She’s a dreamer: simple, sweet, and shy. She calls herself Mimì, even though it’s not actually her name. She spends her days embroidering flowers and her nights longing for springtime. And she is very much alone and on her own. Literally in search of light – a match for her only candle – she instead finds happiness and friendship with a band of young Parisian bohemians – a handsome but insecure poet, a philosopher, a painter, a musician, and a good-time girl. Briefly, Mimì and Rodolfo make a place of love for themselves – until jealousy and poverty prevail. Eventually she succumbs to tuberculosis – the scourge of the underclass – but she is never consumed by self-pity, and she dies surrounded by those we love her.

For more info, www.operasj.org (408) 437-4450 April 23- May 8, 2011 California Theatre