Reviews
Madama Butterfly, Opera de Montreal
(translated from French) The proposal of the young American director Stephanie Havey goes to the essentials and stands out – something not so common in the lyrical world – by an excellent direction of actors.
- Emmanual Bernier, La Presse
full review
(translated from Italian) Deserved success of the Puccini Opera, punctuated by the great public demand for an extra performance, replicas all sold out thanks to the skilful direction of Stephanie Havey, an American director who masterfully directed the performers of the cast, relying on a scenography that struck us for its its lightness and essentiality.
-Carla Bonora, Cittadino
full review
Rigoletto, Utah Opera
Rigoletto still holds interest, and even a few surprises, when well performed and endowed with good direction on stage and from the pit. [...] Director Stephanie Havey inspired the cast, achieving an unselfconscious, purposeful performance.
-Robert Coleman, Opera News
Director Stephanie Havey, like most of the cast, was making her Utah Opera debut. She created a powerful production that plumbed the psychological and moral depths of the characters while building a rough, cynical world that revolved around the lascivious desires of the corrupt Duke.
The love duets were also some of the best dramatic moments, with the couples displaying clear chemistry. Havey’s staging of both duets, and the way the couples intertwined, accentuated the differences between the two relationships; the overt sexuality of the Duke’s interaction with Maddalena contrasting with the chaste, courtly interaction with Gilda.
-Rick Mortenson, Utah Arts Review
full review
La nozze di Figaro, Pittsburgh Opera
There is something that simply “feels right” about the entire vibrant production. ...Stephanie Havey directs the entire production in a manner that allows for no weak spots. The period costumes are delightful, as are the wigs, make-up, set designs, lighting – everything comes together as a well planned, well rehearsed, perfectly grouped ensemble, full of excellent individual accomplishments.
...Many, no doubt, realized they had just witnessed the best performance of the centuries’ old masterpiece they had ever seen.
-George B. Parous, onStage Pittsburgh
full review
Tosca, Arizona Opera
Stephanie Havey directed with nuance, intelligence, and sensitivity.
-Herbert Paine, Opera Magazine
The Rivals, UNCSA A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute
Award-winning stage director Stephanie Havey is the guest director: the action on stage was non-stop and the pacing was excellent.
-Timothy H. Lindeman, CVNC.org
As One, The Atlanta Opera
"Havey’s staging truly captured the intimacy of the text. In the program notes, Havey credits historian Tony Butler’s concept of “memoryscapes” and the creation of “living map,” which is depicted in her stage direction. The execution of this concept with the visuals allowed for an intermingling of Hannah’s memories, thoughts, and reflections to be easily understood and performed.
Havey’s directorial choices were accentuated by the set design and costuming which meshed together through color and textures... and left no room for distractions from Hannah’s story.
...There was nothing in this production that did not leave me in awe. Every part of it was well-prepared, thoughtful, and deeply touching."
- Afton Wooten, Operawire
read full review here
As One, The Atlanta Opera
" ...directed by Stephanie Havey, who makes the most of every minute.
...It’s a staggeringly powerful piece of work that will resonate with a lot of people."
- ARTS ATL
read full review here
" ...directed by Stephanie Havey, who makes the most of every minute.
...It’s a staggeringly powerful piece of work that will resonate with a lot of people."
- ARTS ATL
read full review here
Carmen, Arizona Opera
"Stephanie Havey’s artful staging that kept the three-hour plus opera moving briskly while crafting stunning stage pictures..." -Curtain Up Phoenix
"Stephanie Havey’s artful staging that kept the three-hour plus opera moving briskly while crafting stunning stage pictures..." -Curtain Up Phoenix
La boheme, Pittsburgh Opera
"a production that dazzled in all particulars...
stage pictures that were truly eye-popping . . . a thunderous ovation at the opera’s conclusion seemed to cheer both cast and audience. . .wonderfully directed by Stephanie Havey"
- Pittsburgh Post Gazette
"a production that dazzled in all particulars...
stage pictures that were truly eye-popping . . . a thunderous ovation at the opera’s conclusion seemed to cheer both cast and audience. . .wonderfully directed by Stephanie Havey"
- Pittsburgh Post Gazette
L'enfant et les sortileges, The Philadelphia Orchestra
"smartly stage-directed by Stephanie Havey" -Philadelphia Inquirer
Read full review here
"smartly stage-directed by Stephanie Havey" -Philadelphia Inquirer
Read full review here
The Crucible, Opera Santa Barbara
"Theatre that was not only convincing, but insight-fully mounted"
"Stage director Stephanie Havey told highly dramatic story of THE CRUCIBLE in a realistic manner .... That kept the tension building until the end of the show. Havey made a point of letting the audience see the different personalities of various cast members" -Broadway World
"Theatre that was not only convincing, but insight-fully mounted"
"Stage director Stephanie Havey told highly dramatic story of THE CRUCIBLE in a realistic manner .... That kept the tension building until the end of the show. Havey made a point of letting the audience see the different personalities of various cast members" -Broadway World
La traviata, Arizona Opera
"Stage director Stephanie Havey treated the story of the courtesan with veristic realism.
This opera evokes strong emotion and Havey used it most effectively.
This was one of the best performances Arizona Opera has mounted..."
- operawire.com Read full review here
"Stage director Stephanie Havey treated the story of the courtesan with veristic realism.
This opera evokes strong emotion and Havey used it most effectively.
This was one of the best performances Arizona Opera has mounted..."
- operawire.com Read full review here
La traviata, Hawaii Opera Theatre
"This was such a convincing production that it was easy to attach to the emotion of the story, it's passion, jealousy, fury, and tenderness." Read full review here
"This was such a convincing production that it was easy to attach to the emotion of the story, it's passion, jealousy, fury, and tenderness." Read full review here
Tosca, Belle-Ile-en-mer, France
translated from French
"Stephanie Havey who uses very intelligently the three short weeks of rehearsal. Some elements of moving decorations encamp the church then the battlements of the Castel Sant'Angelo and its jail while a big crucifix falls a little more with each act, in the image of the hopes of Tosca. Aspirations trampled like this cross which serves as a ramp for the final jump.
The harmony in gold and black that unifies costumes and decor is an elegant sobriety. [The costumes are] awakened by touches of red like those simple ribbons applied on [chorus] costumes that create a mysterious military hierarchy and resonate with the blood of the victims of the Roman tyrant."
Forumopera.com, Tania Bracq
translated from French
"Stephanie Havey who uses very intelligently the three short weeks of rehearsal. Some elements of moving decorations encamp the church then the battlements of the Castel Sant'Angelo and its jail while a big crucifix falls a little more with each act, in the image of the hopes of Tosca. Aspirations trampled like this cross which serves as a ramp for the final jump.
The harmony in gold and black that unifies costumes and decor is an elegant sobriety. [The costumes are] awakened by touches of red like those simple ribbons applied on [chorus] costumes that create a mysterious military hierarchy and resonate with the blood of the victims of the Roman tyrant."
Forumopera.com, Tania Bracq
Gluck's Armide
"A feast for ear and eye" "...a bold production"
-San Diego Story
"A feast for ear and eye" "...a bold production"
-San Diego Story
Il barbiere di Siviglia, North Carolina Opera
Directed with flair and a raucous sense of joy by Stephanie Havey....
...what Barbiere needs is the integrity of a team of artists who approach the score not as a comic opera requiring special tinkering but simply as a musical work of art that deserves unbiased, unblemished interpretation and integrity, and this is what North Carolina Opera’s performance bestowed upon this still-precious gem of an opera.
- Voix des Arts Full review: Read More Here
Directed with flair and a raucous sense of joy by Stephanie Havey....
...what Barbiere needs is the integrity of a team of artists who approach the score not as a comic opera requiring special tinkering but simply as a musical work of art that deserves unbiased, unblemished interpretation and integrity, and this is what North Carolina Opera’s performance bestowed upon this still-precious gem of an opera.
- Voix des Arts Full review: Read More Here
Il barbiere di Siviglia
"... many productions go with the principle that the sillier and gag-laden the better. N.C. Opera’s staging, on the other hand, deserves great credit for focusing on the work’s inherent human comedy."
- News& Observer Full Review: Read more here
"... many productions go with the principle that the sillier and gag-laden the better. N.C. Opera’s staging, on the other hand, deserves great credit for focusing on the work’s inherent human comedy."
- News& Observer Full Review: Read more here
Il barbiere di Siviglia
"The duets and small ensembles were marvelous. The riotous ending of the first act was especially outstanding and invigorating.
As an over-all production, The Barber of Seville was among the best done by NCO vocally and musically and was surely on level with the best regional opera."
CVNC Online Arts Journal: Full Review
"The duets and small ensembles were marvelous. The riotous ending of the first act was especially outstanding and invigorating.
As an over-all production, The Barber of Seville was among the best done by NCO vocally and musically and was surely on level with the best regional opera."
CVNC Online Arts Journal: Full Review
Opera News - Rigoletto, Opera Omaha
"Stephanie Havey, director for the Omaha mounting, made a number of interesting choices.... The end result was powerful and emotional — the profound love shared by father and daughter could be seen as well as heard."
- Opera News Full Review: Read More Here
"Stephanie Havey, director for the Omaha mounting, made a number of interesting choices.... The end result was powerful and emotional — the profound love shared by father and daughter could be seen as well as heard."
