About the Opera
Described as a “fairy tale in four acts,” Cendrillon tells the classic story of Cinderella as originated in the French fairy tale by Perault, but heightened by Massenet’s enchanting and humor-filled melodies. The opera premiered in 1899 with the Théâtre National de l’Opéra-Comique in Paris, and enjoyed widespread productions throughout the 20th century including premieres with the Welsh National Opera, the Santa Fe Opera, and the Metropolitan Opera.
The Story
ACT I
Servants and maids hurry about to prepare for the ball. Pandolfe laments leaving the quiet of the country for such noise and rush, and he wonders why he ever got involved with the Madame de la Haltière and her two witless daughters. He especially laments the fate of his daughter, Cendrillon. Madame de la Haltière enters with her two daughters, Noémie and Dorothée. The daughters primp and prepare for the ball while their mother instructs them on how to attract the prince’s attention. All four characters depart, leaving Cendrillon alone on stage, singing of how she wishs she could have attended the ball. After completing her chores, Cendrillon falls asleep and is visited by her Fairy Godmother and her fairy attendants. They transform Cendrillon’s rags into beautiful clothes for the ball and gift her with glass slippers that will prevent her from being recognized by her family; however, she is warned that the magic will last only until midnight. With a promise to return before the clock strikes twelve, Cendrillon departs for the ball.
ACT II
While excitement rings through the royal palace, the Prince sits alone and sad. The king reminds him that he must find a wife at the ball, and the Prince is less than thrilled at this process. The ball begins with lines of suitors — each less appealing than the previous — presenting themselves to the Prince. Just as the Prince is about to lose hope, Cendrillon enters and charms everyone at the ball (except, of course, for Madame de la Haltière and her daughters). She and the Prince fall in love at first sight, but as the clock strikes midnight Cendrillon rushes away, leaving the Prince stunned and alone.
ACT III
Cendrillon returns home to find her gown is just a plain dress again and that she has lost one of her glass slippers in her escape. She takes a moment to herself to relive the magic of the ball before she is interrupted by the return of Madame de la Haltière and her daughters who tease Cendrillon until she is about to faint. Her father angrily chases them away and then promises his daughter that they will leave the city to return to the country, but Cendrillon cannot bear the pain and flees home to the forest.
Under a magic oak tree in the enchanted forest, the Prince and Cendrillon sense each others’ presence. While they cannot see one another, each recognizes the other’s voice and they sing of their love. Finally, they meet each other and, amid the fairies, fall asleep in each others’ arms.
ACT IV
Cendrillon has been found asleep by a stream and carried back home. In her sleep she spoke of the Prince, the oak, and her glass slipper. When she awakes, however, Pandolfes tells her it was all a dream. At that moment, Madame de la Haltière informs them all that there is to be a gathering of all the attendees of the ball at the King’s palace. They have all been summoned to try on a glass slipper. Cendrillon realizes that her dream was real.
At the palace, the Prince recognizes Cendrillon immediately. They are reunited and all present are enchanted by their love.
Schedule & Location
The magic begins at 7:30 pm on November 9 at Studio 34 Yoga Healing Arts in West Philly — 4522 Baltimore Ave.
Meet the Team
Staff
Olivia Broderick & Kyle Chastulik
Co-Coordinators — ACO Readthrough Project
Andrea DeVito — Music Director
Cast
Cendrillon – Katrina Dignum
Le Prince Charmant – Amanda Staub
Mezzo-soprano Amanda Staub has been praised as “brilliant and beautiful… a jewel.” (West Hawaii Today). The 2025-2026 season sees Amanda debuting roles such as Papagena in The Magic Flute with Mobile Opera and performances with Opera Delaware, Opera Baltimore, Maryland Opera, and Art City Opera. Amanda has performed several iconic trouser roles including Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel, Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro, Stephano in Roméo et Juliette, and Sesto in Giulio Cesare. Other notable roles include Dido in Dido & Aeneas, Tisbe and Cenerentola in La Cenerentola, Ariodante in Ariodante, and Hannah (after) in As One. She was recently a finalist in the Music International Grand Prix Competition. Passionate about education and creating opportunities for artists to thrive, Amanda has held multiple positions as a private instructor and artistic administrator and currently serves as Vice President of Liberty City Arts. Amanda lives in Philadelphia, PA and is a student of Dr. Kathryn Leemhuis.
La Fée – Jesica Santino
Soprano Jesica Santino is an emerging artist based in Philadelphia. In her 25/26 season, Jesica is thrilled to make her debut with Art City Opera, singing La Fée in their Salon-Style Read Through of Massenet’s Cendrillon. In October, she’ll be joining Delaware Valley Opera Company, covering the role of Mrs. Gobineau in Menotti’s The Medium.
In previous seasons, Jesica has been seen on stage as Barbarina (Le nozze di Figaro), The Queen of the Night (Die Zuaberflöte), Eliza (cover, Dark Sisters), Lola (Gallantry), Martha (Martha), and Mrs. Fiorentino (Street Scene). She has also performed scenes as Marie (La fille du régiment), Josephine (H.M.S. Pinafore), Tytania (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) and Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte).
