"I laughed so hard there were tears streaming down my cheeks!"  audience member                            

In this hour-long Gonzo Opera* a Ms. American Pageant on live TV goes hopelessly wrong.  A biting, yet hilarious critique of “meat market” beauty pageants. Featuring  a talent show duet from "Italian" opera. AND THE WINNER IS. . .   Libretto and original story by Thomas B. Woodward adapted from his stage play. Music by Emmy winner Daniel Steven Crafts, composer of Too Much Coffee Man Opera.

Starring Esther Moses Bergh, Paul Bower, Cammy Cook and Andre Garcia-Nuthman. Gabriel-Lee Gutierrez , clarinet; Lauren Harris, flute; Andreas Landstedt, piano. Directed by Jean Fish-Enclade.

*What exactly is Gonzo Opera?

1)      It is real opera -- not musical theater and not a parody of the genre.  It uses beautiful classically-trained voices and allows them to demonstrate all the marvelous attributes of traditional vocal technique. The Gonzo style is full of melody—memorable melody that shows off the voices in the best possible light.  But…

2)      Gonzo Opera takes as its subject matter outrageous comedy/satire, normally unexpected in classical opera. It is as contemporary as the movies. No pathetic, dying heroines here. Shannon Wheeler’s Too Much Coffee Man comic was made into an opera with great success. This was the first of the Gonzo operas.

 The ultimate goal of presenting this new enlightened format is the re-invention of the operatic form in our times.  By making it relevant and relatable in satiric contexts, we introduce the magnificent effect of opera to new audiences who may never have realized they could enjoy the genre in a popular form.

  Make it an evening!   

  Have drinks and dinner before the opera!  

Sponsored by The Brabson Library and Educational Foundation Inc. - a philanthropic family foundation that honors the grantors and reflects the family's passion for bold, innovative ideas that may have a significant and long-term impact, especially in education and the arts.