Irving, Phillips and Raines to Sing A Little Night Music in St. Louis

By Adam Hetrick
25 Feb 2010

Amy Irving
Amy Irving
Photo by Aubrey Reuben

Academy Award nominee Amy Irving, veteran British stage actress Siân Phillips and Ron Raines will star in A Little Night Music for Opera Theatre of St. Louis.

As previously reported, fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi will make his stage directorial debut with Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's Tony-winning musical. It will run June 6-19.

Irving ("Yentl," "Carrie," Coast of Utopia, Three Sisters) will star as Desirée Armfeldt opposite Phillips (Gigi, Marlene, Calendar Girls) as her worldly-wise mother, Madame Armfeldt. Phillips first appeared in the role in the 1995 London revival of Night Music opposite Judi Dench. Raines ("Guiding Light," Show Boat, Man of La Mancha) is cast as Frederik Egerman, Desirée's former lover.

Night Music will also feature Vivian Krich-Brinton (Fredrika Armfeldt), Christopher Herbert (Henrik Egerman), Amanda Squitieri (Anne Egerman), Lee Gregory (Carl-Magnus Malcolm), Erin Holland (Charlotte Malcolm), Candra Savage (Petra), Aaron Agulay (Mr. Lindquist), Lauren Jelencovich (Mrs. Nordstrom), Corinne Winterst (Mrs. Anderssen) and Mark Van Arsdale (Mr. Erlanson).

Mizrahi will not only stage the production, but also render set and costume designs. Stephen Lord will conduct with choreography by Seán Curran. Michael Chybowski is lighting designer.

Based on Ingmar Bergman's "Smiles of a Summer Night," the waltz-kissed musical centers on the romantic trysts of fading stage actress Desiree Armfeldt over the course of a weekend in the country.

The 1973 Tony-winning musical is currently playing its first Broadway revival with Oscar winner Catherine Zeta-Jones as Desiree and Tony-winning stage veteran Angela Lansbury as Madame Armfeldt.

For tickets visit Opera-STL.