Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Tapestry Opera, in partnership with Theatre Passe Muraille, presents the world premiere of Hook Up, an opera that traverses the awkward tensions within friendships, dorm life, and hook up culture on a university campus. As three friends begin university and explore their newfound independence, they quickly learn that freedom is fraught with challenges. Starkly resonant with the #metoo movement, Hook Up is a darkly humorous exploration of privacy and consent in three teens’ coming-of-age. Performances run from January 29 – February 9, 2019 at Theatre Passe Muraille in Toronto.
“We are surrounded by discussions pertaining to issues of consent, privacy and cyberbullying, whether in mainstream media, or at our dinner tables,” says Michael Mori, Tapestry Opera’s artistic director. “Exploring these prevalent issues in an opera allows the audience to reflect and react to these difficult topics in a more visceral way, which is especially important in a cultural landscape where we often feel desensitized.”
Hook Up combines the genres of musical theatre and opera, creating a dynamic and rhythmically vibrant new style. Chris Thornborrow (composer) and Julie Tepperman (librettist), met at Tapestry Opera’s esteemed Composer-Librettist Laboratory (LIBLAB) in 2013, where they created a “seed scene” that blossomed into Hook Up. They are joined by renowned stage director and dramaturge Richard Greenblatt (2 Pianos, 4 Hands) for this exciting world premiere.
Hook Up features a cast of musical theatre and opera artists: Emily Lukasik [Alice in Wonderland (Shaw Festival), Once (Mirvish Productions), The Magician’s Nephew (Shaw Festival)]; Alicia Ault [Les Misérables (Stage It), West Side Story (Brott Opera), member of the musical trio The Ault Sisters]; Alexis Gordon [Stratford Festival’s A Little Night Music, Guys and Dolls and The Tempest]; Nathan Carroll [Once (Grand/MTC), The Sound of Music (Citadel Theatre), The Wizard of Oz (YPT)]; and Jeff Lillico [Grey Gardens (Acting Up Stage), Spoon River (Soulpepper Theatre), Tom at the Farm (Buddies in Bad Times)]. Music director Jennifer Tung (Toronto City Opera) brings the musical landscape to life, along with percussionist Greg Harrison (Cirque du Soleil, Toronto Dance Theatre), Kelly Wolf, scenic and costume designer and Montgomery Martin, projection and lighting designer.
Tickets range from $25 - $55 and are now available online at Theatre Passe Muraille’s website.
Tapestry Opera continues to drive the evolution of opera with a though-provoking 39th season, which includes Shanawdithit, a world premiere commissioned in partnership with Opera on the Avalon, taking place at Imperial Oil Opera Theatre from May 16-25, 2019.
ABOUT TAPESTRY OPERA: Tapestry Opera is an award-winning Toronto-based company, dedicated solely to creating, developing and performing original Canadian opera. Tapestry is passionate about uniquely Canadian stories, told in innovative settings, unforgettably interpreted by world class singers and musicians. Tapestry supports emerging artists, develops new audiences and brings Canadian opera to the world stage. Founded in 1979, Tapestry is the voice of original contemporary Canadian opera.
Photo: Emily Lukasik.
2018-12-03
Toronto: Tapestry Opera and Theatre Passe Muraille present "Hook Up" January 29-Frebruary 9