A topic that is especially prevalent today that I think would make a good opera is the refugee crisis. I think that the opera would be a radical medium to look at this issue through because the people who attend the opera tend to be wealthy and have the power to use their money to help refugees. In the same way that Mozart’s The Magic Flute had a message of embracing reason based thought and ideas of the enlightenment, my opera would have a message of a call for morality towards refugees.

My first scene would show a young girl named Ranim who lives a normal life in Syria. Happy, flute heavy music plays. The costumes consist of normal clothes that Syrian people wear. The stage is bright, to portray a sunny day. Ranim would be seen going to school, her mom handing her a packed lunch and giving her a kiss goodbye for the day. She goes to school and learns in class. She is a smart girl and has a lot of potential. She is handed back her math test and she has gotten a high mark, her teacher shoots her a wide grin- she is proud of her. Ranim goes to recess with her friends and they play in the schoolyard. Their favorite game is four square and they bounce the ball to each others, laughing and having a good time. Ranim is smart, happy, and has a lot of potential. The scene fades out.

The second scene shows Ranim a few years later. She is older now and wears a hijab. She looks visibly weathered and a her disposition seems saddened. The music is forlorn, heavy violin. The lighting is darker and there is some smoke across the stage to show how everything is very dusty and broken. She is seen taking care of her younger siblings, rather than going to school. They are dirty and have torn clothes. The set is altered, buildings in the background are crumbling and everything appears to be in a general setting of disrest.

a painting I did of how I want Ranim to look in scene 2

The third scene shows Ranim and her siblings at night, they are clamoring onto a life raft that is appears to already be at capacity. The music is frantic and high pitched, the stage is dark. It is raining and the set will have a moving background to show the large waves and stormy weather.

The fourth scene shows Ranim and her siblings at a refugee camp. She meets other kids her age and plays cards with them. She is wearing mismatched clothing that was given to her. The music is hopeful and upbeat, there is a fire pit on the stage, but otherwise it is dark with a single spotlight on Ranim. She has a tinge of a smile on her face. She is hopeful that things will get better.

Topic – Consumerism & Automation due to Corporate Greed

Moral – Humans offer unique values that a machine and automation could never replicate.

Conflict – More and more humans are being expelled from their jobs and replaced by machines in order to increase production.

Characters –

1. Adam – the sole remainder of G.R.E.E.D. Inc.
2. Boss – the overseer to G.R.E.E.D.
3. E.V.E – The main assistant within G.R.E.E.D Inc.

Plot –

Scene 1: Adam is working within his cubicle diligently when suddenly a message from Boss pops up on his computer. (Messages on computers would be projected onto a main screen set above the stage, for the audience to see). The message states “Please see Boss on level 100 for further instructions.” Adam reflects on the strangeness of this request, he hasn’t left his cubicle in years, due to the Boss’ requirements for the employees. Adam gets up for the first time, and looks to his left and right, and sees there is no longer anyone around him. Adam walks to the edge of the room, and taps the button for E.V.E. to ask for directions. EVE lights up, and explains to Adam that the Boss can be reached through the elevator. Adam needs directions because everything has changed around him while he’s been plugged in. EVE directs him to the stairs.

Scene 2: The stage rotates as Adam walks, and he reaches a staircase and walks up, speaking about the history of the company. He began working there when he was very young, and one day the employees were told that they were no going to be plugged into their computers in order to increase efficiency. The company was always looking to be efficient, and now Adam wonders where everyone else has gone. He encounters more EVE screens as he walks. Whenever he gets near an EVE screen, the same robotic voice pops up and asks “Is there any way I can assist you today?” Eventually, Adam reaches the top of the stairs and is met with a large double door.

Scene 3: Inside, it is dark and there is a large screen in the center of the room. Adams walks around and calls to the boss, but no one answers. Finally, he reaches to the screen and taps the glass. It lights up a bright binding light, and a robotic voice of his old boss comes to life. The boss explains to him that over the years they have found more and more ways of being efficient, and thankfully Adam can now help them achieve this goal even more. The boss tells Adam that instead of working for the company, he would now be replaced, just like all of his coworkers, with an automated computer that could accomplish his job 1,000% faster than he ever could! Adam is taken aback, and tries to protest, but is instead directed out by an EVE. On his way out, Adam sees an outlet, and traces the plug back to the Boss. Acting impulsively, he unplugs the machine, and suddenly all of the EVE machines, and the boss all go dark. Adam stumbles out of the building, realizing there’s no hope in staying in the company. The stage rotates again as Adam walks.

