Opera Huntsville presents a fully-staged production of Béla Bartók’s brilliant one-act opera ‘Bluebeard’s Castle.’ With a world premiere arrangement featuring chamber orchestra and stage direction by Rebekah Alexander, this psychological thriller will run during the week of Halloween. Huntsville favorite Terrence Brown will portray Bluebeard and mezzo Thea Lobo will make her AL debut as Judith. Renowned as a masterpiece, Bluebeard’s Castle follows Judith as she explores the mysterious castle despite disturbing rumors.

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Friday, Oct 28, 2022 | 7:30 pm*

Saturday, Oct 29, 2022 | 7:30 pm
Sunday, Oct 30, 2022 | 3:00 pm

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Von Braun Center Playhouse

700 Monroe St SW, Huntsville, AL 35801

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*Post-performance discussion with the Directors

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Cast and Crew

Additional Interdisciplinary Resources Related to Bluebeard’s Castle

Curious about the many ways that this enthralling tale has manifested throughout the ages? Take a listen to our podcast materials HERE, and check out the list of works inspired by this spooky story, including books, ballets, satire, and popular songs. We’ll be releasing a podcast in November with members of OH’s staff that is specifically related to your questions, thoughts, and perspectives, so let us know what you think by emailing us or commenting on Facebook or Instagram

Select literature inspired by Bluebeard’s Castle: 

• “Fichter’s Bird,” an adaptation by the Brothers Grimm

  • In this iteration, the Brothers Grimm depict a gruesome sorcerer who lures a group of sisters into his home; their curiosity leads to their untimely demise. (Warning: This one is not for young children or the faint of heart!)

• “Captain Murderer” by Charles Dickens (ISBN 0688063071)

  • Dickens’s nanny used to tell this tale when Dickens was a young child, despite the author’s protestations that it terrified him. He later published this cannibalistic tale based on the same story. In this video, Lynn Ruehlmann tells the story set by Dickens. 

• “Bluebeard’s Egg” by Margaret Attwood (ISBN 9780771008085)

  • Attwood, author of the popular “Handmaid’s Tale,” released a collection of short stories, including the titular “Bluebeard’s Egg.” The entire collection contains explorations of interpersonal relationships, and several autobiographical stories. 

Visual art

• Gustavo Doré, “Barbe Bleue”

• Walter Crane

  • Illustration for “Barbe Bleue” (Sixpenny Series)

  • Illustration for “The Sleeping Beauty Picture Book”

• Henry Justice Ford

  • Illustration for “The Blue Fairy Book”

• Contemporary freelance artists

  • David Cuzik Matysiak, “In Bluebeard’s Castle”

  • Kevin Chu, “Bluebeard’s Castle”

Performing Arts: 

• Overture to Offebnach’s “Barbe-Bleue” as played by the Berlin Philharmonic. A full performance

• Variation from Schenk’s ballet “Bluebeard,” choreographed by Marius Petipa. This performance at the Dance Open Ballet Festival is the first production of this work in post-revolutionary Russia.   

• An excerpt of audio from a live performance of Charles Ludlam’s 1970 Off-Broadway play, “Bluebeard.” This is a farcical spin on the tale, depicting a satirical seduction of Miss Cubbidge, played by Obie-award winning actor Lola Pashaliski. 

• “Mrs Bluebeard” by They Might Be Giants (warning: graphic cartoon content)

• “Nightmare by the Sea” by Jeff Buckley

Did you have a favorite among these suggestions? Did we miss a must-see piece related to Bluebeard that you love? Let us know and tell us all about it on Facebook or Instagram!