Houston Grand Opera presents A Midsummer Night's Dream'

The Houston Grand Opera continues its multi year Benjamin Britten cycle and its 2008-09 season with Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream, opening Jan. 23 with performances through Feb. 6.

A Midsummer Night's Dream, based on Shakespeare's play, is performed by a cast led by Houston favorite soprano Laura Claycomb as Tytania and Welsh countertenor Iestyn Davies, in his company debut, as Oberon.

Also appearing are HGO Studio alums; tenor Norman Reinhardt as Lysander, baritone Liam Bonner as Demtrius, bass Ryan McKinney as Theseus, and mezzo-soprano Maria Lenormand as Hermia.

Making their Houston Grand Opera debuts are soprano Katie van Kooten as Helena, bass-baritone Matthew Rose as Bottom, tenor Peter Wedd as Flute, and actor Jon Michael Hill as Puck.

A Midsummer Night's Dream is a new production directed by Australian Neil Armfield. Houston Grand Opera Musical Director, Patrick Summers conducts the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and Chorus. Richard Bado is the chorus master. Sets and costumes are designed by Dale Ferguson. Lighting Design is by Damien Cooper.

The production, which is to be held at the Wortham Theater Center's Brown Theater located at Texas Avenue at Smith Street in Houston, is scheduled as follows:

Friday, Jan. 23, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 6, 7:30 p.m.

A Midsummer Night's Dream will be sung in English with English supertitles.

Single tickets for A Midsummer Night's Dream (inclusive of all city surcharges), start at $20. For tickets and general information, go to www. houstongrandopera.org or call (713)- 228-OPERA or 1-(800)-62-OPERA 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Monday-Friday and 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday.