'Die Fledermaus' (“The Revenge of the Bat”), the operetta by Johann Strauss, has been called “the greatest operetta of them all” and will now be presented in a full production at the St. Lawrence Centre For the Arts. 'Die Fledermaus' is seen as one of the masterpieces to come out of the Golden Age of Operetta in Vienna. Revisit the classic production with gifted young Canadian performers.

Lara Ciekiewicz stars as Rosalinde, wife of the philandering Eisenstein, sung by tenor Adam Fisher. Both these artists are familiar to TOT (The Operetta Theatre) audiences from their appearances in 'Countess Maritza' and 'The Beautiful Helene'. Since her last appearance with TOT, Lara has appeared in starring roles for Vancouver Opera, Calgary Opera and notably in ‘Salutes to Vienna’ across the USA and Canada. Also a ‘Salute to Vienna’ alumnus, Fisher has been heard with Tapestry Opera, Opera on the Avalon and Calgary Opera.

Debuting with TOT this season is soprano Caitlin Wood as the saucy maid, Adele, while Cian Horrobin returns as Alfred, the tenor with the killer high ‘C’ and Elizabeth Beeler will be featured as the bored Russian Prince Orlovsky. Dr. Falke, our man with vengeance on his mind, will be sung by debuting baritone Michael Robert-Broder and Janaka Welihinda will be heard as the Prison Warden Frank. A surprise guest appearance will be made by TOT’s own General Director Guillermo Silva-Marin in the role of the jailer, Frosch. The COC’s Derek Bate conducts the TOT orchestra and Silva-Marin does double duty as stage director.

'Die Fledermaus' premiered at Theatre an der Wien in 1874 and by 1880 had been produced in more than 170 German-language theatres. Based on a French farce, 'Le réveillon', the operetta is an unequalled coupling of Viennese musical charm and Parisian parody. Audiences the world over look forward to “Champagne’s delicious bubbles”, Rosalinde’s fiery “Czardas”, Adele’s “My Dear Marquis” and the brilliant “Sing to Love Finale” as well as the lilting waltzes and polkas that adorn each of the three acts.