Children’s extravaganza coming up
The Herod Atticus Theater will welcome young audiences with music, dance and colorful costumes over the next few days. The ancient theater will host the Greek National Opera production of «The Barber of Seville,» an opera especially adapted for children, tomorrow and Sunday, while next week, on June 3 and 4, the Greek National Theater’s Children’s Stage will present Shakespeare’s «Midsummer Night’s Dream.» Rossini’s «Barber of Seville,» an older production by the National Opera, is full of jolly melodies and arias. It focuses on Count Almaviva’s efforts to charm the beautiful Rosina. The text has been adapted by Carmen Ruggeri, who is also director of the production. Costas Kritsotakis has adapted the music for a small ensemble. The sets and costumes are by Christina Kouloumbi while the choreography is by Petros Gallias. Singers include Eleni Zioga, Nikos Stephanou, Dionysis Sourbis, Michalis Katsoulis, Christos Amvrazis and others. The National Theater’s Children’s Stage will present «A Midsummer Night’s Dream,» a production it staged throughout the winter season. «It is a work of high quality, which carries the youthful madness of its author. It reverses common sense, disrupts the elements of nature, transforms people and balances the universe in a magical way,» said the play’s director, Yiannis Iordanidis. The sets and costumes are by Nikos Saridakis, the choreography by Fokas Evangelinos and the music by Kris Kukul. Participating actors include Elena Lariou, Valeria Kouroupi, Giorgos Economou, Tassos Alatzas, Constantinos Lagos and Dimitris Vergados, among others. Herod Atticus Theater, Dionysiou Areopagitou. Tickets are available at the Hellenic Festival box office (39 Panepistimiou, tel 210.928.2900) and at the theater box office.
