“Some may say that I couldn’t sing, but no one can say that I didn’t sing.” – Florence Foster Jenkins
The story of one of opera’s most unforgettable stars is brought to life by APT favorite and Madison native Sarah Day as Florence Foster Jenkins, a woman whose generosity and love of opera was only matched by her own delusions of vocal grandeur. Joining her onstage as long-suffering accompanist Cosmé McMoon is FST Artistic Associate Thomas Kasdorf.
Come early and enjoy our special Preshow Events in The Playhouse at Overture!
During the holiday season, there are lots of fantastic arts events at the Overture Center, and that can make parking and ticketing a challenge for theater patrons. We encourage you to come downtown early and grab a bite to eat or enjoy a pre-show beverage. Avoid the crush and plan a little extra time for parking and picking up will-call tickets.
With a little extra care, you'll arrive at the theater with time to spare, and ready to enjoy our production of Souvenir: A Fantasia of Florence Foster Jenkins. As an added incentive, we've planned preshow events for several performances, starting onstage in The Playhouse 20 minutes before curtain.
Friday, Dec 7: Voice Recital by Madison Opera Studio Artist Kirsten Larson at 7:10 pm
Saturday, Dec 8: Pre-Show Talk by FST Producing Artistic Director Sarah Marty at 7:10 pm
Sunday, Dec 9: Pre-Show Talk by FST Producing Artistic Director Sarah Marty at 1:40 pm
Friday, Dec 14: Voice Recital by University Opera's Matt Chastain at 7:10 pm
Saturday, Dec 15: Pre-Show Talk by FST Producing Artistic Director Sarah Marty at 7:10 pm
Sunday, Dec 16: Pre-Show Talk by FST Producing Artistic Director Sarah Marty at 1:40 pm
Learn more about guest artists Kirsten Larson and Matt Chastain.
Enjoy our new promo video for Souvenir: A Fantasia on the Life of Florence Foster Jenkins - including interviews with cast members Sarah Day and Thomas Kasdorf and director Miranda Hawk as well as dress rehearsal footage. Video Credit: Dave Alcorn Productions.
“The take-away for me is that this is a story about real friendship, and people who really care about each other and protect one another in a really lovely way,” said Sarah Day.
Read the full article, "Four Seasons Theatre's latest, a friendship grounded in music," by Gayle Worland, Wisconsin State Journal
[Director Miranda] Hawk also believes that the special bond that Jenkins and McMoon shared makes Souvenir a great choice during the holiday season. “It’s all about supporting each other and building others up instead of tearing them down. I think this is a story we really need right now.”
Read the full article, "For the Love of Music," by Gwendolyn Rice, The Isthmus
Sarah Day (Florence Foster Jenkins) is delighted to be making her Four Seasons Theatre debut. She has been a member of the acting company of American Players Theatre in Spring Green since 1986, where she has performed the works of Shakespeare, Shaw, Chekhov and Miller. She is a member of the Advisory Company of Madison's Forward Theater, and was most recently seen in their production of Exit Strategy. Sarah is a Madison native and received her education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She was recently elected to the 2018 class of Wisconsin Academy Fellows.
Thomas Kasdorf (Cosmé McMoon) Active in the fields of chamber music, art song recital, opera, and musical theatre, Kasdorf, a Paul Collins Distinguished Fellow, is working towards his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Mead Witter School of Music at University of Wisconsin-Madison. As staff Vocal Coach for UW-Madison, he has been involved with numerous opera productions and has performed with a large number of the faculty in concert. FST credits include: The Sondheim Confessional, The Spitfire Grill, Big Fish(co-production with Theatre LILA), The Light in the Piazza, The Fantasticks, Great Dames Songbook, Side by Side by Sondheim, and Aspects of Love. He recently returned to working onstage, starring as George in Middleton Players Theatre’s Sunday in the Park with George and Sweeney Todd.
Learn more about Lady Florence in this fantastic feature on NPR’s Snap Judgement, The Grand Illusion episode about Lady Florence – complete with interview clips from pianist Cosme McMcoon and playwright Stephen Temperley, author of Souvenir: A Fantasia on the Life of Florence Foster Jenkins.
On the anniversary of her death on November 26, 1944, Carnegie Hall's Archives and Rose Museum Director Gino Francesconi remembered the career and single Carnegie Hall appearance of one of the most colorful "divas" ever to have performed in the historic venue: Florence Foster Jenkins. Learn more.