- Opera News Full Review: Read More Here
Gianni Schicchi, Curtis Institute
"A fun night at the opera with Curtis" - The modern-dress production ingeniously put that miser's deathbed in his bank vault, where he has lived with only a bed, porno magazines, and an inflatable doll. Surtitles referred to one shady character as having been "mayor of Toronto" - another manifestation of cleverness.
This was one high-concept Curtis Opera production
-philly.com
"A fun night at the opera with Curtis" - The modern-dress production ingeniously put that miser's deathbed in his bank vault, where he has lived with only a bed, porno magazines, and an inflatable doll. Surtitles referred to one shady character as having been "mayor of Toronto" - another manifestation of cleverness.
This was one high-concept Curtis Opera production
-philly.com
Gianni Schicchi
Gianni Schicchi is a hard act to top with anything, but this one was the most uproarious hour of opera you could imagine. Together with the Curtis’s crack orchestra (conducted by Lio Kuokman), it was loud, energetic, and dramatically alive. Stephanie Havey’s production is a cartoonish farce, taking place in a bank vault, the floor littered with coins and various signs of wealth all around. (The sets are by Brandon McNeel and look great. How Curtis manages to consistently surpass the production values of many regional-level opera companies beats me.) The production was updated as well as aggressively localized, with the surtitles moving Signa to Jersey, mentioning cheesesteak, giving poor Buoso a casino in Atlantic City, making Schicchi a Democrat from the suburbs, and so on. It’s cute, funny, and, together with the manic commitment of the cast, really works.
-Likely Impossibilities: Evenings at the Opera by Micaela Baranello
La scala di seta, Curtis Institute
Curtis preceded this with Rossini’s La scala di seta, which was new to me. The set gave us a steampunk confection of old scientific instruments, gears, and a mixture of present and historic images. More importantly, Havey and the cast kept a good balance between comedy and character development. Seemingly minor characters like servant Germano (sung by Dogukan Kuran) became big comic hams, failed suitor Blansac a dandy short on self-awareness, and Giulia a popular girl who knows how to get what she wants.
-Likely Impossibilities: Evenings at the Opera by Micaela Baranello
Gianni Schicchi is a hard act to top with anything, but this one was the most uproarious hour of opera you could imagine. Together with the Curtis’s crack orchestra (conducted by Lio Kuokman), it was loud, energetic, and dramatically alive. Stephanie Havey’s production is a cartoonish farce, taking place in a bank vault, the floor littered with coins and various signs of wealth all around. (The sets are by Brandon McNeel and look great. How Curtis manages to consistently surpass the production values of many regional-level opera companies beats me.) The production was updated as well as aggressively localized, with the surtitles moving Signa to Jersey, mentioning cheesesteak, giving poor Buoso a casino in Atlantic City, making Schicchi a Democrat from the suburbs, and so on. It’s cute, funny, and, together with the manic commitment of the cast, really works.
-Likely Impossibilities: Evenings at the Opera by Micaela Baranello
La scala di seta, Curtis Institute
Curtis preceded this with Rossini’s La scala di seta, which was new to me. The set gave us a steampunk confection of old scientific instruments, gears, and a mixture of present and historic images. More importantly, Havey and the cast kept a good balance between comedy and character development. Seemingly minor characters like servant Germano (sung by Dogukan Kuran) became big comic hams, failed suitor Blansac a dandy short on self-awareness, and Giulia a popular girl who knows how to get what she wants.
-Likely Impossibilities: Evenings at the Opera by Micaela Baranello
Double Exposure, Opera Philadelphia
"Double Exposure is an Opera Philadelphia Lab initiative that should prove both highly engaging as well as informative for both our audience and our Composers in Residence, Lembit Beecher and Missy Mazzoli," said David B. Devan, General Director and President of Opera Philadelphia. "With minimal physical production, our two talented directors will work with their teams to develop unique mini-productions that are vivid, imaginative, and allow both the composers and the audience to see how different directors and performers may interpret the same pieces of music."
Read more at http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwopera/article/Opera-Philadelphia-Presents-DOUBLE-EXPOSURE-Today-20140320#6JGGG7kcqkb0HjME.99
"Double Exposure is an Opera Philadelphia Lab initiative that should prove both highly engaging as well as informative for both our audience and our Composers in Residence, Lembit Beecher and Missy Mazzoli," said David B. Devan, General Director and President of Opera Philadelphia. "With minimal physical production, our two talented directors will work with their teams to develop unique mini-productions that are vivid, imaginative, and allow both the composers and the audience to see how different directors and performers may interpret the same pieces of music."
