Evenings in Quarantine: The Zombie Opera

Zombie Opera creators Bonnie Bogovich and Liz Rishel have been given key roles in this weekend’s production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute by Undercroft Opera, both on stage and behind the scenes.

Bonnie Bogovich has been working tirelessly heading up the Creature Crew who design and build the animals in the show. Animals include foxes, cats, birds, antelopes, frogs, and a giant thirty-foot serpent with glowing eyes (that requires 8 people to operate), which attacks Tamino at the beginning of the show. Bonnie is also the lead puppeteer, controlling the different kinds of creatures and the head of the snake.

Liz Rishel has been granted the honor of performing her dream role – The Queen of the Night – the villain of the show, on Friday, May 30 at 7 pm and on Sunday, June 1, at 2 pm. The role includes some incredibly high notes, and one of the most famous arias in all of opera, “Der Hölle Rache,” which is often used as the measuring stick for difficult arias to perform. Also, Liz was asked to create the Queen’s Royal Dress, which she will be wearing in the show.

Other Zombie Opera members include Emily Swora (“Angela”), who is covering the role of “Papagena,” and puppeteering the animals along with Jordan Speranzo (“Aidan”), one of Creature Crew Lead Assistants with Gwen Schmidt (Zopera Production Crew). Jim Newsome (“Filmed Extra” and Zopera Production Crew) plays the “Third Priest” and is a puppeteer as well. All Puppeteers and Creature Crew also sing in the ensemble along with Brian Bogovich (Zopera Film Crew and Production Crew).

Come and enjoy this magnificent classic opera May 29th-June 1st at the Antonian Theater in Pittsburgh, PA!

Sidebar: Liz’s anger as the Queen was so realistic, it caused a storm that knocked out the power at our final dress rehearsal tonight, so a second final dress has been rescheduled! Now THAT’S power!