Master Class by Terrence McNally
Featuring Kathi Grau as Maria Callas
Directed by Alexis Carra-Girbés
Musical Direction by Bruce LeBaron
Signature Event Series
Theatre
Master Class is a play of fireworks in a contained space where Maria Callas is brought back to life. Inspired by a series of master classes the great diva conducted at Juilliard toward the end of her career, this drama puts Maria Callas at center stage again as she coaxes, prods, and inspires students—”victims” as she calls them—into giving the performances of their lives. As she slips off into memories during her student’s performances, we experience her days at La Scala, her marriage to Meneghini, and her great doomed love affair with Aristotle Onassis. But the dazzling theatricality comes from Callas’s emotional explosions, her cutting wit, and the soaring music as each student sings an aria that exposes the Divina’s vulnerabilities … and her genius. Master Class is Terrence McNally’s (who was born in St. Pete!) multi-Tony award-winning play, directed by Alexis Carra-Girbés, with musical direction by Bruce LeBaron, and featuring Kathi Grau as Maria Callas.
Pay What You Can Previews
Friday-Saturday May 5-6, 2023 – 8:00 PM
Sunday May 7, 2032 – 3:00 PM
Ticketed Performance Schedule
Thursday-Saturday May 11-13, 2023 – 8:00 PM
Sunday May 14, 2023 – 3:00 PM
Kathi Grau received her BA in Fine Art from William Woods University, in Fulton MIssouri and her Master’s in Theatrical Directing from The School of Performing Arts, Roosevelt University in Chicago. Kathi was an educator and teacher of the fine and performing arts in Tampa, Atlanta and New Jersey for 40 years. She ran the upper division drama department at Berkeley Preparatory School for 28 years.
