A play for the theatre that takes the commedia dell'arte of Carlo Gozzi and updates it for the new millennium.

In 1921, Sergei Prokofiev's Love for Three Oranges—one of the earliest, most famous examples of modernist opera—premiered in Chicago. Prokofiev's source was a 1913 theatrical divertissement by Vsevolod Meyerhold, who, in turn, took inspiration from Carlo Gozzi's 1761 commedia dell'arte–infused theatrical fairy tale. Only by examining these whimsical, provocative works together can we understand the full significance of their intertwined lineage. With contributions from 17 distinguished scholars in theater, art history, Italian, Slavic studies, and musicology, Three Loves for Three Oranges: Gozzi, Meyerhold, Prokofiev illuminates the historical development of Modernism in the arts, the ways in which commedia dell'arte's self-referential and improvisatory elements have inspired theater and music innovations, and how polemical playfulness informs creation. A resource for scholars and theater lovers alike, this collection of essays, paired with new translations of Love for Three Oranges, charts the transformations and transpositions that this fantastical tale underwent to provoke theatrical revolutions that still reverberate today.

This account of Corsaro's and Sendak's creation of a new production of Prokofiev's opera details their frustrations and their unique methods of working together

Retells the story from a Prokofiev opera of a prince who is cursed by a witch to fall in love with three oranges, which he then must obtain from the giant who guards them in a desert castle.

Far on the other side of the mountains, next to an enchanted castle, grows a tree with three golden oranges. It is there that the three brothers -- Santiago, Tomás, and Matías -- must journey if they wish to find a wife. Once they reach their destination, the brothers must carefully pick the oranges and bring them back to the old woman who lives in a cave on the cliffs overlooking the sea. But, "In order to find your wives, you will need to work together," the old woman has said. "Woe to you if you do not follow my advice!" Each of the brothers wants something different. Santiago wants a wife who is beautiful. Tomás wants one who is both rich and beautiful. But Matías, the youngest brother, longs for a woman who is kind, joyful, and loving...someone he could love very much in return. Will the brothers be able to avert misfortune by working together? Will they be strong enough to break the spell that a wicked sorcerer has placed on the castle? Master storyteller Alma Flor Ada offers a poetic and magical retelling of a well-loved traditional story about Blancaflor, a mythical young woman who appears in various stories throughout the Hispanic world. Reg Cartwright's boldly colorful and exquisitely stylized art is a perfect accompaniment.

The author of The Love of Three Oranges, Turandot and The Snake Lady is an almost forgotten figure who, despite calling his reminiscences Useless Memoirs, would surely have hated our stage for the neglect we've provided him with. Gozzi was one of Italy's greatest playwrights. This brief biography, an introduction to the three above mentioned plays in translation, is the best that's come along and one should be grateful for it. The plays themselves have until now remained inaccessible and now here they are. Welcome. Stages Until now, three of Gozzi's most influential dramas -- The Love of Three Oranges, Turandot, and The Snake Lady -- have remained inaccessible to English-speaking audiences. This important contribution in theatre studies offers translations of Gozzi's best known works that are accurate, idiomatic, and highly theatrical, promoting awareness of the achievements of the commedia dell'arte and Venice's rich and unique culture in the 18th century. An insightful biographical and critical introduction offers new insights into the work of this influential 18th-century Italian dramatist.