berlin dance bands and cabaret. Weill's acid harmonies and Brecht's biting texts created a revolutionary new musical theater that inspired such subsequent hits as Cabaret, Chicago, and Urinetown. The show's opening number, “Mack the Knife,” became one of the top popular songs of the century.

Playwright:

Halena Kays (Director) is a third year M.F.A. directing student. At UT Halena most recently directed the premiere of Erin Philiips' The Death of Beth and a new adaptation of The Trojan Women. For “UT New Theatre (UTNT)” she directed the premiere of Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig's Lidless; for “The University Co-op Presents the Cohen New Works Festival” she conceived, co-wrote and directed 101 Ways to…

Read more about Halena.

Cast:

  • Kyle Schnack as Mack the Knife
  • John Smiley as Money Matthew
  • Maki Borden as Bobby Saw Boy
  • Travis Tate as Jimmy
  • Samuel Gorena as Little Weeping Wally
  • Will Douglas as Ned/Beggar
  • Alexis Scott as Twisted Finger Jacob
  • Liz Kimball as Polly Peachum
  • Christopher Reese as Mr. Peachum
  • Jennifer Adams as Mrs. Peachum
  • Kelli Schultz as Filch
  • Benjamin Bazán as Beggar #112/Smith
  • Stephen Naimoli as Beggar/Constable/Dance Captain
  • Mark Barnes as Beggar/Rev. Kimball
  • Dan Lendzian as Tiger Brown
  • Haley Hussey as Lucy Brown
  • Amanda Morish as Jenny
  • Chrissy Shackelford as Betty/Dance Captain
  • Sarah Konkel as Dolly
  • Isaac Gomez as Nelly
  • Kimberley Wilson as Tilly
  • Rachel Haney-Butler as Vixen

Press and Reviews:

Poster for The Threepenny Opera

Performances: February 18,19, 24, 25, 26 at 8:00 p.m.
February 20, 27 at 2:00 p.m.
Oscar G. Brockett Theatre

This production was created in collaboration by these artists (in alphabetical order):

Cast: Jennifer Adams, Mark Barnes, Benjamin Bazán, Maki Borden, Will Douglas, Isaac Gomez, Samuel Gorena, Rachel Haney-Butler, Haley Hussey, Liz Kimball, Sarah Konkel, Dan Lendzian, Amanda Morish, Stephen Naimoli, Christopher Reese, Kyle Schnack, Kelli Schultz, Alexis Scott, Chrissy Shackelford, John Smiley, Travis Tate, Kimberley Wilson