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PROGRAM NOTES“On the Verge” Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, words and music by David YazbekThe comedy-drama, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, explores the crazed and dramatic lives of four Spanish women: Pepa Marcos (Hightower), Candela (Padula), Lucia (Wedin), and Marisa (Mitch) along with Pepa’s Concierge (Wall). The music director suggested this lively, frantic, fun, Latin piece to the five of us, and instantly we knew this was going to be a great selection for us. The process of putting together “On the Verge” has been a lot of work, but a ton of fun; from the crazy lyrics, dissonant harmonies, fast tempo and dancing, it has been a great time. “Corner of the Sky” Pippin, music and words by Stephen Schwartz.Pippin is a 1972 musical dealing with Charlemagne’s oldest son, Pippin. He is a young prince seeking the meaning of life and his place in the world. “Corner of the Sky” is sung in the first act by Pippin and was originally premiered by John Rubinstein. However, the Jackson 5 released a popular version of this song the same year.“When you Believe” The Prince of Egypt, words and music by Stephen SchwartzHave you forgotten God? Even if you have, He has not forgotten you.- MosesWe have had a year of great anomie, normlessness, as our world drowns in turmoil, chaos and unrest. We cry out for mercy and change but sometimes it seems as if our cries fall on deaf ears. Similar to us, the Israelites in the Book of Exodus, also experienced great anomie as they suffered for 430 years, a people broken and abused by their oppressors. They too felt that no matter how much they cried out, it seemed as if no one was listening. Little did they know that their God had heard them and was working things out for their good. The song “When you Believe” composed by Stephen Schwartz from the Prince of Egypt tells the story of the Israelites’ hopelessness being transformed into praise and faith in God, who rescued them from the hand of their enemy. In a year where we have all been burdened with great suffering in one way or the other, it is important to not lose hope. Though your hope is shaken, it will not be destroyed. I chose this song because I believe that the same God that rescued the Israelites, the God I believe in, is listening to our cries and working it out for our good. In a time where we are forced to stay distant to save each other’s lives, it has been my pleasure to utilize music, which connects our hearts to each other, internet resources and dedicated faculty to share this message of hope, faith and love.“The Secret of Happiness” Daddy Long Legs, words and music by Paul GordonIn this musical, orphan Jerusha Abbott is being sponsored to attend university by a mysterious benefactor who she nicknames ‘Daddy Long Legs’ due to having seen only his tall shadow. This song takes place during the summer between her freshman and sophomore year where she starts to realize how to make the best of her life. I chose this song because I feel that during this pandemic too many people are focusing on the negative aspects of life. While I wish this was a normal senior year, it’s just not possible, so I think we might as well adjust the best we can. Listening to this song is a good reminder of how to live our lives. It reminds us not to stay in the past and shows that only our own standards for happiness matter, not what society tells us. It is the nudge we sometimes need to remember that we make our own happiness.And while I wished we currently lived in a world without masks, I am beyond grateful for this opportunity to perform; if anything, it’s great for practicing diction!“I Will Never Leave You” Side Show, words and music by Henry Krieger and Bill RussellSide Show, a 1997 musical by Bill Russell and Henry Krieger, is based on the lives of Daisy and Violet Hilton. The two women are conjoined twins who become famous stage performers in the 1930s. “I Will Never Leave You” highlights the bond the sisters share, and their eventual acceptance of their unique selves. We selected this piece because it reminds us that we have each other, especially during this time and through the CSBSJU community. Throughout the semester, it has been a comfort to have a consistent piece to practice and a performance to work toward amidst such uncertainty.“The Flagmaker, 1775” Songs For a New World, words and music by Jason Robert Brown The woman in this selection is attempting to hold onto hope while she sews a flag. She is alone waiting for both her son and husband who are fighting in the Revolutionary War. I selected this piece for two reasons. First, I could sympathize with the character’s desire to support her country while hating how the country could tear her livelihood apart. Even though this song takes place in the 18th?century, it felt incredibly pertinent to our current landscape. Lastly, I loved the challenge that this song provided to me as a singer. Due to the challenges our pandemic has given us, this year of Opera Workshop has been very personalized. Most of our practices were one on one, allowing for rapid growth, but could be lonely at times. I haven’t even met everyone in our workshop more than once, but I know we all have the same spirit and drive to learn and perform as any other year.