Baltimore Rock Opera Society

Last updated

Baltimore Rock Opera Society
AbbreviationBROS
Formation2009
TypeRock opera theatrical company
Location
Website baltimorerockopera.org

The Baltimore Rock Opera Society (BROS) is an official 501c3 non-profit organization founded in 2007 by Aran Keating, John DeCampos, Dylan Koehler, Eli Breitburg-Smith and Jared Margulies with the mission of producing original, live rock operas.

Contents

BROS opened their first performance, Gründlehämmer, at 2640 Space located in Baltimore in 2009. They hold open auditions for all their mainstage shows, including band auditions. Starting in 2011, BROS launched pitch parties, in which they asked the Baltimore community for ideas and suggestions on future rock operas. BROS Headquarters (HQ), where they currently operate, is located on the first floor of the Bell Foundry, a multi-purpose, cooperatively-run performance and rehearsal space. As of May 2018, the BROS has produced thirteen completely original stage productions and has staged many other events and performances. The company performs in various venues in Baltimore, Washington DC and Philadelphia.

Rock Operas and Events

Gründlehämmer (2009)

The Baltimore Rock Opera Society debuted its first feature-length rock opera in October 2009. Featuring monsters, magic and fantastical adventure, Gründlehämmer introduced the world to the BROS's sense of the epic. The plot follows a farmer and citizen of the nation of Brotopia who wields his mighty command over the power of true rock to defeat the evil cave-dwelling Grundle and release Brotopia from the iron grip of the tyrannical Dark King Lothario.

The BROS Double Feature

In June 2011, BROS debuted two new plays, Amphion, a love story set in a magical realist 6th c. BC Constantinople, and The Terrible Secret of Lunastus.

Both shows were eventually remounted as full feature-length productions, Amphion in 2016 and Lunastus in 2017.

Valhella: The Ragnarøkkoperetta

In May 2012 at the Autograph Playhouse in Baltimore, MD, BROS debuted their fourth feature-length rock opera, Valhella, written by Jen Tydings and directed by Aran Keating. [1]

Valhella was loosely adapted from Norse mythology and executed in pursuit of what composer Richard Wagner called Gesamtkunstwerk – “that mashup of spectacle, ritual, dance, music, theater and other artsy stuff that is opera at its most extreme.” [2] The opera used large puppets, hand-drawn animation, intricate sets with a full-scale World tree and featured a soundtrack that ranged from traditional Norse folk music to power metal. Vahella was considered a monumental leap forward in the BROS’ production value. [3] All eight shows sold out, which prompted the BROS to add a ninth encore presentation at midnight on 20 May 2012, which also sold out. [4] The opera was well reviewed by the Washington Post. [5]

Murdercastle

In May 2013 at the Autograph Playhouse in Baltimore, MD, BROS debuted their fifth feature-length rock opera, Murdercastle, written by Jared Margulies and directed by Barbara Geary. The play is about H. H. Holmes during the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. [6]

Gründlehämmer (2014)

From March to April 2014 at 2640 Space in Baltimore, MD, The Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, VA and The Ruba Club in Philadelphia, BROS re-imagined and transformed their original production, Gründlehämmer. This remount was again directed by Aran Keating. [7]

Convergence Maximus

In November 2014 at 2640 Space in Baltimore, BROS collaborated with the Concert Artists of Baltimore (CAB) on Convergence Maximus, to produce a mix of classical greats such as Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto and select songs from past BROS shows such as Valhella. These were arranged to include CAB's professional orchestra and choir. [8]

Rock Opera 6-Pack

The BROS "Brothership", a converted 1988 Saab 900, which first premiered at Baltimore Artscape festival in July 2010. BROS "Brothership" Premiere at Artscape.jpg
The BROS "Brothership", a converted 1988 Saab 900, which first premiered at Baltimore Artscape festival in July 2010.

