Ursula and the 11,000 Virgins (2005)
Inspired by the bizarre, fantastical, and often gory legends surrounding the martyrdom of eleven early Christian virgin saints, Ursula and the 11,000 Virgins consists of short solos for eleven women of differing ages and ethnicities plagued by a chorus of five men set to music ranging from extant 12th century songs to newly commissioned original music by composer Peter Kirn for voice and an array of new and period instruments. The work, with costumes by Michael Oberle and Christopher Williams and puppets by Matthew Acheson & Christopher Williams, premièred as part of the New Stuff Series at P.S. 122 from May 12th-15th, 2005. Christopher was awarded a 2005 Dance & Performance “Bessie" Award in the category of Outstanding Choreographer/Creator for this work. The Blanket commissioned the remounting of excerpts from the work, which premièred at the New Hazlett Theater in Pittsburgh from October 26th-28th, 2018.
*This video is an excerpt from the complete work.
*This video is an excerpt from the complete work.
*This video is an excerpt from the complete work.
Original Cast:
SAINT AGATHA
Kindra Windish
SAINT AGNES
Vicky Shick
(with Deana Acheson)
SAINT BARBARA
Nami Yamamoto
(with Clay Drinko, Andrei Garzón, Aaron Mattocks, Rommel Salveron, & Arturo Vidich)
SAINT BRIGID
Beth Simons
SAINT CHRISTINA OF TYRE
Hallie Glickman-Hoch
(with Aaron Mattocks, Clay Drinko, & Arturo Vidich)
SAINT CATHERINE OF ALEXANDRIA
Wendy Perron
(with Clay Drinko, Andrei Garzón, Aaron Mattocks, Rommel Salveron, & Arturo Vidich)
SAINT BEGA
Deana Acheson
SAINT LUCY
Janet Charleston
(with Clay Drinko, Andrei Garzón, Aaron Mattocks, Rommel Salveron, & Arturo Vidich)
SAINT MARGARET OF ANTIOCH
Jennifer Lafferty
(with Christopher Williams)
SAINT WILGEFORTIS
Elizabeth Zimmer
SAINT URSULA
Derry Swan
Chamber Ensemble:
Soprano
Jacqueline Horner
Alto/Recorders/Conch Shell
Susan Hellauer
Treble & Bass Viol da Gamba
Laurence Pangaro