J. Marc Quattlebaum

As we enter the Prologue, Tonio sets up the story. We stay in this look briefly as he invites us into the opera with a warning of the nature of men's passions. The base set is filled with religious symbolism and staged within the reclaimed ruins of a sacred space within a small Italian town post WWII.

This look channels a Rubenesque sky over the Madonna in a measure to highlight the joy of the troupe's arrival - and the festival surrounding the Feast of the Assumption.

For the projected sky, I wanted to reference different forms of classical art. The look for the top of the show will have the feeling of El Greco's View of Toledo. As the prologue transitions into Act 1, Greco's clouds will be pierced by a Rubenesque shaft of light - landing on the Madonna and highlighting the hope the festival brings. As act 2 begins, we will take inspiration from Moonlit Night of the Dniepr by Kuindzhi.