The Tempest - Part One

My name is David O - I'm a composer and musical director with years of experience working primarily in the Los Angeles theatre scene.  For those who already know me or my work, thanks for checking out this Indiegogo campaign.  For those who don't, you can find out more information about me and my history at my website, www.davidomusic.com - but be sure to come back to this page when you're done!

I'm currently working on creating a performance piece, a new kind of opera, with a score composed by myself, using the text of Shakespeare's "The Tempest" as its libretto -- the actual original play (with cuts of course).  Some text will be spoken, but most of it will be sung, and all of it will be accompanied by an ensemble of musical instruments, representing Nature, and a chorus of nine female "spirits," representing Prospero's Art (magic).

This Indiegogo campaign is for the purpose of funding a workshop and recording of the first half of this piece, including the work put into adapting the text, writing the score, gathering an ensemble of singer/actors and musicians to read and sing through the material, and ultimately record it.  I will use this process to both experiment with the structure and style of the piece as well as to end up with a demo recording that can be used as a tool to encourage future investors to take on a full production of the work.  Ultimately, I see this piece as an adventurously contemporary yet emotionally accessible performance piece that, when it comes to full fruition, could be performed in major theaters, opera houses, or concert halls around the world.

Why am I passionate about this?

...for two big reasons:

1) I've had the opportunity over the years to set various pieces of Shakespearean text to music.  The richness and complexity of his language lends itself perfectly to being sung, and I find that as a composer, his text brings out the best in me.  To put it briefly, he's my favorite collaborator.  I also know this is one of Shakespeare's most beloved plays, and I believe that audiences will be very interested to hear it sung in this new setting.

2) This particular text, the play The Tempest, speaks directly to me at this time in my life, and I think can speak to the world at large right now.  A political leader, who has been deposed by his brother and heartlessly cast off to sea with his baby daughter, who has been shipwrecked on a desolate and mysterious island with a dark ruled by a semi-human monster, and who has devoted his life since to a dark "Art" which he uses to subjugate this monster and all the spirits of the island, is presented the surprise opportunity to exact his revenge on his brother and his political allies, but instead (spoiler alert) makes the incredibly difficult decision to give up his Art, surrender all notions of revenge, and instead offer his enemies forgiveness and friendship, for the sake of creating a better life for his daughter.  Prospero ultimately decides that his love for Miranda is more important than his desire to be revenged on Antonio.  This message of political and familial forgiveness, for the sake of the generations to come, is a message I hope to share with the world through the writing of this performance piece.

So, what's the plan?

The current plan is to adapt the text, write the score, workshop the material, and create a demo recording of the first half of this opera by Fall.  Here's the timeline:

Spring 2013 (now!) - Working with my director and dramaturg on analyzing, adapting, and cutting the text of the play to turn it into our libretto, specifically focussing on the first half of it.

Summer 2013 - Writing, writing, writing - composing the vocal and instrumental music for this first half of the opera.

Fall 2013 - Working with the director to bring together an ensemble of 20-25 actor/singers and 4-8 instrumentalists who will rehearse the material for the purposes of refining the composition.  We'll then host a read/sing/play-thru for an invited audience, which will be recorded for posterity.

What's the money for?

I firmly believe that no artist should be expected to work for free.  My director and dramaturg will be putting in considerable hours helping to adapt and shape the material, and the cast of actor/singers and instrumentalists will each receive a stipend for their efforts.  A recording engineer will cost money, as will polishing the finished recording.  Also, I need to make sure my own bills are paid during the time I'll be spending creating the piece and producing the workshop & recording, although I am primarily doing this because of my passion and belief in the future of this material.  Again, this current phase of the project is a more intimate workshop, but ultimately I see this piece being performed in major theaters, opera houses, or concert halls.

Any amount you contribute will be deeply appreciated - check out the "rewards" to the side to see what level of giving is right for you.  You can choose between various opportunities, including signed copies of the CD and/or score, attendance at the workshop reading, and even the opportunity "name a spirit!"  (The chorus of nine women are un-named in Shakespeare's play - you can name them yourself if you like!)

I appreciate your consideration of this project for support - please share this with your friends and social networks - with your help, I can make this happen.

With my sincere gratitude,

David O

"We are such stuff as dreams are made on..."