by Mikel Rouse
After over a year and a half of planning, we're finally all here in Toronto for the second Luminato festival. We're in the process of building the first of three shows in a trilogy of modern media operas that span over 15 years. We've been lucky to tour these pieces all over the world, but this is the highlight: the culmination of years of work; presenting the trilogy in repertory for the first time. Hats off to Luminato for that.
Building the Dennis Cleveland Studio
We're doing the second opera of the trilogy first. It's the talk show opera Dennis Cleveland and it requires considerable effort to build the studio and set. It's also the largest piece in terms of cast and crew. We've got about 25 singers, actors and soloists and a four person camera crew being guided by our video director Jeff Sugg and our director of photography, Richard Connors. We always cast half of the show locally, and the Toronto cast is truly the best ever. They're wonderful in their spirit and talent, and they're bringing a real sense of wonder to the process. Of course, they've been expertly guided by our assistant director Natasha Mytnowych, another face to watch on the Toronto scene.
Video crew for Dennis Cleveland
Rehearsals are going well. We started rehearsing the New York cast and the Toronto cast separately for three weeks and brought them all together for the first time this week. One of the most gratifying things about Dennis Cleveland is the good will and friendship that seems to result from the meeting of so many talented people. We actually had our closing party last night as this was the only night we would be able to have cast and crew all together. By the time we're doing the last show of Dennis Cleveland at the Toronto film School, we'll be loading in the third opera The End Of Cinematics at the Bluma Appel Theater. Then while we're performing The End Of Cinematics, we'll be loading in the first opera and final show of the trilogy, Failing Kansas, at the Factory Theater.
It's amazing to watch so many dedicated people pull together to make all this happen. In some ways it's a logistical nightmare, but this seems to be driving everyone even more. There's something thrilling (and a little scary) about the roller coaster we're on, but it's all coming together. More later, I hope. Mikel Rouse is a New York-based composer, director, performer and recording artist hailed as “a composer many believe to be the best of his generation.” (NY Times 2002) His works include 25 records, 7 films (including Funding and Music For Minorities), and a trilogy of media operas: Failing Kansas, Dennis Cleveland and The End Of Cinematics. More information is available at www.mikelrouse.com. |
