The Story of Mary Queen of Scots & Queen Elizabeth I featuring music from Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda
An original production telling the story of two dueling queens: One Catholic & One Protestant

Divaria Productions is excited to present the digital world premiere of its original biopic opera with Bay Street Theatre on Thursday November 12th at 8:00 pm. The production, Rival Queens, tells the story of Mary Queen of Scots and Queen Elizabeth I and features music from Donizetti’s opera Maria Stuarda, with English subtitles. Originally scheduled to appear in person at Bay Street in Sag Harbor, this production proves that the creative spirit is alive and flourishing in the midst of Covid. The virtual presentation was created and prepared on an intercontinental basis featuring a director, pianist and actors in Spain, a writer, soprano, mezzo-soprano and film crew in New York, a narrator from San Francisco, and a tenor in Chicago. The show will go on!

In contrast to the opera Maria Stuarda, Rival Queens adds the dimension of the relationship of these two women throughout their entire life and not just the months immediately preceding Mary’s execution. This biopic represents a new form of art that melds documentary film with the music of opera, which serves as the driving force of the story. The story draws on primary sources of the letters between these women—who never actually met in person—and historical research, culminating in original narration that connects the opera and the letters.

PREMIERE
Thursday November 12th at 8:00 pm EST
http://www.baystreet.org/calendar/rival-queens-a-virtual-opera-by-divaria/

2ND VIEWING DATE
Saturday November 14th 5:00 pm EST
https://www.ritesmusic.org/2020-live-concerts.html