An Othello For The 21st Century Comes To Bay Street Theater

The story of Shakespeare’s “Othello” concerns themes of jealousy, misplaced trust and exclusion, all of which, though crafted 400 years ago, are extraordinarily relevant today. On Saturday, September 14, at 8 p.m., Sag Harbor’s Bay Street Theater and Divaria Productions present a live opera presentation of “Othello: The Opera and Play Enmeshed.” This production is an exploration of the timeless classic through theater, opera and dance. It will feature selections from Verdi’s opera in Italian, as well as parts of Shakespeare’s text with professional actors and dancers, all of whom will transmit the essence of the story through different mediums. “Othello” is perhaps more relevant today, amidst our politically and racially divided landscape, than it has ever been before.

“We’ve grounded our staging of Othello in World War II, a period where heroes abound, and unexpected villains lurk on every corner,” said the production’s co-director Andrew Bell. “It’s an uncertain time period where one’s ethnicity divides and one’s loyalty is always being put to the test. Religion, historically, was more of a driving force in skirmishes of yesteryear, but it is in the dark days of World War II, where one’s identity is under assault and determines one’s fate.

“Othello exhibits a steadfast allegiance to his army, one he’s demonstrated through great feats on the battlefield,” he continued, “but his identity and background regrettably make him a target. He clings to the fellow soldiers who’ve won his trust amidst the unease and it is with that very choice that his fate is sealed.”

The actors in the performance include Leland Gantt as Othello, Rivka Borek as Desdemona and Michal Gizinski as Iago. The singing cast includes tenor Limmie Pulliam, one of the finest Othellos currently gracing opera stages, soprano Ashley Galvani Bell as Desdémona, and Metropolitan Opera’s Kidon Choi as Iago.

The production team is headed by co-directors Antón Armendariz and Andrew Bell, musical director/pianist Nicolò Sbuelz who will be accompanied by a string quartet, and choreographer Francis Roach of Luigi Jazz Centre.

Tickets for “Othello: The Opera and Play Enmeshed” are $25 to $50 at 631-725-9500 or baystreet.org. Bay Street Theater is on Long Wharf in Sag Harbor.