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The Seattle Times calls The Paul Dresher Ensemble production of THE TYRANT with John Duykers* “a tour-deforce—a gripping music theater piece that is witty, poignant and wonderfully effective.” Featuring an unforgettable performance by tenor John Duykers, with libretto by Jim Lewis, The Tyrant presents the internal world of a ruler who, unable to physically leave his throne out of fear of being overthrown, is forced to experience his kingdom entirely through the medium of sound. The Tyrant followed its successful Seattle premiere with a sold-out week-long run of performances at The Cleveland Playhouse, May 2nd - 7th, 2006, co-presented with the Cleveland Opera, presented by CalArts EdgeFest in Berkeley, CA in June 2007, and also by Chicago Chamber Musicians at the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Arts in January 2008. These performances also garnered rave reviews, including one by Donald Rosenberg of The Plain Dealer who writes that The Tyrant “holds its grip through Melissa Weaver’s discreet staging, Tom Ontiveros’ spectral lighting and the seamless union of Lewis’ pointed, humane libretto and Dresher’s eclectic score. The music embraces pungent and delicate modernism even as it teases deftly with anxious waltz figures, menacing marches and expansive lyricism.” A tour in Italy is now in the works.

*John Duykers appears courtesy of California Artists Management