D I G I T A L P R O G R A M
Opera in the Pines presents A Masked Ball, an immersive reimagining of Giuseppe Verdi’s thrilling masterpiece Un Ballo in Maschera, set within the storied walls of the historic Maine State Building in Poland, Maine. Reframed in 1895, the year the building was dedicated in its new Maine home, this production transforms the landmark into the lavish residence of the Governor of Boston, where guests gather for an opulent evening steeped in intrigue, romance, and fate.
Originally premiered in 1859, Un Ballo in Maschera is one of Giuseppe Verdi’s most dramatic and politically charged operas. Inspired by the real-life assassination of King Gustav III of Sweden, who was fatally shot while attending a masked ball in 1792, the opera blends historical fact with dramatic intensity. Originally conceived as Gustavo III, set in Sweden, the work was repeatedly altered by censors uneasy with the onstage depiction of a ruler’s assassination. Through a series of revisions and relocations, Verdi ultimately reset the story in colonial-era Boston, transforming the king into a governor and shifting the drama to an American context.
This production also serves as a tribute to the late Ellen Chickering, a beloved Maine soprano and educator whose influence shaped generations of Maine singers. Featuring a cast and creative team drawn from her former students and collaborators, A Masked Ball celebrates her mentorship, legacy, and the enduring impact of Maine artists on the national operatic landscape.
Amelia: Mary Johnston Letellier*+
Maine Community Bank Artist
Richard: Aaren Rivard*+
Reginald: Joshua Miller*+
Oscar: March Steiger*
Ulrica: Jazmin DeRice*+
Samuel: Nicholas Tocci
Tom: Daniel Laverriere*
Ensemble: Dana Douglass*
Ensemble: Mia Love*
Ensemble: Maggie McGovern*
Ensemble: David Myers, Jr.*+
Ensemble: Jacob O’Shea
Soloist: Eugene Mesheryakov*
Soloist: Grace Koury*
Production Cover - Richard: Robert Gerold*
Production Director, Designer & Librettist: Sable Strout*+
Adaptation: Kellie Moody*, Sable Strout*+
Music Director: Kellie Moody*
Assistant Music Director & Chorus Master: Jeff Mosher*+
Choreographer: Grace Koury*
Technical Director and Lighting Designer: Ashley McBreairty*
Costume Designer: Sarah Kennedy*
Stage Manager: Sienna Siciliano
Costume Assistant: Jennifer Kennedy*+
Supertitles: Jennifer Kennedy*+
Branding Designer: Allie Norman of Girl That Designs*
Promotion, Marketing and Content Management: Lauren Yokabaskas*+
Educational & Outreach Partners: Bates College, University of Maine, Lake Region High School, Scarborough High School
Production Photographer and Videographer: Brandon Blinderman*
*denotes Maine based or tied artist or organization
+ denotes former student of Ellen Chickering
Venue Partner
The Poland Spring Preservation Society is dedicated to preserving the historic Maine State Building and All Souls Chapel in Poland Spring, Maine. Originally built for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, the Maine State Building celebrate Maine’s craftsmanship, natural resources, and cultural heritage. Carefully dismantled in Chicago and transported by train and wagon to Maine, the Maine State Building was reconstructed and dedicated in 1895 as a library, art gallery, and museum. Today, it continues to educate visitors about Maine history, hosting exhibits, concerts, weddings, and community events throughout the summer months. All the museums on the resort campus, including the Poland Spring Bottling Museum & Spring House, will reopen May 16, 2026 to kick off their 50th Anniversary season!
Season Sponsors
The Davis Family Foundation, Gwendolen Elwell Flanagan Foundation, The Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine, The Onion Foundation, Portland Conservatory of Music
Show Sponsors
Martin’s Point, Portland Conservatory of Music, Starbird Piano Gallery
Artist Sponsor
We are deeply grateful to the following organizations for providing rehearsal space: Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine and Portland Conservatory of Music.
Thank you to the media and promotional partners who helped share our story: Steve Feeney and The Portland Press Herald, and The Wall Street Journal.
Special thanks for in-kind gifts and assistance: Patty Hatch Hibbert's Theatrical Costume Rentals, Matt Herndon, Stage Combat Consultant, Lyric Music Theater, University of Southern Maine: Department of Theatre, and University of Southern Maine: Osher Opera Theatre for the loan of Ellen Checkering’s handmade gown, on display during our performance run.
Additional special thanks to Jennifer Fogg and the Poland Spring Resort.
We are especially grateful to our housing donors: Christopher Dorion, Sable Strout and Brandon Blinderman, and Susan and Robert Yokabaskas.
Annual Giving
Thank you to all who contributed during our fiscal year ending December 31, 2025.
Balsam Fir: Heather F. Parker, Willa H. Parker
Eastern Hemlock: Hillary & Thomas Egan, Ann Elderkin & James Bucknam, Winfield Field, Susan & Robert Yokabaskas
Tamarack: James Barbato, Thomas A. Dyhrberg, Thomas Jorgensen, Robert Morrison, Robert & Linda Russell, Carol Yokabaskas
Northern Cedar: Tomas Amadeo, Ann Dillon, Kory Johnson, Maureen Reitman, Kevin J. Stack
Cone: John David Adams, Christenia Alden-Kinne, Steven Brinn & Jody Sataloff, David R. Cote, Corinne M. Hayes, Denise LaRue & Bob Furman, Genevieve Lee, Megan Marino, David & Jesse Myers-Wakeman, Ashley O’Brien, Michelle Rawding, Marcia G. Sly, Clare Stack, Timothy Steele, Vincent Yokabaskas
Seed: Virginia L. Albanese, Melanie Ashkar, Susan Cole, Robin Cross, Judson & Starsha Merrill, Susan Samberg, Camille Sherman, Mary Sullivan
In memory of Ellen Chickering: Megan Marino, David & Jesse Myers-Wakeman, Robert & Linda Russell