Scene 4: Adam reaches the outside of the office, and finds other humans walking out of other buildings around him. The humans join together, realizing they had all been replaced, and yet there is a sense of comfort as they walk off together, searching for a better future without the mess of machines to get in their way.

Set – The set is a rotating circle similar to what we saw in the Magic Flute. There are four main components, beginning with a series of cubicles where Adam begins in the center. You can see one cubicle on either side of him, and another row across from him. There is a giant screen floating above Adam in which the words from the screens is projected for the audience to see. The next rotation is a series of stairwells for Adam to go up and down in his journey to see his Boss. The next rotation is the boss’s office, with the same giant screen acting as the Boss, only it is lowered down now to be at Adam’s eyelevel. The next rotation is several tall structures on either side with office fronts, with a street in the middle.

Costumes – Adam is the sole character in the opera, and he is dressed in a full suit, similar to something you would see on Wall Street in NYC. When he goes outside and finally sees other humans, they are all dressed in similar business attire.

Music – The music is very robotic, and acts as a theme behind Adam as he goes on his journey. There is excited music when he is in the stairwells, slow and ominous music when he reaches the boss, sad music when he is fired, and hopeful music playing on his journey outside. When he is outside, there is natural, soft sounds and even sounds of birds.

Lighting – The lighting is often dark and ominous. The screens and the stairwells are starkly bright and luminescent as an office building would be. There are no colors or warm hues in the lighting, only cold vibes. The lighting in the scene with the boss is completely dark, with light coming from the screen and a spotlight on Adam. When he gets outside, that is the only case where there is warmth and a sense of natural lighting.

Reflection – I had a very good time writing this opera! The biggest struggle for me was coming up with an idea that is reflective of modern fears. I decided on net neutrality at first, and that’s where I got into the idea of using computers as a “character”. Then, I wanted to say something about the struggle between efficiency and complete automation, which many people are worried that one day there will be robots for all of the jobs we hold today as humans. I wanted the message to be hopeful, and that’s why the overlying moral is that there is nothing like human touch in the world, and that is something that a robot will never be able to accomplish. I used Adam as the name to reflect the first and now possibly LAST human on earth, because he is at least the last human within the company. EVE is also a reference to the story of creation as an aid to Adam for that reason. I had fun coming up with the dystopian future, and it’s terrifying and yet I like the idea that no matter how bad the world becomes, there will always be somewhere to walk away to, and move back into a brighter future, because at the end of the day humans still have empathy and compassion towards one another, and will be able to begin anew.

Societal Problem:

Education is a part of everyone’s life and is an issue because it causes stress, inhibits creativity, and encloses kids in an isolated bubble for a large part of a person’s day. Creativity, for some, is natural and for others, it is something which they need work hard to acquire. It is a very valuable skill to have and helps a person in life tremendously. For this reason, I am choosing this as the central theme behind the opera. It relates to everyone on some level and could intrigue a person to learn more about the topic through the conceptualization of the problem at hand. In order to relate to the audience, I will be talking about classic stereotypical

The Plot of Educational Harmony:

In the 7^th grade, there were terrible things happening in the small enclosed world where the teacher, John Piccolo, demands silence and imposes his equations on the kids. Larry and Christine, who are students of John, are tired of the same boring teaching and want to leave the class. But, if they try to leave the classroom they get a point deducted from their standardized tests which will RUIN their lives. They start whispering to each other and Alyssa, another student, tells John that they’re talking while he’s teaching. This results in the separation of Larry and Christine to the corners of the room where they can’t talk or even see each other. The bell rings and they meet each other in the hall and head to lockers which are all identical. While they’re about to head to the next class they get confronted by the principal of the school and get asked for him to come with him. What could it be? Are they in trouble? Was it from John’s class or was it from something else they did?

                           ACT ONE

Scene: The principal’s office, he rushes in with the two students.

(The lights brighten and they sit in a small cubicle with no windows)

Principal Conner: Please take a seat; I would like to speak to you guys about your clothes.

Larry: Yeah, What about them?

Principal Conner: For one, you guys aren’t following school policy of a blue button-down with cream pants. Instead, you (pointing at Larry) are wearing a sweatshirt with blue pants and you (pointing to Christine) are wearing a white T-shirt with jeans.

Christine: With all due respect, this school is making us into robots where all of us look and act the same without any room for being ourselves. Even our lockers are ruined.

Larry: Yeah! The teachers also act like prison guards and we never learn anything that we like.

(the bell rings and a song is being played while everyone is making their way to class. The song is a woman singing “Please go to class because there is no late pass”)

Principal Conner: Ahhhh, I love this song, it reminds me of when I was a kid. Alright (he bangs on the table), you guys get to class and come back at the end of the day. I’m not done with you guys.

