New opera filmed at ECU to premiere Aug. 27
Summary
ECU opera theater will host an in-person screening of “The Dreamer” at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 27 in the School of Music’s Fletcher Recital Hall. This is the first opera at ECU — and possibly at any UNC System school — that has been filmed as a feature production. The opera was composed, directed and performed entirely by faculty members, staff and students.
The event is free and open to the public, and face coverings are required. At-home audiences can watch the premiere at https://www.youtube.com/user/ECUSchoolOfMusicLive.
Opera trailer link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBBlwdH33iI
A universal story about finding the courage to overcome one’s inner demons is the central theme of a new opera that will debut as a feature film at East Carolina University.
“The Dreamer” — written, directed and performed entirely by ECU faculty members, staff and students — will premiere at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 27 in the School of Music’s Fletcher Recital Hall. The in-person event is free and open to the public, and face coverings are required. At-home audiences can watch it on YouTube.
ECU student Christian Powell plays the Dreamer. (Contributed photo)
The central character — the Dreamer, played by ECU student Christian Powell in the film — tries to conquer internal demons that hold her back. “It’s the story of the Dreamer finding courage, and she has people who inhibit her or help her along the way,” said Daniel Shirley, director of opera theater and assistant professor of vocal studies at ECU.
Like the character, audiences may face similar struggles, from failure and self-doubt to criticism and negative thoughts.
“It’s a nightmare,” said Mark Taggart, composer and professor of music theory and music composition at ECU. “It’s not about the surface; it’s what lies underneath. The imagery is drawn from that. Dreams are a very effective way of getting beneath the surface.”
The performance features creative costumes and masks, artwork, lighting and time lapse footage of the night sky, Shirley said.
Filmed entirely on campus, viewers may recognize at least one place in particular: the steps at Wright Auditorium. The pandemic necessitated outdoor filming over the spring semester because everyone couldn’t be together indoors. “It forced our hand, but it actually created something that is really beautiful and magical and works perfectly for this piece,” Shirley said.
Organizers initially planned for a virtual opera, where cast members would perform from separate locations in real time on Zoom. But the opera is best seen on film, Shirley said.
“I couldn’t be more pleased that this piece is our first foray into feature film,” he said. “We were able to utilize special effects, we were able to capture the internal life of this character, the Dreamer, through the film medium in a way that we wouldn’t be able to do on stage.”
The Dreamer is joined by two other named characters — the Tented Man and the Confidante — and supported by a sextet who help narrate the plot and the Dreamer’s thoughts.
Because of the number of talented students at ECU, Shirley assembled two complete casts. A total of 16 students and seven faculty members were involved in the production. One group will be seen in the premiere on Aug. 27; the other is the outreach cast.
The 40-minute opera will be condensed into a ‘greatest hits’ version, which will be taken to high school drama classes throughout the region. “Neither cast was the primary cast. They are equal. We’re just using them in different contexts,” Shirley said.
With the premiere approaching, Shirley said he hopes audiences will feel inspired to take on some of their personal struggles one step at a time. “Hopefully people can gain some inspiration from it,” he said. “And people around the world will see the important work being done at ECU.”
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East Carolina University News Services
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Phone: 252-328-6481
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Contacts: Daniel Shirley, shirleyda14@ecu.edu, or Harley Dartt, darttw@ecu.edu