Theatre Conspiracy New York bound

COURTESY PHOTO Bill Taylor

Fort Myers-based Theatre Conspiracy will be reading "Maria," a new play being developed by the company under the direction of artistic director Bill Taylor, at The Dramatists Guild of America in New York on Jan. 25. Maria is based on the book The Autobiography of Maria Callas: A Novel by Dr. Alma H. Bond.

Being developed through grants from the Southwest Florida Community Foundation and the City of Fort Myers, this one-woman show explores the life and loves of operas best known diva. Born in New York and raised by an overbearing mother, Maria Callas received her musical education in Greece and established her career in Italy. Callas made numerous appearances at the world's great opera houses: La Scala, Paris, the Metropolitan Opera, Dallas Opera and Covent Garden. Her artistic achievements were such that Leonard Bernstein called her "The Bible of opera". She left her husband for Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, a loveaffair that received much publicity. It ended nine years later, when Onassis left Callas for Jacqueline Kennedy, widow of assassinated US president John F. Kennedy. Heartbroken, Callas spent her last years living largely in isolation in Paris, where she died at age 53.

Maria will be performed by Joy Davidson under Taylor's direction. Davidson has performed some 45 roles throughout Europe and North America, including appearances with the Metropolitan Opera, Vienna Staatsoper, Munich Staatsoper, La Scala Milano, Teatro Regio, Maggio Musicale, New York City Opera, Netherlands Opera, Welsh National Opera, Madrid Opera, Teatro Liceo, Rio de Janiero, Opera de Lyon, San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Dallas Civic Opera, and many other regional opera companies.

Artistic Director Taylor is not only directing the reading but is also acting as dramaturge on the script.

"Joy contacted me about revising the book into a workable script for Alma" said Taylor. "She had read on-line about Theatre Conspiracy's work with new plays and wanted to see if we would take on the project. It is an expansion of what we would normally do with a new work. I'm excited that we are a part of this. It is a great opportunity for Theatre Conspiracy as we continue to search for a new home in Southwest Florida. In the past we have produced shows locally, now we are taking the initiative to establish ourselves and our mission nationally. This should open more doors to promoting new works. Theatre Conspiracy is and always will be dedicated to advancing a new generation of theatrical work."