And we’re off! Cast and crew meet for the first time

Whole meet and greet crew

On Sunday afternoon, April 10th, the cast and crew of our production met for the first time. Although the production team has been in planning for months, this was our first opportunity to meet the people with whom we will spend so many hours over the next two months.

Over lovely nosh and convivial beverages, we met our new family. Cathy, the composer, introduced us all to each other by our roles and our relationships. “This is your wife.” “This is your daughter.” The weaving together of these families, so central to the story of The Sparks Fly Upward, is already beginning.

Cathy Lesser Mansfield, Composer

It is powerful to have so many people investing in this project that means so much to me.

Cathy lesser Mansfield, Composer

Cathy told us the stories behind the story, and how the opera came into being, first as a commissioned piece, and then later elaborated into a full opera.

Our director, Jeff, described considerations of the Maltz Performing Arts Center as a theater space, and gave us a sense of how the production would come together.

Jeffrey Lesser
Jeff Lesser, Director

So excited to begin working with these talented people who started to form a new family of The Sparks Fly Upward

Jeff Lesser, Director

We have a long way to go, and the journey promises to be life-giving, as well as lots of hard work. Enjoy the photos!

  • The Meet-and-Greet Special Event
  • Cathy Lesser Mansfield
  • Jeffrey Lesser
  • Henry Miller
  • Adam Leventhal and Terry Smith
  • Terry Smith and Cathy Lesser Mansfield
  • Conor Stout
  • Jeffrey Lesser and Stephen Gracey
  • Cathy Lesser Mansfield
  • Cathy Lesser Mansfield, Henry Miller, and David Miller
  • Cathy Lesser Mansfield and Lisa Falkenberg
  • Craig Housum
  • Cheryl Eitman
  • Harvey Bernstein
  • David Miller
  • Welcome Hug
  • Laura Schapiro
  • Lia Bendix
  • Kathy Sebo
  • Kathy Sebo and Lisa Falkenberg
  • Whole meet and greet gathering
  • Adam Leventhal 1
  • Laura Schapiro and Lia Bendix
  • David and Henry Miller