Wolf-in-Skins (part one)


Wolf-in-Skins is a two-act dance-opera co-created by Christopher Williams, composer Gregory Spears, and visual designer Andrew Jordan. Inspired by ancient themes of the mythic hero's journey found in medieval Welsh literature, faerie legends, and folklore, the work's libretto, written by Williams, chronicles the initiation rites of a central hero character grappling with queer identity via supernatural agency, otherworldly passage, and transformation. Driven by choreographed operatic sequences supported by narration, the work combines dance, puppetry, visual design, and live music for singers and period chamber ensemble to re-imagine lost Insular Celtic mythology as a contemporary staged ritual. Costume designs are by Ciera Wells and Andrew Jordan, Lighting designs are by Joe Levasseur, puppet designs are by Eric Wright, and the sets are by Tom Lee and Michael Wang. In-progress stagings of the work were co-produced by Philadelphia Dance Projects and American Opera Projects.

Click here for designs/photos from Wolf-in-Skins.


*This video is a work-in-progress excerpt from the complete work.


*This video is a work-in-progress excerpt from the complete work.


*This video is a work-in-progress excerpt from the complete work.


*This video is a work-in-progress excerpt from the complete work.


*This video is a work-in-progress excerpt from the complete work.



Original Cast:
 

THE FAY FOLK 
(and other denizens of Annwfn)

GWYN AP NUDD
(ruler of Annwfn, master of hounds, a sorcerer)
Burr Johnson/Matthew Treviño

THE CŴN ANNWFN 
(hounds of the deep)

BRÂN
(one of Gwyn ap Nudd’s hounds)
Edward Rice

 DANDO
(one of Gwyn ap Nudd’s hounds)
Benny Olk

 DORMARTH
(one of Gwyn ap Nudd’s hounds)
Aaron McGloin

DRUDWYN
(one of Gwyn ap Nudd’s hounds)
Robert Woofter

TÂNGI
(one of Gwyn ap Nudd’s hounds)
Jordan Morley


THE GWRAGEDD ANNWFN
(wives of the deep)

LLAETHWEN
(one of Gwyn ap Nudd’s wives, a milkmaid)
Chelsea Retzloff & Nina Berman

 LLAETHENWEN
(one of Gwyn ap Nudd’s wives, a milkmaid)
Caitlin Scranton & Jacqueline Horner-Kwiatek

 MAIDDWEN
(one of Gwyn ap Nudd’s wives, a milkmaid)
Andrew Champlin & Ryland Angel

BLEIDDWEN
(Gwyn ap Nudd’s banished wife)
Kira Blazek Ziaii & Jacqueline Horner-Kwiatek


GWYDDRUD
(a bewitched wolf cub, son of Bleiddwen)
Jordan Isadore

GWYDDEN
(a bewitched wolf cub, son of Bleiddwen)
Steven Zarzecki

GWRGI
(a bewitched wolf cub, son of Bleiddwen)
Matthew Albert & Anthony Roth Costanzo

LLUDD CARN ERAINT
(a bewitched bull among the Gwartheg y Llyn)
Drew Kaiser & Eric Wright

THE ELLYLLON
(ancestral wraiths)
Ryland Angel, Nina Berman, & Jacqueline Horner-Kwiatek


THE MENFOLK
(and other denizens of Prydein)

KING MATH
(ruler of Hen Ogledd, a wizard)
Matthew Treviño

GWYDION
(King Math’s nephew and apprentice)
Steven Brennfleck

GILFAETHWY THE FALSE
(King Math’s nephew, Gwydion’s younger brother)
Drew Santini

COURTIERS & MOCK COURTESANs
(men of King Math’s retinue)
Beau Hancock, Gregory Holt, Drew Kaiser, Stuart Meyers, Alec Moss, & Gabrielle Revlock


Chamber Orchestra:

Baroque Violin:
Daniel S. Lee & Dongmyung Ahn

Baroque Viola:
Kyle Miller

Baroque Cello:
Ezra Seltzer

Baroque Double Bass:
Paul Nemeth

Pedal Harp:
Jacqui Kerrod

Recorders:
Rachel Begley & Priscilla Smith

Synthesizer:
Geoff McDonald

Percussion:
Jeffrey Rubin

Conductor: 
Geoff McDonald

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