(The lights dim and while they’re setting up the desks for the next class, the song “Another Brick in the Wall” by Pink Floyd is being played)

                                             ACT TWO

(The lights brighten the desks are set up like a square with the teacher at the head of one the squares)

(The screeching of the chalkboard is heard and the students are cringing their teeth)

Math teacher: Hello everyone, does anyone want to summarize our last class? Jill? Shawn? Anyone? (face is turning red) OK. Since nobody wants to answer; we will be having a pop quiz. You have 10 minutes to complete it.

(Mozart’s Requiem is playing while they take the quiz as well as the loud sounds of the clock ticking)

(Christine and Larry finish early and hand in their papers)

Math teacher: Wow!!! You guys finished quickly, are you sure you want to hand this in now?

Christine and Larry: YES

Math teacher: Ok, since you guys are so confident, let me grade it right now!!!!(chuckles to himself)

(Starts rambling to himself in an angry tone and students start biting their nails and sweating)

(Beethoven’s 5^th symphony starts playing)

Math Teacher: Get to the principal’s office, you guys did terribly.

                                                      ACT THREE

(The lights dim slightly and a flowery scent fills the air)

Principal Conner: Hey guys, good to have you guys back here. As I was saying before, you guys are out of school dress code and I applaud you for your creativity. I would like you guys to work on a petition for advocating creativity. I don’t want standardized testing, a school dress code, or the classrooms to be indoors anymore. Rather, it will be outdoors and more interactive. Are you guys ready such a task?

(Both staring at each other in shock, they nod their heads and smile)

Christine: I think we would love to take up such an offer and have a chance to say what we want for once.

Principal Conner: Thank you guys; the instructions to do all these tasks are outlines on this paper and you guys have to follow school procedure as well.

Larry: We look forward to the change which we could offer this school and potentially many others.

(lights are out and all the actors line up in a row to bow to the audience)

                                                 THE END

         The costumes are the uniforms which I described above which play a large role in conceptualizing the way that education and its environment inhibits creativity. This all starts from the morning of any person. When putting on something which one is told to put on it is very different than picking it yourself. It takes away from one’s own identity. Furthermore, the lockers are the same color to convey the same message. Additionally, the stage sets in a school full of the classic school look. But, the rooms don’t have windows which really shows the “jailed” environment that the students grow up in for the majority of their childhood. The music is very diverse with a different song and artist for each one to try to familiarize the audience with the diversity, which is needed for creativity. The lights are bright for the majority of the time to show how blinding it could be to be part of a set education your whole life without thinking outside of the box for even a moment. These lights are bright throughout the opera except for the last scene. In the last scene, the lights are dimmed to normal lighting to show the new perspective which is shown when the principal wants to advocate creativity in his school. This opera isn’t a solution to the problem but is a conceptualization of school problems. Whether it’s the same uniform, a lack of self-esteem or an inhibition of creativity, schools need to start changing for the better by offering more interactive areas. I once heard that when an art piece has a set definition it is dead. This hit home for me because it showed me that my opera could have much interpretation and even though I made this myself that doesn’t mean that other ideas can’t stem from such a “masterpiece”. I hope you enjoyed!!!!

By: Alon Bezalel

Description: This opera will tell the story of a modern-day middle class family, who have decided to take a family vacation to tour the United States in an RV.

The Characters:

1. Joseph- The Father
2. Rachel- The Mother
3. Alex- Oldest Son
4. Nancy- Middle daughter
5. Grace- Youngest daughter

Costume, Set, Music, Lighting: Each character in this opera will be dressed in modern costumes. Joseph will be dressed in a suit or casual kakis and Rachel will be dressed in a sundress or jeans. The children will be dressed in modern children’s clothes, such as sweatshirts, jeans, t-shirts, or anything else comfortable and casual. The opera will open up to a set of a living room, but as the family makes their plans the set changes to the outside of an RV. The scenes will differ based on which state they are passing through. There will be scenes and sets taking place inside the RV, as well as sets of historical landmarks or any other notable destination along the way. The orchestra will play according to the plot of the scene. As the family enjoys their time together, upbeat music will play as they sing the lyrics. As the family fights over meaningless issues, the orchestra will play solemn, angry music. The lighting will change based on which sets are being used, as well as which characters are on stage. The lighting will mostly be bright, but will mimic the states and weather in which they pass through.

Act 1:

Scene 1: The set will open up to a living room, as the entire family sits around and plays a board game. The father begins to sing of his pain, explaining that he misses his family and wants to spend more time with them. Rachel comes up with the fantastic idea that her family should travel across the country in an RV, in order to spend more quality family time together. The teenagers, Alex and Nancy, begin to complain because they do not want to spend so much time in a small space. The scene ends with the children complaining and whining, while their parents are very excited to begin their vacation together.

