Marie Begins
An Interactive Opera
Libretto by Julia Curcio
Marie is a modern woman in a time of endless possibilities. But on her 30th birthday, she reflects on her life and realizes she hasn’t done much of anything, especially since her father passed away. Today will be the day that she starts getting her life together. The opera, which takes place in the modern apartment of the female lead, starts with an introduction of the main character, Marie. At the end of this scene the audience votes which path to take from the two choices presented. After the audience selects the first path, they will encounter other choices at the end of each 2-6 minute scene. With each choice, characters who are intertwined with the lead character present new plot twists and dilemmas. The scenes progress from solo to ensemble singing as the experience unfolds.
Info on the app to assist voting-here
Marie Begins is an interactive opera by Ellen Fishman and Julia Curcio. Please enjoy this excerpt from the New Works Forum at Opera America.
Performance History
Online Premiere (because of pandemic) with live interactions by the Westminster Choir College Opera Theatre Program at Rider University, 2020. Susan Ashbaker, director, Audrey Chait, stage director
Full workshop performance by The Music Theatre and Opera program in the School of Arts at Arizona State University, ASU Kerr Cultural Center, Scottsdale, AZ, 2018.
Selected workshop performance at the Opera America New Works Forum by Tri-Cities Opera, Supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. New York, 2018
Professional pilot of first 3 scenes made for the on line viewing. 2018.
Discovery Grant for Female Composers, Supported by the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation and Opera America. 2017
PRESS
DIY opera: Philly composer's interactive choose-your-own-aria is a new twist on the old art form John Timpane, Philadelphia Inquirer. May 2018
Philly composer’s Choose-Your-Own-Adventure opera brings performance to your screen Peter Crimmins, Newsworks and WHYY Radio. March 2018
Woman Making History: Artist Spotlight Ellen Fishman-Johnson Kari Lincks, Red Curtain Addict. March 2018.