The Rock Opera 6-Pack debuted in May 2015 at the Creative Alliance in Baltimore. The 6-pack was a new format for the BROS: a collection of six one-act rock operas, 25 minutes each, split into two weekends. "A" Weekend featured Determination of Azimuth, Revival, and Sidelines. "B" Weekend featured Battle at Apple Crossing, Legend of Jessie Jean, and RATS! [9]

At Artscape 2015, the 6-Pack was remounted in BROCEAN CITY located on Charles Street. BROCEAN CITY not only featured the five of the 6-pack, but included local bands, puppet shows, and air guitar battles atop the BRÖTHERSHIP, a converted 1988 Saab 900.

"A" Weekend

  • Determination of Azimuth: was created by Eric Church and Heather Graham and directed by Lola Pierson. The show is the story of Katherine Johnson, who rose above barriers of race and gender and became a famous mathematician of the Apollo program.
  • Revival was directed by Craig Coletta and composed by Samuel Burt. The opera features a faith healer at a tent revival who encounters a demon that has possessed a young child.
  • Sidelines was written, directed and composed by Jack Sossman. The opera features many aspects of sports including “glorious victories, crushing defeats, last-minute-plays, training montages, and foot-stomping anthemic glam rock.” [9]

"B" Weekend

  • The Battle of Blue Apple Crossing was created and composed by Nairobi Collins and directed by Sarah “Flash” Gorman. The opera is a retelling of the legend of Robert Johnson at the crossroads where a talented blues musician is the victim of a lynching and his soul becomes the subject of a battle of wits and strength between the Christian devil and the African trickster god Legba.
  • The Legend of Jessie Jean was created and directed by Matt Casella. The opera is dark Western folk tale where outlaws swap campfire stories of a ruthless bounty hunter hell-bent on bringing criminals to justice featuring shadowplay.
  • RATS! was created and co-composed by Naomi Davidoff, and Andres Lobo and directed by Amanda Rife. The opera was a punk/garage-rock parody of a popular Broadway show. RATS! told the story of a motley crew of hard-rocking rodents just trying to dance, party and fall in love – with a sinister exterminator on their tails. [9]

Chronoshred: The Adventures of Stardust Lazerdong

In January 2015, BROS premiered Chronoshred: The Adventures of Stardust Lazerdong, an action-packed sci-fi comedy telling the story of a time-traveling rock god and his band of colorful alien characters as they battle an evil mega-corporation and fulfill their destiny to throw the biggest concert of all time (literally).

Taking inspiration from 80s and 90s Saturday morning cartoons, Chronoshred featured madcap antics, colorful sets, costumes and props, and was told in an episodic format.

Amphion

Debuting in June 2016, Amphion is the tragic love story of a supernatural songwriter in ancient Constantinople. The show was the first of the BROS's 2011 Double Feature to be remounted into a full-length feature production.

Brides of Tortuga

Brides of Tortuga, BROS's eighth original rock opera, debuted in October, 2016 at the Chesapeake Bay Performing Arts Center. Tortuga is set in 1661 and follows a mutinous group of women who liberate a group of captured women in Calais, France, capture a French navy ship, and escape across the open Atlantic to free more women captured on the island of Tortuga. A work of historical fiction, Tortuga is loosely based on the history of the island of Tortuga and uses the fallout of the Fronde as its backdrop.

The Terrible Secret of Lunastus

The Terrible Secret of Lunastus, which premiered in a remount of an earlier, shorter production part of the BROS's 2011 Double Feature, is a sci-fi comedic adventure. As the moon falls towards Earth, on the eve of our planet's destruction, four astronauts and their robot Android, travel to the mysterious world of Lunastus to determine its suitability as a new home planet. The creatures the crew meets change the course of their lives and the fate of the planet.

Constellations & Crossroads

Run in February 2018, Constellations & Crossroads was a double-feature in collaboration with The Arena Players showcasing two 6-Pack short plays: Determination of Azimuth and The Battle of Blue Apple Crossing. The plays are centered on two important black figures in American history (Katherine Johnson in Azimuth and Robert Johnson in Battle) and featured a cast and crew from The Arena Players, Baltimore's oldest continuously-run African-American community theater company.

