The Girl of the Golden Wes- An Opera by Puccini in Santa Cruz

In Celebration of USA’s 250th Anniversary;
The Voice Studio of Thomas Clark Inc. presents
Puccini’s Opera:
THE GIRL OF THE GOLDEN WEST *
(La Fanciulla del West)
An Opera in Three Acts by Giacomo Puccini
Based on the Play by David Belasco
New English Translation by Thomas Clark
Limited Engagement – 8 Performances Only! In Pacifica & Santa Cruz

Terra Nova Theater
1450 Terra Nova Blvd., Pacifica, CA 94044
Fri. Aug. 21, 2026 - 7:00 pm; Sun. Aug. 23, 2026 - 2:00 pm
Fri. Aug. 28, 2026 - 7:00 pm; Sun. Aug. 30, 2026 - 2:00 pm
Tickets for Pacifica: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/girlofthegoldenwest/2336084

Colligan Theater at the Tannery Arts Center
1010 River St. (at Encinal St.) Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Fri. Sept. 4, 2026 - 7:00 pm; Sun. Sept. 6, 2026 - 2:00 pm
Fri. Sept. 11, 2026 - 7:00 pm; Sun. Sept. 13, 2026 - 2:00 pm
Tickets for Santa Cruz: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/girlofthegoldenwest/2336159

Director: Gary L. Stanford, Jr. / Conductor / Pianist: Umberto Barisciano
Cast: Jordan Best (Minnie); Robert Balonek (Sheriff Jack Rance); Xavier Prado (Dick Johnson)
(Aug. 21, 23, 28, 30, Sept. 4, 6, 2026); John Kun Park (Dick Johnson) (Sept. 11, 13, 2026)

For Info: 415-235-4691 or visit: WEB SITE: https://www.thomasclarktenor.com/ggwmain

To arrange an interview with producer and author of new English translation THOMAS CLARK, or any artists appearing in
THE GIRL OF THE GOLDEN WEST, please email or call publicist Lawrence Helman heytheresells [at] gmail.com - 415-336-8220.

In Celebration of USA’s 250th Anniversary, The Voice Studio of Thomas Clark Inc. presents Puccini’s Opera:
THE GIRL OF THE GOLDEN WEST (La Fanciulla del West) - An Opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini.
Based on the play by David Belasco. New English translation by Thomas Clark. In Pacifica and in Santa Cruz, CA.
Limited Engagement – 8 Performances Only! (4 in each city). Tix: $51.75 - Gen. Admission / $20 – Student/child/senior.
Run Time: 2 hours, 45 min. (2 intermissions)

In PACIFICA: Terra Nova Theater) - 1450 Terra Nova Blvd., Pacifica, CA 94044
Fri. Aug. 21, 2026 - 7:00 pm; Sun. Aug. 23, 2026 - 2:00 pm / Fri. Aug. 28, 2026 - 7:00 pm; Sun. Aug. 30, 2026 - 2:00 pm.
Tickets for Pacifica: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/girlofthegoldenwest/2336084

In SANTA CRUZ: Colligan Theater at the Tannery Arts Center - 1010 River St. (at Encinal St.) Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Fri. Sept. 4, 2026 - 7:00 pm; Sun. Sept. 6, 2026 - 2:00 pm / Fri. Sept. 11, 2026 - 7:00 pm; Sun. Sept. 13, 2026 - 2:00 pm.
Tickets for Santa Cruz: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/girlofthegoldenwest/2336159
For Info: 415-235-4691 or visit: WEB SITE: https://www.thomasclarktenor.com/ggwmain

Accessibility:
Both the Terra Nova Theatre in Pacifica and the Colligan Theater at the Tannery Arts Center in Santa Cruz are wheelchair accessible.

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION:
In Celebration of the USA’s 250th Anniversary, the Voice Studio of Thomas Clark presents a fully-staged version of Puccini’s The Girl of the Golden West, in a new English translation by Thomas Clark. Originally written in 1905 by playwright David Belasco (who also authored Madame Butterfly), The Girl of the Golden West takes place during the Gold Rush in California around 1849. The original play was used as the basis for the opera La Fanciulla del West by Puccini in 1910, and has enjoyed great success since its premiere at the Metropolitan Opera in NYC. That production starred Emmy Destinn and Enrico Caruso, with the esteemed Arturo Toscanini conducting. Puccini himself declared that La Fanciulla del West was his finest opera. Thomas Clark’s new translation promises to bring contemporary audiences even closer to the essence of the opera, the themes of which involve deception, desire, love, forgiveness, and ultimately, redemption. The opera will be presented complete (i.e., without cuts to the score), a rarity for performances of this work.

This new production features professional, world-class-performers: Jordan Best as Minnie, owner of the Polka Saloon, Xavier Prado as the bandit Dick Johnson (first 6 performances; John Kun Park sings the final 2), and Robert Balonek as Sheriff Jack Rance. Additional cast includes: Tim Tsang, Sebastian Stock, Michael Good, Joshua Porter, Jace Parker, Joshua Porter, Rick Bogart,
Noah Nelson Fadrigon Llorando, Gary L. Stanford, Jr., Lizz Hodgin Weihrauch, Thomas Clark, Diego Granoble, Veronica Talton,
Leonardo Capistrano.

The performance is conducted from the piano by Umberto Barisciano and Gary L. Stanford, Jr., is the stage director.

TECH CREDITS: Costume Design – Gary L. Stanford, Jr., Jordan Best, Thomas Clark; Sound Engineer – Megan Thompson;
Set Designer – Billie King; Props Designer – Kevin Stanford; Projection Designer – Zachary Wilson; Fight/Intimacy Coordinator - Bessie Zolno; Publicist – Lawrence Helman; Assistant Producer – Russell Low; Stage Manager – Gia Gonella.

* Content Advisory: This performance includes simulated gunfire, loud sound effects, and strong, coarse language.

History of THE GIRL OF THE GOLDEN WEST: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_fanciulla_del_West