Faust – Opera Western Reserve

Opera Western Reserve presents Faust on Saturday, September 20 at 7:30pm at Powers Auditorium. Faust is an opera in five acts, based on Carré’s play Faust et Marguerite, which itself is a loose adaptation of Faust, Part One by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Music by Charles Gounod. Libretto by Jules Barbier & Michel Carré.

Gounod’s opera tells the tragic tale of an aging man who makes a pact with the devil to regain his youth. As Faust embarks on a passionate romance with the innocent Marguerite, the deal leads to heartbreaking consequences.

Dynamic performances combine with a powerful story of love, betrayal, and redemption, as Gounod’s masterpiece comes to life on the Edward W. Powers Auditorium stage at the DeYor Performing Arts Center.

Opera Western Reserve is encouraging guests to dress in Steampunk attire. Scott Skiba, Production Director, explains the Steampunk aspect of the show:

Our production is inspired by the “Steampunk” aesthetic. Steampunk’s inspiration draws heavily from the Victorian era (1837-1901), a period characterized by steam-powered technology and an emphasis on innovation and advancement. The term “steampunk” itself was coined later, in the 1980s, by science fiction author K.W. Jeter. While primarily inspired by the Victorian era, steampunk also incorporates elements from the broader Industrial Revolution and the Belle Époque (approximately 1871-1914). Our production is set around 1870 in Germany, featuring locations such as Staufen, Wittenberg, Leipzig, and several supernatural locales.

Steampunk encompasses a period style that enables magical / mystical realism and honors the work in an authentic way with regard to fashion, that addresses the necessary class, gender, age, military, and weaponry as required by the narrative. In our production, Faust begins his journey bound by old age. His lifetime of scientific study led to the invention of Steampunk-era machinery, which he uses to artificially prolong his life. Through this, he has already challenged divine and natural laws. The Steampunk aesthetic offers an artistic solution to a significant theatrical challenge: the transformation of “Old Faust” into “Young Faust” before a live audience. Our concept allows Faust to initially appear as an older character, using various self-invented mechanical devices designed to artificially preserve and extend his life. These mechanical elements can then be swiftly removed on stage to reveal a younger character, supporting the illusion that, through dark magic and for the price of his soul, the Devil transforms Faust into a young man.

To purchase tickets, visit the Experience Your Arts website.