Incredibly Dead!

Debuting in May 2018, Incredibly Dead! is the newest BROS production, created as a tribute to B-level horror films, such as From Beyond. Twenty years ago, General Maximilian Morder devised a plan to control the world with the aid of a necromantic goo. The elixir falls into the hands of Reggie and Silas Cryptz, two down-on-their-luck morticians desperate to turn their business around after drawing the ire of a family they've cheated in the past. Featuring gratuitous gore, slapstick humor, and original music inspired by classic science-fiction film soundtracks, Incredibly Dead! is getting positive reviews from the Baltimore theater community. [10]

Reception

As an all-volunteer company, BROS has attracted the support of the surrounding community. [11] Those involved in the productions range from individuals with experience in the theater world to complete amateurs. [12] In 2012 Baltimore City Paper named Baltimore Rock Opera Society “Best DIY Theater Company” in Baltimore. [13]

Documentary

There is currently a feature-length documentary film being produced about the BROS and the Murdercastle production. The film is being directed by Human Being Productions [14] and being produced by the digital magazine What Weekly . It will feature original animation and interviews in addition to the footage of the production. [15]

Related Research Articles

<i>Scooby-Doo</i> American animated media franchise

Scooby-Doo is an American media franchise owned by Warner Bros. Entertainment and created in 1969 by writers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears through their animated series, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, for Hanna-Barbera. The series features four teenagers: Fred Jones, Daphne Blake, Velma Dinkley, and Shaggy Rogers, and their talking Great Dane named Scooby-Doo, who solve mysteries involving supposedly supernatural creatures through a series of antics and missteps, while traveling using a brightly colored van called the "Mystery Machine". The franchise has several live-action films and shows.

<i>Looney Tunes</i> Warner Bros. animated short film series and media franchise

Looney Tunes is an American animated franchise produced and distributed by Warner Bros. It began as a series of short films that originally ran from 1930 to 1969, alongside the related series Merrie Melodies, during the golden age of American animation. Following a revival in the late 1970s, new shorts were released as recently as 2014. The two series introduced a large cast of characters, including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Porky Pig. The term Looney Tunes has since been expanded to also refer to the characters themselves.

<i>Jesus Christ Superstar</i> Rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice

Jesus Christ Superstar is a sung-through rock opera with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. Loosely based on the Gospels' accounts of the Passion, the work interprets the psychology of Jesus and other characters, with much of the plot centered on Judas, who is dissatisfied with the direction in which Jesus is steering his disciples. Contemporary attitudes, sensibilities and slang pervade the rock opera's lyrics, and ironic allusions to modern life are scattered throughout the depiction of political events. Stage and film productions accordingly contain many intentional anachronisms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julie Taymor</span> American film and theatre director and writer (born 1952)

Julie Taymor is an American director and writer of theater, opera, and film. Her stage adaptation of The Lion King debuted in 1997 and received eleven Tony Award nominations, with Taymor receiving Tony Awards for her direction and costume design. Her 2002 film Frida, about Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, was nominated for five Academy Awards, including a Best Original Song nomination for Taymor's composition "Burn It Blue". She also directed the 2007 jukebox musical film Across the Universe, based on the music of the Beatles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patti LuPone</span> American actress and singer (born 1949)

Patti Ann LuPone is an American actress and singer best known for her work in musical theater. After starting her professional career with The Acting Company in 1972 she soon gained acclaim for her leading performances on the Broadway and West End stage. She has won three Tony Awards, two Olivier Awards, and two Grammy Awards, and was a 2006 inductee to the American Theater Hall of Fame.

<i>The Phantom of the Opera</i> (1986 musical) 1986 musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber

The Phantom of the Opera is a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Charles Hart, additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe and a libretto by Lloyd Webber and Stilgoe. Based on the novel of the same name by Gaston Leroux, it tells the tragic story of beautiful soprano Christine Daaé, who becomes the obsession of a mysterious but disfigured musical genius living in the subterranean labyrinth beneath the Paris Opéra House.

