Rusalka

Masters Capstone Project

Submitted to the Department of Theatre at Penn State University

Presented on April 22nd, 2025

A retelling of The Little Mermaid set in a kingdom by a lake the Czech Republic.The opera follows Rusalka, a lake spirit who falls in love with a prince and despite the warnings of her father, begs the forest witch Jesibaba to change her into a human. Through its simple story, Rusalka investigates what it means to be human, the dangers of becoming disconnected from nature, navigating cultural differences, and the intricacies of love and redemption.

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Technical Element - Rusalka Nyad Dress Build

Draped and constructed by Hilary Hayes

Base layer of silk duchess satin dipped dyed in acid dye

Overlayer of synthetic mesh fabric with hand appliquéd decorations

Next

Sweeney Todd