Scene 2-3: Scenes two and three consist of the family loading the RV, and getting on the road. Scene two will be set inside the RV, giving insight on how the family is feeling, as well as shining comedic relief on the entire opera. Scene three will be their first stop on the trip, New York City. There should be comedy added into this scene as the family try to make their way through the city traffic. There would be a scene of the family shopping, and interacting with regular New Yorkers. The Scene ends as the family loads back into the RV.

Act 2:

Scene 4-5: Scene four will consist of the family stopping in Texas, and visiting the Alamo. As this is the first time the family has been in Texas, they begin to learn about the culture and normalities in the South. The next scene will consist of the family arriving at Grand Canyon, the teenagers continue to complain that the trip is not fun and they want to go home. Their parents try their best to entertain them with no success.

Scene 6: The final scene will take place in Los Angeles, California, where the family will end their vacation and relax on the beach. The teenagers fall in love with the warm weather and style of California, that they refuse to leave. The family had planned to drive the RV back to New York, but instead stay an extra week in California and take a plane back.

End of Opera.

Conclusion: I feel as though comedic operas are the most interesting to watch. The Magic Flute was so fun to watch, due to the comedy that was placed into each scene. I feel as though a performance, like The Nutcracker, that is easy to follow are the best to watch. This opera would mirror the Nutcracker in the way that is presents different cultures and styles in each scene. This opera would demonstrate the different lives and cultures in each state, as the family visits them. I really enjoyed the Magic Flute, and I hope I am able to attend another opera performance soon.

Lile Ruggiero

Go Back to Nature

Topic: Nature and preserving the environment

Scene: in an clearing in the first behind Lily’s house in the Spring

Cast:

Lily: She is a little girl around the age of 7 or 8 who finds herself walking around her backyard and wanders off into the little forest behind her house.

Tree: A large tree that stand in the clearing in the small forest behind Lily’s house. He can talk and in fact speaks ti Lily when they encounter each other.

Costume:

Lily will be wearing normal clothes as any 7 or 8 year old girl would wear. Shorts and a t-shirt because the story does take place in the Spring and it is warm outside.

The Tree will the standing tall, full with long branches and big leaves

Stage Sets:

The opera is set in a small forest behind Lily’s house. The play begins with Lily walking around her backyard equipped with swings and a slide. She then finds herself walking into the forest which calls for a scene change. The new set consists of many full green trees with long branches. There is a small clearing in the middle where one large tree stands tall.

Music:

Waltz of the Flowers by Tchaikovsky

The Four Seasons by Vivaldi

Lighting:

In the first scene while Lily is still in her backyard, there should be a lot of lighting, it is a cheerful Spring day. There should be a lot of light but an even stronger light shining on Lily.

In the second scene when Lily walks into the forest, there should be less light. The trees surrounding her should be gradually fading into the dark with the clearing with the Tree in the middle lit well.

Synopsis:

Scene I:

Waltz of the Flowers by Tchaikovsky plays

Lily is seen walking around her backyard, there are swings and a slide but none of those toys interest her. She continues to walk around taking notice of the flowers and trees around her. She slowly wanders into the woods behind her house where her and her Father have walked many times before.

End of Scene

Scene II:

Waltz of the Flowers by Tchaikovsky plays followed by Four Seasons by Vivaldi

Lily walks into the forest and enters a clearing where a large magnificent tree stands. Lily walks around the tree multiple times and chooses to sit down on the side of the the tree. As she sits and thinks Lily starts to pull at one of the leaves on the tree. A soft “Ow!” is heard soon after. Lily looks up startled. On the tree have appeared a face! The Tree apologizes to her and introduces himself as “Tree”. Lily is still startles but introduces herself as well. The tree goes on to apologize again for scaring her but she did indeed hurt him. Lily apologizes then as well for hurting him and is shocked that such a small thing like picking off a leaf could hurt such a big strong tree like him. He reassures her that the smallest of things can hurt him, so when humans do things like pollute the air or chop trees down, the pain he feels is unbearable!

