Central Park West
2007
4m, 3w; chorus one set.
I wrote the libretto for this opera, composed by Michael Torke, based on Moliere’s School for Husbands, but brought up to date. The work was commissioned by the Milwaukee Skylight Theatre, but they released it when they no longer had the funds to produce it. The libretto and Torke’s score are available through Holab Music at www.billholabmusic.com.
Let's Do It!
1996
2m, 2w; chorus, fluid set.
This has a “screwball comedy” plot which I devised as a vehicle for Cole Porter songs. It was produced in workshop at the Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, with John Tillinger directing. I based the story on the plot of the libretto from The Count of Luxemburg which was dictated to me over the telephone by the movie director Billy Wilder, who had decided not to make it into a film. Script available through Jonathan Lomma at the William Morris Agency, 212-903-1550.
Richard Cory
1996
mixed chorus of 8 or more, fluid set.
This is a musical treatment of my play based on the Edwin Arlington Robinson poem.
The music and lyrics are by Ed Dixon. The first performance was at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Festival in Waterford, Ct, in the summer of 1996. A follow-up workshop took place at Playwright Horizons that fall. Ultimately the piece was produced in Dallas to considerable success and revived at the New York Festival of Musical theatre in 2007 with additional praise. The libretto and score are available through miracleor2.com.
Strawberry Fields
1999
3m, 3w, chorus, single set.
I wrote the libretto for this one-act opera at the invitation of Paul Kellogg, artistic director of the New York City Opera. The music was composed by Michael Torke. We were originally one of three one-act operas, by Terrence McNally, Wendy Wasserstein, and me, under the overall title of Central Park, performed at the Glimmerglass Opera in the summer of 1999, and again at the New York City Opera the following winter. CD’s of Strawberry Fields are available through michaeltorke.com. Libretto and scores are available at www.billholabmusic.com.