Category: News

My mini opera Betty Box Office, is being made into a film! It will be directed by it’s librettist – Ken Gass. Ken is a Canadian playwright and theater director. He founded the Factory Theater in toronto, one of Canada’s most respected and well-known houses for new work.

 

Tapestry New Opera is an international home for creators, developers and performers of new opera:  all collaborators in telling stories that surprise, thrill and move audiences. The Tapestry process begins at the annual Composer-Librettist Laboratory where writers and composers are introduced to collaborative creation.

 

 

Ken Gass is Artistic Director at and founder of Factory Theatre in Toronto, Ontario.  Almost from his professional debut, Ken Gass was a proponent of alternative and experimental theatre, helping to organize Toronto’s Festival of Underground Theatre.

What’s coming up in 2011? Let’s see….First is Courtside, my one act opera for the Houston Grand Opera’s HGOco, is going into production! Casting, set design, rehearsals, all leading to the premier on February 5th, followed by a week of performances and events around greater Houston. The libretto, by San Francisco playwright Eugenie Chan, explores how two generations of a Chinese American family must find ways to reconcile differences in order to live with pride in modern America, while maintaining tradition. Courtside follows a hot-shot, high school basketball player who fights back when taunted on the court. This benches his team, and his grandfather scorns him for bringing public shame to his team and family.

Continue reading “The New Year (2011)”

Thank You ACF, ODC and Hewlett Foundation

Hooray (and whew) for arts money. The American Composers Forum helped twice this year – through their Subito grant they supported my travel to new york for the AOP workshops. And their Northern California Commissioning Project provided support for the Paul Dresher commission.  Thanks ACF, you people are visionary (i think)!  I was also fortunate enough to receive support for the composition and performance of my second book of concert arias, from the William & Flora Hewlett Foundation, through the ODC Director’s Fund. We’re planning a concert of the Jack Perla song book at Theater Artaud, stayed tuned for details.

Workaholism

2007, and Q1 & 2, 2008 were banner years for Music Without Walls, both artistically and commercially. On the commercial side, revenues increased about 60% over the previous year. We completed a wide array of children’s interactive, adult educational and broadcast projects for clients including Crayola, Fisher Price, Duetsch, Direct TV, Scholastic, Binary Labs, MGA, Livescribe, Leapfrog, and several independent interactive media developers. Our work with Binary Labs on “Totally Stumped” won two industry awards. Ben Bernstein came on board as all around resourceful business partner.  He’s been a great addition to MWW’s activities, building the client base, helping with production and post-production, and keeping me laughing and somewhat sane. You should hear our dora & diego demo – in harmony, in spanish.

Jones Street Open for Business

Ben the good was also instrumental in getting the new Jones Street studio up and running. Last month we recorded voice assets for our most recent interactive project at the Jones Street studio, and Ben also recorded a piano/vocal project there, with the new Yamaha baby grand. Let us know if you’re interested in visiting the studio or recording.