David Young (Manny Weinstock ), Amy K Sullivan (Maria Callas) Photo by Brandon Miyagi
Captivating Diamond Head Theatre’s “Master Class,” written by multiple Tony Award winner Terrence McNally, artfully magnifies the final days of renowned opera singer Maria Callas.
Stepping into Diamond Head Theatre’s 482-seat space is nothing short of breathtaking. Set designer Randy Tandel’s elegant design draws the audience’s focus from the grandeur of the theater to the intimate world of music and sound. Lighting Designer Dawn Oshima, Sound Designer Mike Minor, and Costume Designer Kanani Sato perfect every aspect of the production. The rise and fall of the shifting mirror, sheer curtains gliding across the stage, and ominous red lighting heighten the drama.
Based on Callas’ real-life master classes at Juilliard in the early 1970s, the audience transforms into her students. No prior knowledge of opera is necessary to appreciate this experience. Callas insists that the beauty and eloquence of music can only be truly felt when experienced emotionally.
Amy R. Sullivan perfectly embodies Callas’ remarkable persona. Callas enters the softly lit auditorium—commanding, preachy, and humorous. Then, with a sharp, snarky tone, she demands, “Lights in the auditorium off!”
Throughout the play, Callas reveals her vulnerabilities while urging her students to do the same. She instructs them to sing “from the gut,” to “let the music fill you up,” and to “find the truth of their situation.” For Callas, “The composer is God.”
Celebrated for her extraordinary vocal talent and dramatic stage presence, Callas earned the title “La Divina” in the early 1950s, revitalizing opera. Yet beneath her wit and biting sarcasm, she could be brutally critical. Her students weren’t just singers—they were future opera stars, and she demanded nothing less than greatness.
Georgine Stark (First Soprano Sophia de Palma) Photo by Brandon Miyagi
Every detail mattered, even the accompanist’s choice of clothing. “It’s important to have a look… get one as quickly as possible,” she instructs the calm, tongue-in-cheek Manny, versatile David Young. She snaps at the stagehand, ordering him about like a handmaiden. Stagehand Randy Tandal’s laconic responses irk her but amuses the audience.
Each student mirrors a chapter of Callas’ past. First Soprano Sophie De Palma, portrayed humorously by the magnificent Georgine Stark, lacks confidence, dresses poorly, and forgets her pencil. Callas pushes her beyond the technical, forcing her into the emotional artistry of the song. As a sheer white curtains passes in front of Stark, Callas is transported to her youth in war-torn Europe, where the choice was sometimes between buying a pencil or an orange. Stark delivers a heart-rendering rendition of La Sonnambula by Bellini.
Kasey Nahlovsky (Tenor Anthony “Tony” Candolini) photo by Brandon Miyagi
Overconfident and charming, Tenor Anthony “Tony” Candolino, played by the impressive Kasey Nahlovsky, sings with his natural technical voice. But when Callas admonishes him for not studying the part, becoming the part, he humbles himself. Nahlovsky sings a stirring solo from Tosca by Puccini.
Arrogant yet gifted, Second Soprano Sharon Graham, brilliantly portrayed by Anna Young, delivers an exceptional performance of Lady Macbeth’s arias from Verdi’s Macbeth. Initially fumbling and lacking presence, and in an ill-chosen dress, she frustrates Callas. But through sheer authenticity and honesty, she manages to dent Callas’ stern diva armor.
Anna Young (SecondSoprano Sharon Graham ) Amy K. Sullivan (Maria Callas) Photo by Brandon Miyagi
Under Director Bryce Chaddick sensitive and subtle direction, the “class” learns the complexity of each character while highlighting the artistry and discipline of the profession. The “class” leaves the session with a profound appreciation for the genius, complexity, and perseverance of Maria Callas.
“La Divina” Maria Callas, Amy K. Sullivan photo by Brandon Miyagi
Excellent! A must see!
“Maria Callas” by Terrence McNally, Directed by Bryce Chaddick, at the Diamond Head Theatre productions@diamondheadtheatre.com runs in Honolulu, HI through Feb 9, 2025
cast: Kasey Nahlovsky, Georgine Stark, Amy R. Sullivan, Randy Tandel, Anna Young, David Young