From here on Tree and Lily continue to have a conversation about that pain that he feels that is inflicted on him by humans. Lily constantly apologizes for everything but he reassures her its is not solely her fault or her fault at all. Tree explains to Lily how pollution works and how with every car we drive and air condition we blast, we are hurting the environment. He tells her about how all of the harmful chemicals that humans use everyday eventually end up back in the soil and hurt him. Tree therefore cannot work as hard and fast as he once could to clean the air so that humans can use it. Lily is confused and upset because she finds it so easy for people to change and simply recycle to make the world a better place. Tree tells her that if all people were as kind and thoughtful as her that they could  truly save the planet. Lily tells Tree all about how she has a blue and black garbage can outside her house but her neighbors don’t and asks Tree if that will help. He tells her than any little thing that she does will help him and all her friends. Lily then thanks Tree for all that he has taught her and vows that she will help save his home as much as she can and runs off to tell her neighbors to recycle.

Conclusion:

The cute little story that this opera would show is the simplicity of understanding the problem that faces each and every one of us which is the destruction of our natural world and environment. The dialogue that the Tree and Lily share shows how easy it is to understand the problem and how small things can eventually make a huge difference. Lily’s frustration also shows this because she realizes how easy it could be to make a change while we the adults take no such initiative to truly help our environment. The opera is a simple one but it would be made this way to send a message to the audience that the answer to our environmental problems is simple, we just need to commit to changing and follow through with what we know has to be done. I think that the state of our environment is a very hot pressing issue today that is confronted with a lot of protest and frustration. Because of this, I believe a calming simple opera like this one would provide a change of pace that might actually speak to some people and get my message through to hopefully inspire environmental change in some peoples hearts.

Present Day Topic: Homelessness and having hope

Scene: Alleyway; Football feild

Cast:

(J) John – Homeless Man

(A) Anne – Lady

Lighting: Dark centered around these two characters; Natural lighting

Backstory: John has been homeless for the past 15 years due to the fact that we had to pay off medical bills and had major debt issues. John has no idea how to get back on his feet and seeks shelter in a dark alley where we barely feed himself and easily gets sick. Anne walks by and notices the man in deep despair so she decides to flip his life around.

Storyline:

Scene 1:

John: What will I ever do? I am lonely, homeless, hungry and have no clue on how to get back on my feet. This just isn’t fair, I make enough money to buy a pack of chips for breakfast lunch and dinner. I’ve starved myself for 15 years straight. This is all because of that stupid football injury. I should’ve just been smart and took the day off, relaxed a little. No, no, no, no. This just isn’t fair; can someone help me!?

Thunder strikes, rain begins to pour onto John who beings to weeps

Anne: Hello? Is anyone there? I know there’s a man here! I’ve noticed you ever since I was little. I just want to give you some lunch, I figured you were hungry. Please show yourself!

…………….

Anne: Okay! If you need anything my name is Anne, I just want to help!

John: Hello…..

Anne: Hello sir, my name is Anne. I’ve been keeping my eye on you ever since I was a toddler and was trying to drop by because I wanted to help. Every day I saw you struggled with trying to get a proper meal so I wanted to help out little by little.

John: I do appreciate the food but I am not in need of food, I need a job. I’m a retired NFL player with a degree in engineering and I’m trying to get back on my feet just so I can make ends meet again.

Anne: John TeHowen right? Yes, I do know you. That’s why I’m here.

John: Of course, another person coming here to laugh in my face, be gone!

Anne: No John, my father has been a huge fan of you for the longest and when he heard you were injured and retired from an off-season accident it broke his heart. Then we sw you one day and it tore him apart that his favorite player was now homeless. I’m here to offer you a chance to get back on your feet, in football.

John: But how, I’m retired and too old.

Anne; Follow me.

Enter High School Gym with John and Anne

Scene 2:

Anne: John, this is my old high school. 4-time national football champs, but sadly their coach has retired and they need someone new. Someone with experience. This is where you come in. 3 time NFL champ with 104 touchdowns in one season, surpassing any previous record. C’mon John give it a chance.

John: Boy I don’t know, I’ve been out for a while I don’t even remember the game the same.

Anne: Let’s find out…

Scene 3:

John begins coaching the high school team. They lose their first game and the team begins to lose hope in John. The first lost in 4 years. But John rebounds, learning play by play and dusting off his old skills. Slowly but surely the boys win the state championship, but that’s not all, they went on to nationals where they face their all-time rivals who haven’t been present in nationals in 6 years. John takes every old play he made and reenacts it into the national game. John is now a national football champion. He went on to coaching college and then back into the NFL.

Conclusion:

After watching, The Magic Flute, I was happy that this assignment was given to us. It gave us the chance to really show off the creativity we have built up throughout the semester. Overall, in my opera, I wanted to give off the same ending as the opera we watched had, a happy ending. I made sure to make it a super sad story that later on progresses into this inspirational opera on never giving up and really having hope in all cases. Overall, I think the lighting in the alley really sets off the beginning mood of being sad and having no hope and then the natural lighting of the outdoors for the rest of the opera shows that life can really turn around. Overall, the opera was a great experience and if I had more time I definitely think this opera can be another cliché football movie that comes out every year.

