South Bend Lyric Opera

OUR AMERICAN ODYSSEY

September 22, 2023 - September 23, 2023

Description

OPEN AUDITIONS FOR NEW OPERA:  OUR AMERICAN ODYSSEY

Searching for Principal Roles, Covers, and Choristers

Rehearsals start 2 weeks before the opening, there is modest compensation, we are asking people to send mp3s of audition excerpts to Emanuel and Marjorie by JANUARY 15, 2023 at these email addresses:

ecaraman@iu.edu
mmrusche@gmail.com

Please contact Marjorie for the audition excerpts (mmrusche@gmail.com)

OUR AMERICAN ODYSSEY

Marjorie M. Rusche, composer/librettist
Hannah McDermott and Laurel Thomas, text contributors

On September 22 and September 23, 2023 the South Bend Lyric Opera will be producing a piano-vocal production of my opera OUR AMERICAN ODYSSEY.  We are currently auditioning for principals, covers and choristers. Place projected to be Joshi Recital Hall at IUSB or possibly at LangLab. It will be video recorded; and I ultimately will be sending excerpts and/or the full piano-vocal work to various opera companies to lobby for a full orchestral production.

OUR AMERICAN ODYSSEY is inspired by Homer's THE ODYSSEY and the currents of our time, blending the worlds of mythological and modern men and women. 

Odysseus journeys from an ancient world of battle to become a Wall Street profiteer who slays the monster Cyclops on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. He then journeys to Circe's Malibu Spiritual Retreat and Calypso's Cayman Island luxury resort before he returns to his true home. Penelope, while beset with grief for the loss of Odysseus, heroically strategizes to get rid of the harassing suitors led by the bully Antinous, telepathically reconnects with Odysseus in Circe’s Malibu Spiritual Retreat, and aids her fiber arts studio assistant Clea with her immigration issues. Reunited, Penelope and Odysseus vow to rebuild a safe, loving home and flourishing society in Ithaca (aka America). 

With Two Acts and seven scenes, the opera runs around 90 minutes (not counting intermission). 

DRAMATIS PERSONAE:
    
Penelope, fiber artist, loyal wife of Odysseus -- soprano  (C4-B5, five scenes)
Odysseus, stockbroker, wandering warrior husband of Penelope -- tenor  (Eb3-B4, five scenes)
Cyclops, monster/Antinous, suitor’s ringleader -- bass-baritone  (G2-E4, 3 scenes) 
Circe, New Age Malibu Spiritual Retreat entrepreneur -- soprano  (E4-Db6, one scene)  
Calypso, Cayman Islands resort owner -- mezzo soprano  (A3-A5, one scene) 
Clea, immigrant, Penelope’s studio assistant -- mezzo soprano  (A#3-G#5, two scenes)    
SATB Chorus 
Orchestra (eventually)