SMC Performs "The Bat (Die Fledermaus)"

Enrique Renaldo during dress rehearsal of the Santa Monica College Opera Theatre production of "Die Fledermaus" at The Broad Stage on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)

Ana Colesnicov studies the score during rehearsal of the Santa Monica College Opera Theatre production of "Die Fledermaus" at the SMC Performing Arts Center on Sunday, May 15, 2022, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)

Ana Colesnicov and William Lyons during dress rehearsal of the Santa Monica College Opera Theatre production of "Die Fledermaus" at The Broad Stage on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)

George Froehlig (center) and cast during dress rehearsal of the Santa Monica College Opera Theatre production of "Die Fledermaus" at The Broad Stage on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)

Music Director Mercedes Juan Musotto leads the cast warm-up before dress rehearsal of the Santa Monica College Opera Theatre production of "Die Fledermaus" at The Broad Stage on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)

Lynne Wang and cast during performance of the Santa Monica College Opera Theatre production of "Die Fledermaus" at The Broad Stage on Friday, May 20, 2022, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)

Rose Lodewick, Egan Carroll, and Lynne Wang during performance of the Santa Monica College Opera Theatre production of "Die Fledermaus" at The Broad Stage on Friday, May 20, 2022, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)

Rose Lodewick during rehearsal of the Santa Monica College Opera Theatre production of "Die Fledermaus" at the SMC Performing Arts Center on Sunday, May 15, 2022, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)

Egan Carroll and cast during rehearsal of the Santa Monica College Opera Theatre production of "Die Fledermaus" at the SMC Performing Arts Center on Sunday, May 15, 2022, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)

Ana Colesnicov during dress rehearsal of the Santa Monica College Opera Theatre production of "Die Fledermaus" at The Broad Stage on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)

Music Director Mercedes Juan Musotto and Director Janelle DeStefano after two run-throughs of the Santa Monica College Opera Theatre production of "Die Fledermaus" at the SMC Performing Arts Center on Sunday, May 15, 2022, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)

Martin Cohen practices his lines on the loading dock of The Broad Stage before dress rehearsal of the Santa Monica College Opera Theatre production of "Die Fledermaus" on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)

Jennifer Ziegelman and Music Director Mercedes Juan Musotto talk to Director Janelle DeStefano over Zoom during dress rehearsal of the Santa Monica College Opera Theatre production of "Die Fledermaus" at The Broad Stage on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)

A scene of the Santa Monica College Opera Theatre production of "Die Fledermaus" at The Broad Stage on Friday, May 20, 2022, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)

Deonté Allen during performance of the Santa Monica College Opera Theatre production of "Die Fledermaus" at The Broad Stage on Friday, May 20, 2022, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)

A scene from the Santa Monica College Opera Theatre production of "Die Fledermaus" at The Broad Stage on Friday, May 20, 2022, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)

Music Director Mercedes Juan Musotto holds a phone with Director Janelle DeStefano connected on Zoom, so that Dr. DeStefano can talk to the cast on opening night of the Santa Monica College Opera Theatre production of "Die Fledermaus" at The Broad Stage on Friday, May 20, 2022, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)

Janelle DeStefano, Director of Santa Monica College Opera Theatre, during rehearsal of "Die Fledermaus" at the SMC Performing Arts Center on Sunday, May 15, 2022, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Opera Theatre prepares for their production of Johann Strauss II’s The Bat (Die Fledermaus), despite COVID-19 scares that nearly halted the program. Days before their performance, theatre director Janelle DeStefano had tested positive for COVID-19 forcing her to drop out of the final rehearsals. Despite that roadblock, the opera was able to go on as originally planned. The performances were held on Friday May 20, 2022 and Saturday, May 21 at The Broad Stage, with two alternating casts. Music director Mercedes Juan Musotto conducted from the piano.