Kevin Hasa

Title: InterColors

Topic: Breaking the Traditional Couple Image/Interracial Couples

Costume: Nude undergarments with painted bodies (red and blue)

Stage Sets:

• Bridge: colorful, almost trippy like, swirling patterns
• Red Clan: variations of red structures
• Blue Clan: variations of blue structures

Lighting:

• Each clan has same over casting light as their clan/skin (red or blue)
• Lighting near bridge: multi, swirling colors

Characters:

1. Boy: Demetrius
   1. Blue
   2. Son of clan leader
2. Girl: Adeline
   1. Red
   2. Average member of clan
3. Parents of both main characters
4. Fiancee: Pamela
   1. Blue
   2. Daughter of high official of clan

Scene 1:

The scene opens with the girl, Adeline, standing on the opposite side of a multicolored bridge while the boy, Demetrius, stands on the other side. The girl is covered with red paint while the boy is covered in blue. The two notice each other from either side and begin walking towards each other, aiming to meet in the middle. They begin to sing about the awe and curiosity they are feeling for each other. Once they meet in the middle, they are both too scared to talk to each other so they just continue to stare. Without knowing it, their love for each other had been established. The two are about to touch finger tips noticing a swirl of colors run along their finger tips before a bell rings signaling that midnight had come. The two exchange names and run back to their respective sides to go back home.

Scene 2:

Demetrius arrives home greeting his family who happens to be the leaders of the blue clan. His father goes on describing the wedding plans they have for his arranged marriage with Pamela (the daughter of a high official of the blue clan) that will take place in two days. Demetrius then tells his parents about his encounter with the red girl, Adeline, but is met with anger and a warning that mixing with another colored clan will lead to disease and exile. His father goes on to telling a story of one clan member that mixed with a purple clan member and ended up being exiled and soon died there after being with the purple girl. Demetrius ignores his father’s story and storms off. In his room, Demetrius sings a song of worry about the repercussions he may face if he continues to see Adeline. In the end, he realizes that his father’s story may just be false and decides that he shall run away with Adeline.The scene cuts to Adeline singing the same song of worry, but chooses that she too will run away with Demetrius.

Scene 3:

The next day, late at night, Adeline and Demetrius meet again at the multicolored bridge. They sing a love song about how they will not listen to the rumors and warnings of their family and will run away together. Once they reach the middle of the bridge, the two finally share a kiss and suddenly the color of their skin matches the swirling colors of the bridge thus realizing their parents’ stories were false. The two clans run to the bridge and see the two lovers and their new skin and gasp with horror. Adeline and Demetrius sing a song to soothe their fellow clan members and tell them that they are fine and feel no such pain or disease. The two clans join them on the bridge and two children from each clan also meet in the middle. A blue child holds his hand out to the red child. As they join hands, their hands change into the swirling colors of the bridge. They smile and the clans soon realize that the rumors and horror stories were false and realize that prejudice and hatred for one another were useless baseless.

Reflection:

As our country and world is evolving and becoming somewhat more accepting, I wanted to create this opera focusing on the evolution of the image of couples and, in specific, interracial couples. I personally come from a very traditional family who believes that we should date and marry within the same culture; however, I have personally went against this by dating someone outside of my culture. Creating this opera shows that love and being with someone is more than just sharing the same cultural aspects. The two clans and their colors represent two different cultures. The multicolored bridge symbolizes the idea that ultimately, although we may all be different, we can all join together and mix. I found that dating and being with someone is about getting to know them on a deeper level than just the color of their skin or the culture they come from. We see numerous of interracial couples now and numerous of other couples that are breaking the traditional image of lovers. This opera aims to show the viewers that love is more than just sharing the same traditions and culture. Love is about loving another individual for their personality, character, and their being rather than their background.

Claire Ng

Cue the orchestra. Dim the lights. Everyone please silence your cell phones. Tonight, you’re in for the treat of a lifetime. Tonight, ladies and gentleman, you are part of the show.

This entire opera will be performed by incredibly talented IMPROV actors.  As you were walking into the theater tonight, they were the ones dressed in red, scanning your tickets. They were sorting through the crowd and picking people to imitate. Once they chose their character, they returned backstage and with the help of our makeup artists and costume designers, transformed. None of the actors were allowed to speak to each other. Prior to role selection, they drew straws. The one with the shortest gets to perform first. Everyone else must follow their lead.

So, let’s see where this goes.

