Meet Madama Butterfly Director Cynthia Stokes. Learn more about what goes on behind the scenes at an opera house and what a director goes through to bring an opera to life.  Students should come prepared with questions about Ms. Stokes' career, the directorial process, and about Madama Butterfly.  Students may also wish to ask questions about collaborating with the production's designer, famed ceramic artist Jun Kaneko. Please note that this program is designed as part presentation/part Q&A. The number of questions a school is able to ask depends on the number of participating classes.

Students should have a reasonable grasp of the opera's plot and characters in order to participate in the program. In part of the program, guest Cynthia Stokes, who is a professional theater director and Madama Butterfly's director, will engage students in a discussion about character motivation.

Participating schools in the Greater Philadelphia area will receive a special invitation to attend the final dress rehearsal of the opera. You will receive more information about this opportunity after you register.

Videoconference Outline

• Welcome from the Opera Company of Philadelphia (5 min)

• School Introductions (5 min)
• Meet the Director, Cynthia Stokes - - Presentation/Question and Answer Session (10 min)
• The Story Behind the Image - - Students will be shown several images from the OCP production of Madama Butterfly, and asked to share thoughts about what is happening during the scene. Students will discuss what they see, how they interpret the images and possible character motivation. (20 min)
• Who is Madama Butterfly - - With Cynthia as their guide, students will discuss the life of a geisha, Butterfly's motivations and background, the motivation of other characters in the opera. Students will be asked to discuss which character they would like to perform in Madama Butterfly and why. (10 min)
• Final Questions and Thoughts

Pre-Videoconference Activities

• Create your school introduction: Student representative from each school will introduce the school,
  including the school name, the teacher's name, the subject being
  studied in the class and something interesting about the school and/or
  community.
• Review OCP Sounds of Learning materials including a review of the opera's plot.
• Review of Butterfly's aria Un Bel Di from the opera (for those who register early, the aria will be provided by OCP on compact disc).
• For classes wishing to discuss Jun Kaneko's production of Butterfly, some materials will be included in the study guide; however, it is recommended that students investigate the artist's website at www.junkaneko.com.
• Generate questions for Cynthia Stokes, the featured guest speaker during this program. Questions should be prepared ahead of time and might include questions about her background, training, career path, where she is today. Students may also want to ask about traveling and being away from home, or how her music influences her directorial decisions.

A Note about Program Resources

The Opera Company provides a 40-page student workbook and an ancillary teacher workbook which is over 80 pages. Also included are a CD-Rom with additional materials and an audio CD of highlights from the opera.  If the participating school is outside the Philadelphia area, the Opera Company will send the teacher packet to the school and provide the student work book for download.

About Cynthia Stokes

American Stage Director Cynthia Stokes’ recent engagements include Margaret Garner for Opera Carolina and Madama Butterfly for Opera Company of Philadelphia. She has collaborated with some of America’s most exciting composers including Richard Danielpour and Edward Barnes with whom she co-wrote Murder at the Opera, which was commissioned by Los Angeles Opera and Houston Grand Opera. She has directed for such noted opera companies as Los Angeles Opera, Michigan Opera Theatre, Cincinnati Opera, Opera Carolina, Opera Company of Philadelphia, The Florentine Opera, Los Angeles Philharmonic and The Bakersfield Symphony. An accomplished theatre director, Stokes has directed for American Conservatory Theatre, The Piccolo Spoleto Festival, Wellfleet Harbor Actor’s Theatre, and Manhattan Punchline. Awards include: The New York Foundation for the Arts, Lotta Crabtree and The Lila Wallace Foundation.