Zuleyka V. Benitez
Zuleyka V. Benitez received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Virginia Tech and MFA from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Benitez taught drawing at Iowa State University and the University of Missouri at St. Louis and has lectured extensively on narrative art. She has exhibited her drawings and paintings internationally and is included in numerous national and private collections. In addition to producing fine art, she works as a designer, decorative painter, and builder. Benitez has designed six productions for Haymarket Opera Company.
While we may not have a proscenium theater for this performance, we are fortunate to have the sumptuous curtains painted by artist Zuleyka V. Benitez. These curtains are fit for a baroque masterpiece like Handel’s Acis and Galatea, and add a touch of baroque opulence to begin this performance and kick off Haymarket’s 10th Anniversary Season!
Q&A with Zuleyka V. Benitez
Q: What do you do for Haymarket and how will you be involved in this production?
ZVB: I have Worked for Haymarket Opera designing and building sets and props. In Apollo and Acis I will paint the backdrops that will be displayed on the LED panels.
Q: What do you love about the operas? Do you have a favorite moment or piece of music from them?
ZVB: I love the suspension of belief and the ability to live on through transformation.
Q: What is the biggest challenge in presenting Haymarket in HD? What are you most excited about?
ZVB: The biggest challenge is working in the studio alone. Set building is such a cooperative and physical experience, I miss complaining about the dust! I am excited about seeing how Garry will put this all together.
Q: Where are you drawing inspiration from? Are you drawing from other films? Other Haymarket productions?
ZVB: I always look to historical works and value the Drottningholm archives and the film work of the Baroque Theatre of Versailles.
Q: How does this production continue Haymarket’s unique stamp of early opera conventions?
ZVB: The traditions of Baroque staging are observed in our productions. The back scenic and side sliding shutters are a Baroque convention.The LED panels are assembled in this fashion to give a nod to the traditional layout.
Q: These operas center around a theme of forced transformation. How has the pandemic forced you to change? Have there been any silver linings?
ZVB: I am still looking for the silver lining! I do think we will look back and find that we have all developed fabulous emotional muscles.
Q: As it’s Haymarket’s 10th anniversary, do you have a favorite Haymarket memory?
ZVB: My best memories all involve set and prop building with master carpenter Russell Wagner. We harvested wood from dumpsters, rolled a life sized donkey through the neighborhood and worked long hard hours with and without beer.
The center panels of LED screens are flanked by two corresponding side panels — very much in line with the perspective scenic designs of baroque period. Pictured here is a side curtain which accompanies the grand center curtain panel.
To capture the bucolic setting of Handel’s Acis and Galatea, Zuleyka V. Benitez designed an opening scene complete with these pastoral sheep, fitting for the Shepherd Acis. This panel is another of the side panels flanking the performers, with original paintings illuminated on LED screens.
See Zuleyka’s work on Acis and Galatea and Apollo e Dafne - Get your tickets now!