Act I

Scene I

Two rooms can be seen – a dark bedroom and a small, open-concept living room/kitchen. A spotlight flickers on, and a woman is seen sitting at the table. Her head is bent and she’s pulling at her hair. Suddenly, with bright eyes, she looks up and begins to sing.

“I’ve been dreaming of…. I’ve been dreaming of…. I’ve been dreaming of… Actually, if I’m being quite honest, I haven’t really been dreaming. My daily glass…”

She is interrupted by a man’s voice.

“You mean bottle”

“No. I mean glass. Of red. It knocks me out so well that I don’t dream.”

“Surprise. Surprise.”

“Cool it will you.”

“No. My wife is an alcoholic who can’t acknowledge her issues.”

“That’s not even close to true.”

“Karen, you knock out every night on the couch, or on the floor, with a bottle of wine in front of you. Every night, you drink an entire bottle and fall asleep out here.”

“That’s not true.”

“Yes, it is. Tell me, when was the last time you fell asleep beside me in bed. When was the last time, you woke up smiling at me, instead of with a pulsing migraine.”

“I don’t lie in bed with you because you’re a lousy man.”

“How am I lousy? I’ve been trying to take care of you.”

“Bullshit. You ignore me.”

“Is that what I’m doing right now? Talking to you, telling you how I feel, is that all me ignoring you?”

“Go away.”

“No. I love you.”

“You don’t love me.”

“I do. And I know you love me too.”

“That’s where you’re wrong.”

“I’m sorry?”

“You heard me. I don’t love you.”

Scene II

The stage is bland – one single bench is situated in front of a monochromatic green background. There is no one in sight. In the distance, laughing children and barking dogs can be heard. Suddenly, the stage grows three times brighter. The lights come on and a man appears on stage. He is dressed in a t-shirt, khaki shorts, yellow converse, and a Houston Astros cap. He walks over to the bench and sprawls out on it. He pulls the cap, down and covers his face. A young boy walks over and nudges him.

 “Sir, please move. Sir, wake up. Sir!!! Okay, that’s it. If you don’t budge, I’m going to sit on you. And I’m pretty heavy.”

“Shut up kid. You look like you weigh five pounds.”

“HEY! How can you see me with that hat covering your face?”

“So, I was right? You’re a skinny little one. Your voice gave it away.”

“Your logic doesn’t make any sense.”

“It does. And I’m not moving. So, goodbye kid. Get lost.”

“No.”

“What do you mean no? Scram.”

The boy climbs up on the bench rail and sits on the man’s legs. He smirks. The man removes his hat and lifts up his head, less than an inch, to look at the child. The boy is grinning right at him. Before the man can say anything, a petite brunette runs onto the stage. She goes straight for the child and pulls him off the man.

“Hi Mom.”

“Don’t hi mom me. You just ran off and sat on a strange man.”

The man sits up. The woman turns her eyes to apologize to him and they lock eyes. A sense of familiarity washes over both of them.

 “Ben?”

“Jessica?”

Scene III

 The stage is illuminated by tiny little string lights. Two teenage boys are sitting on opposite ends of a room, both strumming their respective guitars. One has a harsher sound. It sounds like it is being plucked, rather than played. The other is gentle. Like a harp.

The spotlight focuses in on the boy with the softer melody. He sings “If only…” He stands up and walks to the middle of the stage. The boy with the harsher sound sings “Why?” He walks toward the middle of the stage as well. The boys are facing, yet they cannot see each other.  

Intermission

 As Act II commences, we see the marriage of the first two individuals crumble. The wife enrolls in AA (Alcoholics Anonymous), but after a few months, her husband leaves her. As for the young boy, his mother, and the man on the bench, a huge secret was revealed. They weren’t former lovers, as many would suspect, but rather brother and sister, who due to family complications, lost touch over the years. In regards to the two teenage musicians, they eventually meet. After being put in an English class together, they bond and fall in love.

It’s important to note that while these characters were inspired by members of the audience, it is no way a true and accurate representation of their lives. This opera is not rehearsed. It is 100% IMPROV. This performance is designed to be different. It is designed to be interactive. A different show every night. No one sees the same thing. A show is never duplicated.

I believe that is the future of opera. Like everything else in our society is subject to evolution. It is subject to change. A performance that is never repeated, that always offers something different, perfectly represents that.

