Montclair University’s John J. Cali School of Music is set to present “Dialogues of the Carmelites” this January.

The production, which opens on Jan. 27, 2024 and features an additional performance on the 28th, stars Clara Luz Iranzo and So Yeon Kim as Blanche. Other cast members include Hanbyeol Min, Abby Brodnick, Jackie Wick, Helena Waterous, Gabrielle Guida, Inhye Choi, Hojung Choi, Eric Sebek, Jairo Santana-Figueroa, and Deinol McGovern. It also features Barbara Dever as Madame de Croissy.

The work will be directed by Malena Dayen and conducted by Kyle Ritenauer. Costume and set design is by Kaye Voice with Sangmin Chae providing projection design. Finally, Benjamin Weill will be the lighting designer for the showcase.

“In this production of Poulenc’s masterpiece, we explore the life of the Carmelite nuns as they live and interact in the confines of their cloisters, focusing on their intimacy with faith and between themselves. The dialectics between that commitment and the inexorable passing of time, and the schisms of a changing world are at the center of this opera,” Dayen told OperaWire. “Together with the creative and musical team and the wonderful cast we are searching for the most direct way to stage these ‘dialogues’, that in addition of being an epic historical tragedy, are an intimate philosophical exploration of faith and humanity.”