Magic Onstage at The Metropolitan Opera

At 10:45am on Friday, November 2, the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires presents "Magic Onstage at The Metropolitan Opera," with internationally known costume designer Charles Caine.  Caine's presentation - open to the public and at a cost of $3; $6, including noon lunch - is held at Hevreh of Southern Berkshire, 270 State Road, Great Barrington.

During the program, Caine will take his audience behind the scenes and footlights at The Metropolitan Opera, starting with 1966, the last year of the "Old Met," through its move and 46 seasons at Lincoln Center.

Overseeing and creating productions in conjunction with outstanding directors and designers, Caine, a New Yorker by birth, is a graduate of Carnegie-Mellon University with a BFA in theatre design; thereafter, drafted into the US Army, he was an art director with the Southeastern Signal Corps television training division.

Upon joining 'The Met,' Caine took on the responsibility for the "look" of every performer appearing on stage, while he worked with behind-the-scenes colleagues and performers in planning and creating productions.

In his program, Caine will relate many colorful stories of times shared with the likes of Maria Callas, Franco Zefirrelli, Otto Schenk, Tyrone Gutherie, and Marc Chagall.  He will also conduct a "Show-and-Tell," featuring costume designs and historic memorabilia, including historic, theatrical fashions worn by Leontyne Price, Richard Tucker, Emma Calve, Sherrill Milnes, and Renata Scotto.

Caine will also review his design experiences with other companies, including the New York City Opera, the Houston Grand Opera, the Michigan Opera Theatre, the Opera Pacific, the Connecticut Opera, and the Berkshire Opera.

Catered by Freund Farm Market and Bakery, the post-program lunch at Hevreh will include tossed salad, roasted root vegetables, potato kugel, tilapia, multi-grain breads, and chocolate whoopie pies.

For further information regarding the program, please call Nancy Maurice Rogers, Program Director, at 413-442-4360, ext. 15.  For lunch at Hevreh, reservations, required by Monday, October 29, are made at the same number.