Jesica has performed with Delaware Valley Opera Company, Temple Opera Theater, Trentino Music Festival, Matador Opera Workshop, The NJ Opera Project, A Modern Reveal, UTulsa Opera Theater, and The Institute for the International Education of Students (I.E.S.) Abroad Music Summer Program.
Originally from New Mexico, Jesica lives in Philadelphia with her cat and dog, and continues her studies with mezzo-soprano Kathryn Leemhuis. She holds degrees from Temple University and The University of Tulsa.
Pandolfe – Daniel Laverriere
Daniel Laverriere is a Philadelphia-based baritone and recent graduate of Temple University. This season, Daniel joins the Opera Philadelphia Chorus in Rossini’s Il Viaggio a Reims and the world premiere of Gregory Spears’ Sleepers Awake. He will also present a virtual recital with A Modern Reveal, featuring works by Kamala Sankaram, Delphine Ugalde, and Sophie Gail.
Daniel began the year covering Schaunard in La Bohème with Opera Maine and the Portland Symphony Orchestra. He performed the role of Masetto in Don Giovanni with Temple Opera Theater and presented his graduate degree recital, featuring Ricky Ian Gordon’s Green Sneakers. He attended Spoleto Festival USA as a vocal fellow and returned to Quisisana Resort for a second season.
Before his move to Philadelphia, Laverriere performed frequently in his home state of Maine and throughout New England. With the Portland Symphony Orchestra, he sang Pontifex in Bach’s Matthäuspassion. Daniel was selected as a participant in FUSE: Collaborations in Song with Boston Singers’ Resource and Catalyst New Music. With composer Keane Southard and poet Kendra Preston Leonard, Daniel and pianist Brendon Shapiro premiered Felling: A Song Cycle for Baritone and Piano in March 2023. The cycle features three historical and recent accounts of deforestation throughout North America.
Daniel spent two summers as an Emerging Artist at Seagle Festival, performing Mercutio in Roméo et Juliette, Prince Dauntless in Once Upon a Mattress, Senator McCarthy/Estonian Frank/Interrogator in Fellow Travelers, Papa Bear in The Three Bears, and various galas, concerts, and masterclasses.
Madame de la Haltière – Ariana Warren
Ariana Warren is a Philadelphia based mezzo-soprano. This season, she has sung “Marcellina” in Le nozze di Figaro with The Northern Lights Music Festival and returned to the title role in Carmen with Chandler Opera Company. She was an apprentice artist at Des Moines Metro Opera in 2023 where she covered “Dritte Dame” (Die Zauberflöte) and “Sméraldine” (The Love for Three Oranges) and was a featured soloist in the Stars of Tomorrow concert. She also spent two seasons as an Opera Iowa artist performing in various educational outreach tour productions. Ariana was engaged as a young artist for three seasons at The Glimmerglass Festival where she performed “Second Lady” (The Magic Flute), “Mastrilla” (Songbird/La Périchole) and covered the title role in Carmen (directed by Denyce Graves) as well as the title role in Songbird and “Nelda” (Taking Up Serpents). She was also an apprentice artist with Opera Ithaca in their 2016-17 season. Ariana has earned an encouragement award from The Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition and the Opera Club of Syracuse Award through the Civic Morning Musicals Competition. She holds a M.M. in Opera Performance from Arizona State University and dual B.M. in Vocal Performance and Music Education from Ithaca College. While home on the east coast, Ariana maintains a successful private voice and piano studio, performs with Opera Night Long Island and is a choralschola at The Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.
Noémie – Ariana Sutherland
Ariana Horner Sutherland is a lyric soprano originally from Nome, Alaska. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Alaska, a Master’s in Vocal Performance from Sam Houston State University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She currently lives in Philadelphia, PA, where she studies with Jack Livigni.
Passionate about music education and American music, Ariana balances teaching with performing. She maintains a private voice studio, and has appeared in recitals ranging from South Africa to her home state of Alaska.
Ariana made her operatic debut as Pamina in the 2022 chamber adaptation of The Magic Flute, a collaboration between UCSB and New York City Opera. In 2023, she earned second place in the Performing Arts Scholarship Foundation competition and first place in 2025. As a Chrisman Studio Artist with Opera Santa Barbara, her roles included Clara in the 2022–23 production of The Light in the Piazza by Adam Guettel, and she covered the role of Micaëla in the 2023 production of Carmen.
Dorothée – Emily Kane
Emily Kane (she/her) is a mezzo soprano, Gritty enthusiast, and Philadelphia-area native. She covered the role of Carmen for in the Independent Sounds (IDS) festival this past August is also a roster member of Opera on Tap, Philadelphia. She is a member of the Mendelssohn Chorus of Philadelphia – the 2025-2026 season marks her 14th year with the group.
Emily is a public health professional currently providing support to communities across the country as they address the overdose epidemic. She is a 4th-year doctoral student at Drexel University, where she is pursing her Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) in Health Management and Policy.
Le Roi – Allen Adair
Le Premier Ministre – Kyle Chastulik
6th Spirit – Elizabeth Clarkin-Breslin
Le Surintendant de Plaisirs – Robert Davidson
Le Doyen de la Faculté – McKayla Mitchell