‘Noye’s Fludde’ At NCC: Fully Staged Opera Coming June 14

A staged performance of Benjamin Britten’s Noye’s Fludde — the story of Noah and the ark, complete with animals, from the building of the ark to the flood and final rainbow — is being prepared for free public performance on Saturday, June 14. The fully staged performance with orchestra will be performed in the sanctuary of Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West Street.

Musical direction will be by Dan Coffman and Maureen Kelly has provided the stage direction. NCC member Karen Keating has been in charge of costumes. Choreography of the dance numbers has been kindly provided by Jennifer Johnston and the performance will feature two students from her studio, The Newtown Centre of Classical Ballet.

The sizable orchestra primarily consists of players from Danbury Symphony Orchestra but also includes instrumentalists from local schools and the NCC bell choir.

Reverend Matt Crebbin and his wife Martha both have leading roles, as does Cantor Joseph Ness of Temple Beth-El in West Hartford. The other leads are being played by singers from the church and from the area.  The roles of animals will be played by children and adults from the church and the wider community. The cast will build the ark on stage, from pieces fashioned by the church’s men’s club.

Noye’s Fludde was written in 1957 for amateur performance in churches. The libretto is in fact a play

from the late 16th Century from the city of Chester, England. Britten retained the original spellings,

such as “Noye’s Fludde,” but the NCC performance will utilize modern, American pronunciations. The title of the work is pronounced “Noah’s Flood.”

For additional information call the church office at 426-9024.