<i>The Black Rider</i> Musical theatre

The Black Rider: The Casting of the Magic Bullets is a self-billed "musical fable" in the avant-garde tradition created through the collaboration of theatre director Robert Wilson, musician Tom Waits and writer William S. Burroughs. Wilson, in the original production, was largely responsible for the design and direction. Burroughs wrote the book, while Waits wrote the music and most of the lyrics. The project began in about 1988 when Wilson approached Waits. The story is based on the German folktale "Der Freischütz", which had previously adapted as an opera by Carl Maria von Weber. It premiered at Hamburg's Thalia Theatre on 31 March 1990, and was performed at Paris's Théâtre du Châtelet on 9 October 1990. November Theatre produced its world English-language premiere in 1998 at the Edmonton International Fringe Festival in Canada. Det Norske Teatret in Oslo staged a Norwegian (Nynorsk) version in 1998, with Lasse Kolsrud as Pegleg. Only the dialogue was translated by the dramaturg and key collaborator of the entire creative process, Wolfgang Wiens; the songs were performed in English.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benedum Center</span> Theater and concert hall in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The Benedum Center for the Performing Arts is a theater and concert hall located at 237 7th Street in the Cultural District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Designed by the Philadelphia architectural firm Hoffman-Henon, it was built in 1928 as the Stanley Theatre. The former movie palace was renovated and reopened as the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts in 1987.

<i>Rock Musical Bleach</i> Series of rock musicals

Rock Musical Bleach, often referred as BuriMyu, are a series of rock musicals produced by Studio Pierrot and Nelke Planning. The musicals are based on Tite Kubo's manga Bleach. The Rock Musical Bleach consists of live performances that follow the manga plotline from the Soul Society arc and The Live Bankai shows with the original script. The first musical was directed by Takuya Hiramitsu, with a script adaptation by Naoshi Okumura. The music is completely original and was written by Shoichi Tama. The premiere was held in Space Zero Hall in Shinjuku, Tokyo from August 17–28, 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">André De Shields</span> American entertainer (born 1946)

André Robin De Shields is an American actor, singer, dancer, director, and choreographer. He has received numerous accolades including an Emmy Award, Grammy Award, and Tony Award.

Andrei Șerban is a Romanian-American theater director. A major name in twentieth-century theater, he is renowned for his innovative and iconoclastic interpretations and stagings. In 1992 he became Professor of Theater at the Columbia University School of the Arts, a position he resigned from in 2019, citing oppressive pressure in the name of "political correctness" on a level which reminded him of communist Romania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Mayer (director)</span> American stage and film director

Michael Mayer is an American theatre director, filmmaker, and playwright. He won the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical in 2007 for directing Spring Awakening.

Lauren Tolbert Worsham is an American actress and singer known for her work in the opera and musical theatre. She received a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her role in A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder. She is also known for being the lead singer of the band Sky-Pony, which has released two albums with original songs titled "Say You Love Me Like You Mean It" and "Raptured Live".

The Sacred Fools Theater Company is a Los Angeles–based theatre company and nonprofit organization. Founded in January 1997, the company is a member organization of the LA Stage Alliance.

<i>Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812</i> Musical adaptation of Leo Tolstoys War and Peace

Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 is a sung-through musical adaptation of a 70-page segment from Leo Tolstoy's 1869 novel War and Peace. The show was written by composer, lyricist, playwright, orchestrator Dave Malloy and originally directed by Rachel Chavkin. It is based on Part 8 of Tolstoy's novel, focusing on Natasha's romance with Anatole and Pierre's search for meaning in his life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Salazar</span> American actor, singer, and musician (born 1986)

George Ernest Salazar is an American actor, singer, and musician known for his work on and off-Broadway. He made his Broadway debut in the 2011 revival of Stephen Schwartz's Godspell. Salazar originated the role of Michael Mell in the 2015 musical Be More Chill and performed in the musical's 2018 Off-Broadway and Broadway in 2019 at the Lyceum Theater in New York City. He originated the role of Grover in The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical and starred in Pasadena Playhouse's production of Little Shop of Horrors as Seymour Krelborn.

