From the Files: UrbanArias and Unselfing
I’ve been thinking a lot about what makes us more whole humans - in my case, a girl cannot live on musicals alone and between lessons, coachings, auditions and worrying one can get overwhelmed and lost. “Unselfing” myself keeps me sane, and UrbanArias, DC’s contemporary opera company, is one of my whole-makers. If you don’t know the origin story of our little company it goes likes this: my friend Bob and I met as freshmen at Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music, and many years later found ourselves in DC at the same time. Bob, too, was looking to push his personal envelope and asked if I would help him found a company. Fast forward: UA has commissioned 5 new works, produced numerous world premieres and thrillingly recorded Gregory Spears’ and Kathryn Walat’s beautiful piece Paul’s Case (hello Grammy’s?)
Yes yes yes, I love to perform, but creating a space where others can do what they do best has its own rewards. We’re preparing for the upcoming revival of our very first work Glory Denied by Tom Cipullo - appropriately in the week following Veteran’s Day. I thought it might be fun to look back at my first post on the UA blog and relive the insanity of those early days. (A little context - I served not just as Board President, but that first season I also built sets, stitched costumes, ran props and served as dresser - that production of Glory Denied was fraught with quick changes.) UrbanArias continues to be one of my favorite things.
As we head into our second season, I am astounded by the talent we have amassed. I am also astounded by the hard work, dedication and far-thinking approach of my colleague (and, full disclosure) dear friend Bob Wood. And as a musician, I am also still astounded that he patiently got me through my piano final at good old Northwestern, and that he didn’t laugh too hard at me in conducting class as I stood at the podium, trying desperately to keep the horns in check and cue the violins without falling off the little step. Conducting is no joke, people; wait till you see Bob in action – watching him work is one of my favorite things.
I have been told to STAY AWAY from backstage (and backstage is definitely one of my favorite things) this year and let the people who are good at this kind of thing actually do their jobs; no more “Undercover Boss.” My duties last year included crew wrangling, mistress of the keys, organizing large and cumbersome instrument cases in small shared spaces, errand girl, caterer, wig control, steaming and pressing, minor stitching and the dreaded but exciting quick changes – with a great team and gracious actors it all worked out, but it’s a good thing my blood pressure is actually a little low. (If you do Insanity for a workout then you have an idea of what my life was like last season.) I loved being in the thick of it and making it all happen and I will miss it, but it is high time I left the running of that part of UrbanArias to our production stage manager for the season, the lovely Jocelyn Henjum, and our technical director Brad Porter. Brad was with us last season and was instrumental in figuring out how to hang the precipitous yet stunningly beautiful projection screen; clearly he can handle anything, and we’re very lucky to have him back.
A few more of my favorite things for the upcoming season:
· Vale Rideout More full disclosure – Vale was my Raoul in Phantom of the Opera in Hamburg, Germany a million years ago – “Raoul! Es ist nicht mehr vie fruher Raoul!” Never mind what it actually means – just know it makes Christine sound like a barking dog in a corset. Glad to be working with you again, friend.
· A workshop of our commission Positions 1956 (it’s a commission – how cool is that? – Conrad Cummings and Michael Korie are working as I type). This one of the main reasons we founded the company and it is gratifying to see our first effort get off the ground. More on this in my next post….
· Caroline Worra is coming back, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. If you had the good luck to see her in Glory Denied last year, you know she is a fantastic singing actress. We’re confident she will kill it in Before Breakfast.
· A 15 piece orchestra conducted by Bob, not by me.
· Cream-colored ponies and crisp apple strudel…Favorite things, get it?
· And we are grateful for our awesome and generous donors – keep it coming! Get your friends involved – check out our Kickstarter campaign.
Check back for more of Madame President’s favorite things, and get your tickets for 2012!
Silver Fox, my forever favorite thing, playing my part.
And there you have it - it was a time and a half. The Kickstarter campaign was a success, Positions was a winner, and Caroline was great in Before Breakfast. We’re thrilled she is returning for Glory Denied 2.0, along with UA newcomers Timothy Mix, John Riesen and Cree Carrico. And as for me, I look forward to seeing you at my-always-favorite-thing - the opera.
Silver Fox, my forever favorite thing, playing my part. Yes, “If you’re looking for a quickie this is your opera company” was actually our tagline.
