If you’re a composer, lyricist, singer, stage director or stage manager — with a yen for opera, Atlanta Opera wants you.
The opera commences its third annual 24-Hour Opera Project on Jan. 25-26, and participants must apply by this Friday (Dec. 14) for a chance to be part of the manic magic.
If chosen, you’ll be tasked with creating, casting, rehearsing and performing a seven to 10-minute opera around a theme that will be announced Jan. 25. All compositions must be written and performed in English, and scored for four singers with piano. Teams will be paired randomly, compositions will be assigned to stage directors randomly, and participating singers will be selected to perform through a singer “draft.”
Last year’s Krispy Kremes and Butter Queens, with lyrics and libretto by playwright Vynnie Meli and music by Jennifer Jolley, was a sendup of Paula Deen, showing that the 24-Hour Opera Project is anything but stuffy. It won both the judges’ and audience first prize. The piece was subsequently performed for two nights in October at the North American New Opera Workshop in Cincinnati.
Because of the project’s popularity, applying doesn’t necessarily guarantee participation. Artists can apply in more than one discipline, but will be invited to participate in only one discipline. Participants will be notified by Dec. 19. The final step is performing in a showcase that commences live at 7 p.m. Jan. 26.
The mini-operas will be judged by an adjudicating panel, the audience and the public via live webcast (details TBD). Prizes will be awarded to the judge’s choice and audience favorite. The event is designed to raise awareness about the art from.
To apply, fill out the appropriate application(s) on the opera’s website at atlantaopera.org.
The Jan. 26 showcase, at the Atlanta Opera Center on Northside Drive, is free and open to the public.
