". . . sensitive stage director Carey Kugler managed to dust away the old stereotypes and bring genuine humanity to the denizens of Catfish Row . . . focus was placed on a real ensemble performance. This turned out to be a plus . . . fine points in stage direction."
Raoul Abdul, N.Y. AMSTERDAM NEWS
Carey Kugler is a freelance stage director based in Charlotte, NC. His repertoire includes Opera, Musical Theater and Play productions. Carey began his formal training with John R. McCrae at Converse College and the Brevard Music Center. After receiving his BA in Vocal Performance at Appalachian State University he continued his studies at Florida State University where he received his Masters in Opera Production under Robert J. Murray. Carey followed his graduate studies with a position at The Academy of Vocal Arts where for ten seasons he served as Associate Stage Director. He worked closely with former Metropolitan Opera stage director Dino Yannopoulos, who became his most influential mentor. While in Philadelphia, Carey directed the regional premieres of Mozart's La Finta Giardiniera, Pasatieri's Seagull and Thea Musgrave's A Christmas Carol. He directed the first production of Porgy and Bess at The Academy of Music by Opera North, a Philadelphia opera company dedicated to minority performers, to enthusiastic critical acclaim.
Carey is well known for his guest directing and teaching at universities and colleges across the country. His professional credits include work with the Lyric Opera Theater of Jacksonville, Opera North, Opera of Northern Virginia, Virginia Opera, Opera Carolina, and Opera Delaware. He also has produced several semi-staged works for the North Carolina, Canton and Evansville Symphony orchestras. As a proponent of contemporary works, especially American Opera, Carey has sought to broaden the traditional opera audience. Equally at home with the classical repertoire, he stresses the dramatic context of opera while being respectful of its conventions. He firmly believes that only in understanding the traditions can you begin to break with them. As a voice major, Carey studied with Frances Shafter and Eugene Talley-Schmidt, and performed over thirty professional roles in opera and musical theater. His experience as a performer helps him to understand the needs and concerns of young artists as they pursue the goal of becoming Singing/Actors.
Mr. Kugler makes his European debut January 2000 at the Stadtstheater Chemnitz with a new production of Kiss Me Kate. He will return home to direct a symphonic production of Don Giovanni for North Carolina Symphony and has tentative plans to reproduce his The Music Man for the Phoenix Symphony. Carey lives in Charlotte with his wife, Pam and sons, Christopher and Matthew.
". . . magnificent production . . . close to faultless . . . beautifully staged with dramatic sets . . . The chorus was very professional in sound, acting, and movement . . . This top quality production . . . sparkles throughout."
Caryl Huffaker, KENNETT NEWS, Wilmington, DE". . . 'STUNNING SUCCESS' . . . splendid production . . . joy to see and hear . . . Carey Kugler's stage direction was active without being busy. The use of an upper floor bedroom behind a scrim was a stroke of genius . . . The large clock moving unstoppable toward the next hour was also effective."
Michael Caruso, NEWS OF DELAWARE COUNTY". . . The production also shows the firm, clever hand of Carey Kugler . . . He treats subtle humor with respect and knows when to tighten the reins and go for broad comedy."
LaFleur Paysour, THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER". . . thoughtful production . . . both the sets and direction were inventive and intelligent."
Michael Kimmelmann, THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER". . . 'A MODERN MIRACLE' . . . AVA's production worked remarkably well . . . Carey Kugler worked marvels with the small playing space . . ."
Michael Caruso, NEWS OF DELAWARE COUNTY". . . grand opera done in the round. And what a difference it makes! . . . viewers are all but sucked into the action. In such a cozy setting, grand opera becomes intimate opera . . . This is production to watch for its simplicity and its immediacy . . . appealing and immediately believable . . . scenes that were uncannily real. It was like peeking through the dusty window of a Paris garret and seeing everything. Carey Kugler did some nifty maneuvering of people and objects."
LaFleur Paysour, THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER
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