Composer Douglas Moore Librettist John Latouche Company San Francisco Opera Association Location San Francisco, CA Venue War Memorial Opera House Season 2000-2001 Language English Creative/Crew Conductor Stefan Lano Production Colin Graham Set Designer(s) John Coyne Costume Designer(s) Susan Benson Lighting Designer Thomas J. Munn Sound Designer Roger Gans Chorus Director Ian Robertson Choreographer Lawrence Pech Musical Preparation Carol Isaac John Churchwell Philip Kuttner Jonathan Khuner Svetlana Gorzhevskaya Prompter Jonathan Khuner Assistant Stage Director(s) Kristine McIntyre Sandra Bernhard Stage Manager(s) Theresa Ganley Cast Old Silver Miner James Croom Saloon Bouncer Philip Horst Horace Tabor, Mayor of Leadville James Morris Sam, associate of Tabor Colby Roberts Bushy, associate of Tabor Richard Walker Barney, associate of Tabor Valery Portnov Jacob, associate of Tabor David Kekuewa Augusta, wife of Horace Tabor Judith Forst Sarah, friend of Augusta Virginia Pluth Mary, friend of Augusta Laurel Rice Emily, friend of Augusta Alexandra Nehra Effie, friend of Augusta Julianne Booth Mrs. Elizabeth (Baby) Doe, a miner's ex-wife Ruth Ann Swenson Suzanne Ramo(10/11,14) Kate, a dance hall entertainer Sara Lamar MacBride Meg, a dance hall entertainer Tina Osinski Samantha, a maid Sara Lamar MacBride Clerk at the Clarendon Hotel Daniel Harper Albert, a bellboy Philip Horst Mama McCourt, Baby Doe's mother Josepha Gayer Washington Dandy Wayne Davis Jere Torkelsen Kenneth Rafanan William Pickersgill McCourt Family Member Claire Kelm Sally Mouzon Tom Reed Kenneth Johnson Jim Meyer Father Chapelle James Croom Footman at the Willard Hotel Philip Horst President Chester A. Arthur Daniel Harper Elizabeth, child of Horace and Baby Doe Alyssa Mathias Silver Dollar, younger child of Horace and Baby Doe Lauren Sliter The (later) Mayor of Leadville James Croom William Jennings Bryan, Democratic presidential candidate John Fanning First newsboy Mario Sawaya Second newsboy Wayne Davis Stage doorman Daniel Harper Denver Politician Philip Horst Silver Dollar (adult) Tina Osinski Show Dates Sat, Sep 23 2000, 8pm Wed, Sep 27 2000, 7:30pm Tue, Oct 3 2000, 8pm Fri, Oct 6 2000, 8pm Sun, Oct 8 2000, 2pm Wed, Oct 11 2000, 8pm Sat, Oct 14 2000, 2pm Time and Place Late 19th-century Colorado Scenes Act I, Scene 1 -- Outside the Tabor Opera House, Leadville, 1880 Act I, Scene 2 -- The Clarendon Hotel, later that evening Act I, Scene 3 -- The Tabor apartment, 1881 Act I, Scene 4 -- The Clarendon Hotel, shortly thereafter Act I, Scene 5 -- Denver, 1882 Act I, Scene 6 -- The Willard Hotel, Washington, D.C., 1883 Act II, Scene 1 -- The Windsor Hotel, Denver, 1893 Act II, Scene 2 -- A gambling club in Denver, 1895 Act II, Scene 3 -- The Matchless Mine, summer, 1896 Act II, Scene 4 -- Augusta's apartment, November, 1896 Act II, Scene 5 -- The stage of the Tabor Opera House, April, 1899 Media Image Ruth Ann Swenson (Mrs. Elizabeth (Baby) Doe), The Ballad of Baby Doe, Douglas Moore. San Francisco Opera, 2000-01. Photographer: Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera. Ruth Ann Swenson in the title role Credit Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera Image James Morris (Horace Tabor), Ruth Ann Swenson (Mrs. Elizabeth (Baby) Doe), The Ballad of Baby Doe, Douglas Moore. San Francisco Opera, 2000-01. Photographer: Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera. James Morris as Horace Tabor; Ruth Ann Swenson as Baby Doe Credit Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera Image John Fanning (William Jennings Bryan), Ensemble, The Ballad of Baby Doe, Douglas Moore. San Francisco Opera, 2000-01. Photographer: Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera. William Jennings Bryan addressing Colorado miners in 1896 Credit Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera Image Judith Forst (Augusta Tabor), The Ballad of Baby Doe, Douglas Moore. San Francisco Opera, 2000-01. Photographer: Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera. Judith Forst as Augusta Tabor Credit Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera Image James Morris (Horace Tabor), Ruth Ann Swenson (Mrs. Elizabeth (Baby) Doe), The Ballad of Baby Doe, Douglas Moore. San Francisco Opera, 2000-01. Photographer: Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera. Baby Doe (Ruth Ann Swenson) sings a lullaby to her dying husband (James Morris) Credit Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera Sponsors The production of "The Ballad of Baby Doe" is designated in honor of George and Leslie Hume's membership in the Triple Diamond Circle. The performance of October 11th is sponsored by Bank of America. Acknowledgements This presentation is made possible, in part, by a gift from Jane Bernstein and Bob Ellis. Notes New productionScenery, props, costumes and wigs constructed in the San Francisco Opera workshopsSupertitles are taken from the original libretto Supernumeraries Gloria Christison Lisa Lorea Mimi Timberlake Valerie Zhao Keith Klauson Michael Peredo Thomas Romero Michael Schoenig Walt Thorp Antonio Toro Ron Wizelman
Image Ruth Ann Swenson (Mrs. Elizabeth (Baby) Doe), The Ballad of Baby Doe, Douglas Moore. San Francisco Opera, 2000-01. Photographer: Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera. Ruth Ann Swenson in the title role Credit Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera
Image James Morris (Horace Tabor), Ruth Ann Swenson (Mrs. Elizabeth (Baby) Doe), The Ballad of Baby Doe, Douglas Moore. San Francisco Opera, 2000-01. Photographer: Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera. James Morris as Horace Tabor; Ruth Ann Swenson as Baby Doe Credit Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera
Image John Fanning (William Jennings Bryan), Ensemble, The Ballad of Baby Doe, Douglas Moore. San Francisco Opera, 2000-01. Photographer: Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera. William Jennings Bryan addressing Colorado miners in 1896 Credit Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera
Image Judith Forst (Augusta Tabor), The Ballad of Baby Doe, Douglas Moore. San Francisco Opera, 2000-01. Photographer: Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera. Judith Forst as Augusta Tabor Credit Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera
Image James Morris (Horace Tabor), Ruth Ann Swenson (Mrs. Elizabeth (Baby) Doe), The Ballad of Baby Doe, Douglas Moore. San Francisco Opera, 2000-01. Photographer: Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera. Baby Doe (Ruth Ann Swenson) sings a lullaby to her dying husband (James Morris) Credit Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera