THE MARCH Civil Rights Opera Project

opera, civil rights, march on washington, new opera, black history, martin luther link, emmett till

<p><span><strong>THE MARCH</strong>&nbsp;is the creative idea of Alan Marshall. In the Fall of 2010, Alan&rsquo;s appreciation of African American history and his passion for opera inspired him to create an artistic vehicle for African American opera singers. Alan also had a strong desire to create an opera that would enlighten audiences about the depth and complexity of the African American experience.</span></p> <p><span>Alan&rsquo;s growing relationships with African American opera singers exposed him to their frustration about the lack of roles that could make full use of their talent. He heard stories about singers avoiding operatic roles because they considered them demeaning to them as African Americans.</span></p> <p><span>Alan soon began pondering what would be a powerful story to tell. It was not long before he settled on an episode in the Civil Rights Movement. He chose the March on Washington as his subject because all of the major civil rights leaders were involved in its planning. He also felt like it would be exciting to examine the perspective of the Kennedy Administration. Finally, the March on Washington is considered by many historians as the emotional and spiritual pinnacle of the civil rights movement prior to the rise of the Black Power and anti-war movements.</span></p> <p><span>Alan has researched extensively for this opera. This provides him every possible perspective of the setting, circumstances and characters. Some of his most rewarding research and writing involved the Oval Office scene where he spent months exploring the hearts and minds of Southern politicians who opposed the March on Washington and the civil rights bill.</span></p> <p><span>Despite this exhaustive research,&nbsp;<strong>THE MARCH&nbsp;</strong>is not a documentary. It is an opera that uses the actual march and the surrounding historical period as a backdrop.&nbsp;<strong>THE MARCH</strong>&nbsp;is an opera about the personal stories of individuals, known and previously obscure, who came together on a hot, sunny day in August of 1963 and made history.</span></p> <p><span>Alan&rsquo;s creative vision for this project has been brought to life by his collaboration with Jonathan Stinson. Jonathan has a profound respect for and a growing understanding of this seminal period in American history. He also possesses a creative intuition that allows him to seamlessly fuse various musical elements to create interesting, dynamic and accessible music that touches the entire spectrum of human emotion.</span></p> <p><span>Alan and Jonathan are creating an opera that is long overdue. They are humbled by the legacy that has been entrusted to them. They continue to work tirelessly to bring to the operatic stage a creation that will serve art, history and humanity.</span></p>

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