[[SELF LICENSED]] #opera #selflicensed [Perusal scores](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1psyubcsOD8EGB2qSchnvz8TnKqAX3q6t?usp=drive_link) Contact me, [contact form.](https://operaandbeyond.blogspot.com/) #schoolshow #oneactopera ![[THRIVERS FINAL POSTER.jpeg|400]] THRIVERS (2018) An opera disguised as a choral concert (about 30-35 minutes) For high school and early college vocalists and instrumentalists Music and text by Michael Ching For soloists, ensemble, quad marching toms, tenor sax, trumpet, trombone, violin, cello, and piano OR For soloists, ensemble, quad toms, and piano  Also needed: martial arts student and, ideally, a fight choreographer Commissioned by Palm Springs Opera Guild of the Desert Education Division – OPERAtunity Andy Eisenmann, Artistic Advisor With thanks to Jay Bartush THRIVERS is a work of theater and requires a performing rights license from the composer,the composer’s representative, or publisher. Single pieces from the opera can be performed without a license but no more than two per concert. Cast Voice Type Style note Ninja Non Singing Two sets of thrivers--1st set S/B trained The rest of the roles can sing in parts of the ensemble when they are not doing a solo role. Second set of Thrivers M/T mezzo belt, pop/mt  and a  M/T tenor The S/B Thrivers play more of the show than the M/T ones. Supporting Roles Guilt Tripper or mother Soprano or mezzo classical/operatic Angry Relative (or father) Baritone or mezzo classical/operatic Bad Advisors Tenor/Baritone pop Armchair Psychologist Soprano pop Her Backup Singer(s) Mezzo Her Backup Singer(s) Tenor (Seven) Students in the hall Speaking Two disembodied voices Any voice. Speaking Creatures on the Alien Spaceship Self-Loather Mezzo or soprano trained Apathetic Mezzo or soprano or baritone trained In-a-fog man Baritone or Bass trained Sleepless Soprano or Tenor trained-not easy Sharon, Dr. Sides Receptionist Speaking Dr. Susan Sides M or S (or T/B) possibly a guest professional INSTRUMENTS Trumpet Tenor Sax Trombone Marching band quad Tom Toms Violin Cello To summarize, four leads (S/B and M/T) and over a dozen smaller roles that can be divided up ad lib, with the option of singers playing more than one part. One role that could be played by a guest professional. SYNOPSIS. THRIVERS will follow the arc of depression, represented by young characters--generally one F and one M--who go from falling into the depths of depression to recovery. The ensemble will sing in some of every piece. In the manner of a kind of choral concert, the musical styles of the pieces will be varied. Based on its 30+ minute length, we imagine that THRIVERS will be used to complete a 40-50 minute choral concert, with 15-20 minutes of unrelated music prior to the presentation. THRIVERS could also be part of a program of one acts or opera scenes. Upstage--the ensemble, perhaps on choral risers. Music folders are okay though not desirable. Center--the conductor. Downstage--playing positions for the soloists. On either side of the stage between the ensemble positions and the soloist positions are either coat racks or prop tables for props and costume items that the performers can grab and use when they are in the downstage positions. Some low chairs, stools, or mattresses. Piano should probably be a little further offstage left than it usually is in a choral concert, but not too far. It would be perfectly acceptable for there to be an acoustic shell behind the ensemble. Synopsis/breakdown Style #1 OPENING: NINJA ATTACK +toms kabuki-like ritual theater In various ways, the ninja of depression takes you down. Sometimes you can’t get back up. #2 HOW DO YOU EXPRESS NOTHING modern classical The depths of depression: The two Thrivers feel empty and unable to act or care about anything. The ensemble does its best to express--nothing #3 THINGS PEOPLE SAY TO YOU +violin opera, pop, mt Those around you do not understand and what they say sometimes isn’t helpful. #4 PUT ON A PUT ON SMILE + ten sax musical theater They try to get back with it, but it’s too soon, and it fails #5 RELAPSE, A gymnopedie +cello classical Press play to restart game… Relapse, go back right where you started from… #6 ALIEN LAB DREAM +violin and cello modern classical The Thrivers dream they are trying to escape from the ninja in a spaceship. They see an alien vessel and dock. They discover a horrid lab where humans have been the subject of experiments that include the Self Loather, the Apathetic, In-a-fog Man, and Sleepless. Threatened by the zombie-like creatures, they run and escape to another room where even the creatures fear to go. #7 DR. SIDES (There are many ways to suicide) +ten sax, tpt, tbn musical theater They meet Dr. Sides who gives them the options for suicide methods in a cheerful tango. The Thrivers are aghast. Their  fear indicates to them that they aren’t candidates for the procedure. Dr. Sides checks her papers and sees--they have bright futures. She shows them… the Thrivers are happy to see them. #8 DOUBLE DUET: IT’S GONNA BE ALL RIGHT+cello pop (An electric bass alternative is available instead of cello in #8, #9, and #9a) The Thrivers speak encouragingly to their past selves and tell them it’s gonna be all right. Dr. Sides urges that they seek help. But as they go, ironically the S/B Thrivers are again beset with doubt. The Ninja appears again, threatening. The M/T Ninjas confront it. #9 THRIVER +trpt, ten sax, tbn, cello mt/pop The Ninja is vanquished! #9A BOW +trpt, ten sax, tbn, cello mt/pop Thrivers is a work of opera theater based on a meeting with students in the Palm Springs OperaGuild’s 2018 Operatunity program. When asked what should be the subject of the 2019 opera, all but one of them said “depression.” This work is meant to examine depression but is no substitute for professional help from counselors, doctors, teachers, family, friends, and clergy.   Musically, Thrivers welcomes a variety of styles of music under one roof. There is classical and operatic, musical theater, and pop, sometimes even in the same number. The opera should be cast with that in mind. While not a “pure” opera by any means, I am comfortable with the term in the sense that Thrivers tells a story through music, albeit in a variety of styles. -Michael Ching  THRIVERS was commissioned by the Palm Springs Opera Guild, OPERAtunity program -- Laurie Baldwin, executive director -- Andrew Eisenmann, program coordinator and conductor. First performances January 26, 2019 Rancho Mirage Public Library A workshop reading of one piece, "Relapse" <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_7_yx55H_EY?si=168aMW8L_nHSFusZ" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe> The premiere. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uQQjMHErRUQ?si=26_TMDE7BvH6QyIM" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>