OPERA PACIFIC SETS ‘PORGY,’ ‘WEST SIDE STORY,’ ‘LA BOHEME’

Productions of “Porgy and Bess,” “West Side Story” and a new “La Boheme” directed by Italian composer/director Gian Carlo Menotti will make up Opera Pacific’s first season at the new Orange County Performing Arts Center, the center and opera organization has announced.

“Porgy and Bess” will be conceptually based on a production by the Houston Grand Opera that played at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood in May, 1977, General Director David DiChiera said, and will be directed by Jack O’Brien, artistic director of San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre. After premiering in Miami, it will travel to 10 cities, opening the Opera Pacific season Feb. 11, 1987, for seven performances.

Leonard Bernstein’s “West Side Story” is scheduled to run for 18 performances between Feb. 20 and March 8 at a cost of $700,000. DiChiera, who also heads the Michigan Opera that he founded in 1970, said “West Side Story” will draw on cast members and designs he used in a Detroit production.

Puccini’s “La Boheme,” will have three performances: March 27, April 1 and 4. Projected cost is $500,000. Directed by Menotti, it will be conducted by John Mauceri. The cast will include Diana Soviero as Mimi, Jerry Hadley as Rodolfo, Timothy Noble as Marcello, Karen Huffstodt as Musetta and Italo Tajo as Benoit. The sets were created for the Washington Opera by Zack Brown and the costumes come from Lyric Opera of Chicago.