-Alyssa Motilal

Scene I:

It opens up to the theatre, the spotlight following a young boy in a wheelchair up the aisle, the rips in his jeans and tears on his face visible to the members of the audience, and towards the stage. As he approaches it, he cries out, sobs wracking his entire body. He begins to ram himself into the side of the stage, his cries only growing louder and louder. Gently, a chorus begins to sing a ballad, drowning out his sobs in A minor. Soon they become muffled and he, like the audience, only gazes at the stage, its props, and curtains beyond his reach. He turns to a decrepit stairwell and back to his chair, and repeats the cries and resumes slamming his chair into the stage. The noises summon the security team and onlookers and, along with them, the stares and the constant pity in their eyes. He knows it’s there. He hates that it’s there. A mother is summoned, and gently, she guides him back up the aisle, away from the stage, away from his misery, away from his absolute joy. The theatre goes dark.

Scene II:

A screech and a crash ring loud and clear throughout the theatre and the single spotlight returns. The light shines on his fallen body and battered wheelchair, a crying mother standing over his body. He explains the broken ramp on the street curb and how he glided over the icy, decrepit cracks as he did a thousand times before. He whispers to her, I did not want to stop myself this time. She cries in C, stroking his head while he thinks in G of how he doesn’t want her to hurt for him. Slowly, she picks him up and places, confines he thinks, back into his chair and pushes him up and down the aisle, making sure to stay far from the stage. He mustn’t go there. A second light on the decrepit staircase, with its cracks and bumps, deny his presence. His spotlight darkens first and after the light lingers on the staircase, all in the theatre goes dark again.

Scene III:

An angelic voice breaks the silence in theatre and she descends in a heavenly aura until she calls for the lighting director to cut it out because it is a ridiculous cliché and she was just humming. Honestly, she tells him, I’m nowhere near an angel and you all know that. After that, she walks over to the wheelchair, takes her bionic hand, and smacks him across the face. She yells at him; WOULD YOU LIKE MY PITY AS WELL? She takes the look on his face for a no. She tosses her hair over her shoulder and offers him a hand. Her literal hand. She takes it off and tells him, I don’t have time to tell you my sob story and I don’t want to hear yours, but you and me, we’re pretty similar. She looks at the staircase and tells him she can’t get up there either. A light leaves her eyes as she says, the people do not favor our abilities buddy, they dis them, huh?  But she’s seen him at the stage, she tells him, he’s pretty good. Maybe good enough to change those people. He raises an eyebrow and before he knows it, her hand is back on and she’s pushing him down the aisle at the speed of light.

Scene IV:

They find themselves at the back of the theatre watching the dancers prance across the stage. In her hand, she holds a wooden panel; “don’t dis my ability,” it reads. She turns to him and gives him the go ahead. Suddenly he is moving and rolling faster and faster with the staircase in his direct path. Yet, he seems to not be stopping. The dancers have stopped to look, the security has done the same. In the chaos, they forget to stop him, and he collides with the staircase. Its cracked wood has shattered and its steps are spread across the floor. Slowly she marches past the people and approaches the stage, coming closer than they have ever been allowed. She looks back at him and flashes a grin, takes the wood, and leans it on the stage. He wheels over and, hand-in-hand, she guides him up the wobbling plank. For the third time, the theatre goes dark.

Scene V:

Pulling out all the dramatic stops, the curtains of the stage open. His silhouette takes center stage for an-all out musical phenomenon. The audience is not only hearing him, they are listening to him. He flies across the stage, feeling the beat, feeling his pulse rushing, but suddenly stops at the impromptu ramp. He rolls down through the cheering crowd towards her smug face. Not a bad job buddy she tells him. He asks for her hand, something he instantly regrets because she takes it off and puts it in his with an eye-roll. Funny, he tells her, but he pulls her arm and sits her with him and heads back towards the stage. He brings her up there too. Before she can tell him to knock it off, he pushes her off his lap; this isn’t a tacky romance, he reaffirms with a wink. Like most good endings, they come together for a final performance but this time all the lights and theatrics are gone. It is just them two under one spotlight pleading with the audience; listen they beg. We are all the same, they sing. Include us, build that ramp.

Reflecting

Looking back on this piece, as well as the curatorial one, I think of the importance of the issues regarding the inclusion of people with varying abilities. I chose not to include names of the characters or specifications so that everyone can fill in the blanks themselves, so-to-speak, and find a way to relate it to their own lives. Music is a great medium for connecting people to current issues and raising awareness and in a modern opera, it truly brings others’ reality to life. The topic of inclusion is not one that is spoken about, yet it affects the lives of millions daily. Often, it does not require a major change to accommodate those with different needs; it can be as simple as smoothing over the cracks on a street curb or lending a hand, or a heart, to those in need. We are all trying to make it in this world, some may need a bit more help, though, getting there. I think this piece emphasizes the importance of teamwork in creating a society that can come to love and embrace everyone, regardless of their abilities.