23rd Annual Fringe Festival
BU Opera Institute and School of Theatre bring groundbreaking opera and new theatre works to Studio ONE this October.
Boston University College of Fine Arts (CFA) School of Music: Opera Institute and School of Theatre present in collaboration the Fringe Festival, now in its 23rd season. The festival’s mission is to produce new or rarely performed significant works in the opera and theatre repertoire, bringing performers and audiences together in unique theatrical settings and provoking conversations.
Performed on weekends throughout October, the two operas and play selected chosen for the 2019 Fringe Festival will be performed in CFA’s Studio ONE. The Opera Institute, an intensive, highly selective two-year performance-based training program for emerging operatic artists, has collaborated with CFA School of Theatre to generate provocative programming through Fringe Festival for over two decades.
As One, composed by Laura Kaminsky with libretto by Mark Campbell & Kimberly Reed, is a chamber opera in which two voices — Hannah after (mezzo-soprano) and Hannah before (baritone) — share the part of a sole transgender protagonist. Fifteen songs accompanied by string quartet comprise the three-part narrative; with empathy and humor, they trace Hannah’s experiences from her youth in a small town to her college years—and finally traveling alone to a different country, where she realizes some truths about herself.
Fringe’s second opera of the season, John Musto’s Later the Same Evening, was inspired by five Edward Hopper paintings: “Room in New York,” “Hotel Window,” “Hotel Room,” “Two on the Aisle,” and “Automat.” The opera explores the lives of the characters depicted in each painting while simultaneously interweaving them during the course of one evening in New York City.
Amputees, a Playwrights’ Project Production as part of BU New Play Initiative production written by Quentin Nguyen-Duy (CFA’20), closes Fringe Festival with shows Wednesday, October 23 through Sunday, October 27. Directed by Sarah Shin (CFA’19), Amputees follows Sam Nguyen, who attempts to retrace his father’s journey from Vietnam to the United States. A simple task becomes complicated when injuries of the past become inseparable from those of the present. Through flashbacks of the Vietnam War, exposure therapy, and failed encounters with online dating apps, Amputees explores the cards we’ve been dealt since birth.
Learn more and get tickets at bu.edu/cfa/fringe.
As One
Friday, Oct 4, 7:30pm
Saturday, Oct 5, 7:30pm
Sunday, Oct 6, 2pm
A chamber opera for two voices and String Quartet.
Music and Concept by Laura Kaminsky
Libretto by Mark Campbell & Kimberly Reed
Film by Kimberly Reed
Music Directed by William Lumpkin
Stage Direction by Jim Petosa
Learn more at www.asoneopera.com.
Later the Same Evening
Friday, Oct 11, 7:30pm
Saturday, Oct 12, 2:00pm and 7:30pm
Sunday, Oct 13, 2:00pm
A chamber opera based on 5 paintings by Edward Hopper
Music by John Musto
Libretto by Mark Campbell
Allison Voth & Matthew Larson, Co-Music Directors
Stage Direction by Eve Summer
Amputees
BU NEW PLAY INITIATIVE
Wednesday, Oct 23, 7:30pm
Thursday, Oct 24, 7:30pm
Friday, Oct 25, 8:00pm
Saturday, Oct 26, 2:00pm
Sunday, Oct 27, 7:00pm
By Quentin Nguyen-Duy (CFA’20)
Directed by Sarah Shin (CFA’19)
College of Fine Arts, Studio ONE
855 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston
TICKETS
$10 General Admission • Free with BU ID, at the door, day of performance, subject to availability
ABOUT THE FRINGE FESTIVAL
For over two decades, the Boston University School of Music: Opera Institute and School of Theatre have brought unique theatrical performances to the University’s stages. The Schools have worked together to create over two dozen diverse and extraordinary productions that combine a masterful blending of drama and music compiled into three main events every October.
Find more at bu.edu/cfa/fringe.