Theatre

'Steampunk Opera Machine'

Students in J-Term Opera Production class stage steampunk opera


Feb. 2, 2012

The Carthage Music Theatre and Opera Program presented the 2012 J-Term Opera Production Steampunk Opera Machine on Feb. 2, in A. F. Siebert Chapel. 

Steampunk Opera Machine: The Symposium Impossible is a pastiche opera in one act. This original piece used the steampunk aesthetic within the conventions of opera theatre, combining the writings of Jules Verne, HG Wells, Mary Shelley, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle with the music of Henry Purcell, Georges Bizet, Charles Gounod, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

The cast of Steampunk Opera Machine was as eclectic as the source material, composed of a vocal performance major, a music theatre major, a harpist, a chemist, a biologist and more. Performers served as make-up designers. Student dancers served as choreographers.

It was the latest offering in what has become a winter tradition at Carthage. During the J-Term Opera Production course, students and faculty pull together an opera production in 30 days, building sets, creating costumes, and rehearsing every afternoon. The project encourages students to explore the process of creating opera, said Corinne Ness, director of Carthage's Music Theatre and Opera Program. Matt Boresi, adjunct professor of opera and music theatre, created this year's script and concept design as well as staging.

Students who participated in Steampunk Opera Machine said that building the opera from the bottom up was nothing less than awesome and astounding.

"At the very beginning all we had were ideas of how we wanted the opera to be," said Keith Kikuchi, who plays violin, mandolin and organ in the show. He collaborated with the professors of the class to coordinate the musical aspect of the opera. "Throughout the course we added music and text until we had what we wanted."

The cast of the opera included Kaylee Annable, Valerie Bryant, Zach Carlson, Zach Rivers, Bryan Chung, Rose Grizzell, Steve Hobe, Michael Chase, Keith Kikuchi, Deanna Voss, Lyndsey Fialco, Brianna Fujino, Jennifer Johnston, Desiree Kincaid-White, and Phebe Phillip.

Previous J-Term Opera Productions have included The Beggar's Opera in 2011, Mozart's Magic Flute in 2010, Pirates of Penzance in 2008, and Die Fledermaus in 2007.