<i>The Lego Movie</i> (franchise) Warner Bros. media franchise based on Lego toys

The Lego Movie is an American media franchise and shared universe based on Lego construction toys. It began with the 2014 film The Lego Movie, which was directed and written by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. The success of the film led to the release of two licensed video games, a 4D film theme park attraction, two spin-off films titled The Lego Batman Movie and The Lego Ninjago Movie, which were released in 2017, Unikitty! an animated television series that also came out in the same year, and the sequel to the original film titled The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part in 2019. Plans for a third spin-off film and a sequel to The Lego Batman Movie were later shelved. Development would end in 2020, with Warner Bros. letting the rights lapse back to The Lego Group after The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part underperformed at the box office and the studio failing to create any new projects within that time frame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures</span>

Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures is the live show, stageplay and musical production arm of Warner Bros. Discovery. The company forms a part of Warner Bros., one of the major business segments of Warner Bros. Discovery. Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures is led by Mark Kaufman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warner Bros. Pictures</span> American film studio

Warner Bros. Pictures is an American film production and distribution company of the Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group division of Warner Bros. Entertainment. The studio is the flagship producer of live-action feature films within the Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group unit, and is based at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California. Animated films produced by Warner Bros. Pictures Animation are also released under the studio banner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Effervescent Collective</span>

Effervescent Collective was an organization of dancers, choreographers, physical performers, and multidisciplinary artists that presented work exclusively in Baltimore, Maryland. Founded following the 2008 economic crisis, the company derived its name from anthropologist’s Emile Durkheim’s term “collective effervescence” to describe the larger-than-the-sum-of-its-parts feeling to large group assemblies, such as concerts or sporting events.

References

  1. "Valhella: The Ragnarøkkoperetta". baltimorerockopera.org. Baltimore Rock Opera Society. Archived from the original on 15 August 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  2. "Backstage as Baltimore Rock Opera Society prepares its latest: "Valhella" | Baltimore Brew". Baltimore Brew. Archived from the original on 2 October 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  3. Dattaro, Laura (16 May 2012). "Valhella". Baltimore City Paper . Archived from the original on 25 March 2014.Allen, Justin (17 May 2012). "Rock Opera: Valhella". What Weekly . Archived from the original on 9 July 2015.
  4. "VALHELLA MIDNIGHT ENCORE PRESENTATION!!!". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  5. "Closer Inspection: Rock this way". The Washington Post. 3 May 2012. ISSN   0190-8286. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  6. "MURDERCASTLE". baltimorerockopera.org. Baltimore Rock Opera Society. Archived from the original on 14 August 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  7. "Gründlehämmer 2014". baltimorerockopera.org. Baltimore Rock Opera Society. Archived from the original on 15 August 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  8. "Convergence Maximus". www.cabmusic.org. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  9. 1 2 3 "The Rock Opera 6-Pack". baltimorerockopera.org. Baltimore Rock Opera Society. Archived from the original on 25 July 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  10. Miller, Cassandra (14 May 2018). "Review: 'Incredibly Dead!' by the Baltimore Rock Opera Society". DC Metro Theater Arts. Archived from the original on 26 September 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  11. Andrew L. Baughman (29 May 2011). "The BROS Double Feature at Showtime Theatre: Rock Achieved!". Maryland Theatre Guide. Archived from the original on 18 November 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
  12. Michael Byrne (30 September 2009). "Tales of Brotopia: The Baltimore Rock Opera Society drops Gründlehämmer". Baltimore City Paper. Archived from the original on 30 August 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
  13. "Baltimore Sun: Baltimore breaking news, sports, business, entertainment, weather and traffic". 22 June 2023. Archived from the original on 28 June 2013. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  14. "Projects". Human Being Productions. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  15. "MURDERCASTLE: How To Make A Rock Opera". Human Being Productions. Archived from the original on 12 February 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2018.