Read more at http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwopera/article/Opera-Philadelphia-Presents-DOUBLE-EXPOSURE-Today-20140320#6JGGG7kcqkb0HjME.99
Don Giovanni, Opera in the Heights
"Over the years I've seen many productions of W.A. Mozart and Lorenzo Da Ponte's eternal masterpiece, Don Giovanni, but never one with so much sass and sexy charm as Opera in the Heights's. The young cast captures the work's comedic drama and shakes it vigorously.
"If you've never seen Don Giovanni onstage, this is the production to see."
"...Rising opera director Stephanie Havey gives the tale of the fabled debauched Spaniard an invigorating makeover, updating the action to the '50s."
- HOUSTON PRESS Read more here: "Opera in the Heights Don Giovanni has sass and sexy charm"
"Over the years I've seen many productions of W.A. Mozart and Lorenzo Da Ponte's eternal masterpiece, Don Giovanni, but never one with so much sass and sexy charm as Opera in the Heights's. The young cast captures the work's comedic drama and shakes it vigorously.
"If you've never seen Don Giovanni onstage, this is the production to see."
"...Rising opera director Stephanie Havey gives the tale of the fabled debauched Spaniard an invigorating makeover, updating the action to the '50s."
- HOUSTON PRESS Read more here: "Opera in the Heights Don Giovanni has sass and sexy charm"
Maecenas at Pittsburgh Opera
"a showcase of extraordinary talent without losing the attention of Opera-lites."
-Pittsburgh Tribune Live
"a showcase of extraordinary talent without losing the attention of Opera-lites."
-Pittsburgh Tribune Live
Il matrimonio segreto, Pittsburgh Opera
"Camaraderie Compliments a Well-Crafted Production"
Director Stephanie Havey was undoubtedly this production’s golden thread, binding the magical eccentricity of Brandon McNeel and Stevie O’Brian Agnew’s wonderful sets and lighting (respectively) with the charmingly wacky antics of her Resident Artist peers. The cherry on top was a slew of marvelous costumes, both period-esque (this production is updated to the 1910s) and cartoony...
... To Ms. Havey’s credit, it seems as though this intimate camaraderie is precisely what she capitalized upon to rouse such a great production, and it worked beautifully. I see strong careers ahead for this entire cast, if not especially Ms. Havey, and I look forward to seeing what direction she takes in her upcoming productions with the Pittsburgh Opera.
-OPERA PULSE read more here: "Camaraderie Compliments a Well-Crafted Production"
"Camaraderie Compliments a Well-Crafted Production"
Director Stephanie Havey was undoubtedly this production’s golden thread, binding the magical eccentricity of Brandon McNeel and Stevie O’Brian Agnew’s wonderful sets and lighting (respectively) with the charmingly wacky antics of her Resident Artist peers. The cherry on top was a slew of marvelous costumes, both period-esque (this production is updated to the 1910s) and cartoony...
... To Ms. Havey’s credit, it seems as though this intimate camaraderie is precisely what she capitalized upon to rouse such a great production, and it worked beautifully. I see strong careers ahead for this entire cast, if not especially Ms. Havey, and I look forward to seeing what direction she takes in her upcoming productions with the Pittsburgh Opera.
-OPERA PULSE read more here: "Camaraderie Compliments a Well-Crafted Production"
Il Matrimonio Segreto
Add another winner to Pittsburgh Opera's string of successes in January productions that showcase its resident artists. The production of “The Secret Marriage,” which was seen at Thursday evening's preview performance, features not only excellent young singers but also a smart and funny production conceived by Stephanie Havey, the company's first resident artist stage director.
-Pittsburgh Tribune
Add another winner to Pittsburgh Opera's string of successes in January productions that showcase its resident artists. The production of “The Secret Marriage,” which was seen at Thursday evening's preview performance, features not only excellent young singers but also a smart and funny production conceived by Stephanie Havey, the company's first resident artist stage director.
-Pittsburgh Tribune
Il matrimonio segreto - Video, interviews
video from staging rehearsals of Il matrimonio segreto.
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/ae/music/climbing-operas-ladder-selective-resident-program-offers-well-rounded-foundation-671548/
Elmer Gantry - Winning Design
Our production proposal of Elmer Gantry was selected as a winner of the Robert L.B. Tobin Director-Designer Showcase of OPERA America.
Designers: Patrick Rizzotti, Megan Spatz, Brandon Mitchell
OPERA America Press Release: Finalist in Director-Designer Showcase
video from staging rehearsals of Il matrimonio segreto.
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/ae/music/climbing-operas-ladder-selective-resident-program-offers-well-rounded-foundation-671548/
Elmer Gantry - Winning Design
Our production proposal of Elmer Gantry was selected as a winner of the Robert L.B. Tobin Director-Designer Showcase of OPERA America.
Designers: Patrick Rizzotti, Megan Spatz, Brandon Mitchell
OPERA America Press Release: Finalist in Director-Designer Showcase
Video clips
Coming Soon!