Wolf-in-Skins (part one)
Wolf-in-Skins is an original two-act dance-opera co-created by Christopher Williams, composer Gregory Spears, and visual designer Andrew Jordan. Inspired by ancient themes of the mythic hero's journey found in medieval Welsh literature, faerie legends, and folklore, the work's libretto, written by Williams, chronicles the initiation rites of a central hero character grappling with queer identity via supernatural agency, otherworldly passage, and transformation. Driven by choreographed operatic sequences supported by narration, the work combines dance, puppetry, visual design, and live music for singers and a period chamber ensemble to re-imagine lost Insular Celtic mythology as a contemporary staged ritual. Costume designs are by Andrew Jordan and Ciera Wells, Lighting designs are by Joe Levasseur, puppet designs are by Eric Wright, and the sets are by Tom Lee and Michael Wang. In-progress stagings of excerpts from the work have been co-produced by Philadelphia Dance Projects and American Opera Projects.
Click here for designs/photos from Wolf-in-Skins.
*This video is a work-in-progress excerpt from the complete work.
*This video is a work-in-progress excerpt from the complete work.
*This video is a work-in-progress excerpt from the complete work.
*This video is a work-in-progress excerpt from the complete work.
*This video is a work-in-progress excerpt from the complete work.
Original Cast:
THE FAY FOLK
(and other denizens of Annwfn)
GWYN AP NUDD
(ruler of Annwfn, master of hounds, a sorcerer)
Burr Johnson/Matthew Treviño
THE CŴN ANNWFN
(hounds of the deep)
BRÂN
(one of Gwyn ap Nudd’s hounds)
Edward Rice
DANDO
(one of Gwyn ap Nudd’s hounds)
Benny Olk
DORMARTH
(one of Gwyn ap Nudd’s hounds)
Aaron McGloin
DRUDWYN
(one of Gwyn ap Nudd’s hounds)
Robert Woofter
TÂNGI
(one of Gwyn ap Nudd’s hounds)
Jordan Morley
THE GWRAGEDD ANNWFN
(wives of the deep)
LLAETHWEN
(one of Gwyn ap Nudd’s wives, a milkmaid)
Chelsea Retzloff & Nina Berman
LLAETHENWEN
(one of Gwyn ap Nudd’s wives, a milkmaid)
Caitlin Scranton & Jacqueline Horner-Kwiatek
MAIDDWEN
(one of Gwyn ap Nudd’s wives, a milkmaid)
Andrew Champlin & Ryland Angel
BLEIDDWEN
(Gwyn ap Nudd’s banished wife)
Kira Blazek Ziaii & Jacqueline Horner-Kwiatek
GWYDDRUD
(a bewitched wolf cub, son of Bleiddwen)
Jordan Isadore
GWYDDEN
(a bewitched wolf cub, son of Bleiddwen)
Steven Zarzecki
GWRGI
(a bewitched wolf cub, son of Bleiddwen)
Matthew Flatley & Anthony Roth Costanzo
LLUDD CARN ERAINT
(a bewitched bull among the Gwartheg y Llyn)
Drew Kaiser & Eric Wright
THE ELLYLLON
(ancestral wraiths)
Ryland Angel, Nina Berman, & Jacqueline Horner-Kwiatek
THE MENFOLK
(and other denizens of Prydein)
KING MATH
(ruler of Hen Ogledd, a wizard)
Matthew Treviño
GWYDION
(King Math’s nephew and apprentice)
Steven Brennfleck
GILFAETHWY THE FALSE
(King Math’s nephew, Gwydion’s younger brother)
Drew Santini
COURTIERS & MOCK COURTESANs
(men of King Math’s retinue)
Beau Hancock, Gregory Holt, Drew Kaiser, Stuart Meyers, Alec Moss, & Gabrielle Revlock
Chamber Orchestra:
Baroque Violin:
Daniel S. Lee & Dongmyung Ahn
Baroque Viola:
Kyle Miller
Baroque Cello:
Ezra Seltzer
Baroque Double Bass:
Paul Nemeth
Pedal Harp:
Jacqui Kerrod
Recorders:
Rachel Begley & Priscilla Smith
Synthesizer:
Geoff McDonald
Percussion:
Jeffrey Rubin
Conductor:
Geoff McDonald