“After All of This and Everything” Freaky Friday, Bridgit Carpenter (book), words and music by Brian Yorkey and Tom KittBased on the popular movie of the same name, Freaky Friday circles around a quarreling mother and a daughter who switch bodies for a day and get a chance to live in each other’s shoes. In “After All of This and Everything”, the daughter, currently in the mother’s body, sings to her little brother, Fletcher, about her emotions as the day unfolds. “Clusters of Crocus/ Come to My Garden” The Secret Garden, music by Lucy Smith In this piece Colin sees a vision of his dead mother Lily telling him to come to a garden that she had loved and tended to when she was alive. Colin is able to connect with his mother through this garden since his father, who still grieves Lily’s death, refuses to speak of her because it makes him sad. This song was chosen specifically for us to feature our two high voices and it is from a musical that neither of us knew. Personally, I like to try new things and it conveys a lesson that’s important today. During this pandemic it’s easy to shut down and shut out everything. It’s a scary time, but just like Colin we must all hold onto hope. This garden gives Colin a sense of hope that his mother isn’t really gone because there is still a piece of her here in this garden. Hope is the theme of this piece and we must search to find hope in this difficult time. This process has been difficult. I don’t like singing with a mask on and I don’t like that we are without a live audience but the more I think about it, I am so lucky. This pandemic has taken so much from so many people and I am so fortunate that I can still do what I love. The pandemic can never fully take performing away from me. “Awaiting You” Myths and Hymns, song cycle, words and music by Adam GuettelThis selection is based on a Greek myth and the lyrics found in an antique hymnal. There are no specific characters associated with this song cycle, but the songs concern the relationships between gods and humankind. I chose this song because I find the lyrics mirror aspects of society today, and I have always wanted to perform a song this musically demanding. It has been a very different process working with the constraints of social distancing and mask-wearing, but I am excited to have such a unique final product! “You Can’t Win” The Wiz, words and music by Charlie Smalls based on a screenplay by Joel SchumacherThis musical premiered in 1978 and was loosely based on the original Wizard of Oz story. The African American cast featured Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Lena Horne, Richard Pryor and Nipsey Russell. “You Can’t Win” is sung by the Scarecrow with 4 crows as backup singers“Steppin' Out With My Baby” Easter Parade, words and music by? Irving Berlin I selected this song when David and Carolyn approached me asking if I was willing to do a solo for the show. I have done this song before in my voice lessons and studio with Patricia Kent. I found it to be fun for myself and enjoyable for the audience. All of my preparation and rehearsing for this piece has been masked, working with David, Carolyn, Irina, and Henry. I am so glad I get to perform this piece live for everyone to see, despite it being a limited space.?“Take Me or Leave Me” Rent, words and music by Jonathan LarsonThis rock musical is loosely based on Giacomo Puccini’s La Boheme which premiered in 1896. Rent debuted on Broadway in 1996 and Idina Menzel sang the role of Maureen who performs this song.“Art of the Possible” Evita, words and music by Andrew Lloyd WebberAndrew Lloyd Webber is known for various musical theater selections such as The Phantom of the Opera,?Cats,?Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,?Jesus Christ Superstar?and?Evita. In the original staging, a game of musical chairs represents the rise of political figures. Juan Perón and other military figures compete for power and exhibit their political strategy by singing "The Art of the Possible". This scene signifies the corruption that was involved in the government and how the people merely had to watch what must unfold. This scene then reveals how Evita and Juan Perón won the election (AKA won the game of musical chairs) which made him the new dictator of Argentina. Fun Fact: this was something that actually occurred in Argentina! Andrew Lloyd Webster illustrated the story through thelens of Argentina’s new dictator’s wife, Evita. Director David DeBlieck received feedback from his friends about possible edgy musical scenes that reflected the current times, thus our selection. Practicing this scene was indeed something that many individuals never experienced. Wearing a mask and trying to sing whilst doing light choreography is harder than what may meet the eye. Since our masks obstruct a lot of air circulation, this subsequently made our diction and voice very hard to understand. Thus we had to put in a lot more attention to our diction, voice projection and breath control ALL AT ONCE. With constant practice throughout the weeks, we were ready to be placed in the studio to begin filming. However, with Covid-19, we were unable to be in the same room when performing. We had to schedule several time slots for each singer to record separately. Therefore, we had to be very self-reliant and know our cues for each part of the song. Overall, it was a great experience. Even with the circumstances we are in today, everything was done to the best way possible to not only bring this scene to life but to ensure the safety of everyone involved. “They Just Keep Moving The Line” Smash, music and words by Marc Shaiman and Scott WittmanIn the episode, the setting has Ivy Lynn?performing the song during a theater wing benefit that Eileen Rand, Derek Wills,?Ivy, Tom, and Julia have crashed. Tom and Julia convince Ivy to perform the song to impress the audience in order to entice possible investors. I chose this song because it is a fun power house voice song. I thought it would be a good challenge for me to grow in my skills of having a mixed voice and ‘selling’ the performance. Technology was very helpful in the rehearsal process. First I looked up YouTube versions of the song to sing along with. Then I used an app that is full of accompaniments that I would sing along with to learn the rhythm and memorize words. ?“Suppertime” As Thousands Cheer, words and music by Irving Berlin Berlin’s musical was premiered in 1933. The character singing this song (played by Ethel Waters) is an African American woman whose husband has been lynched by an angry mob. I chose this song because the message of the song really struck a chord. I was filled with emotions when I listened to the original recording. We rehearsed with our masks on at all times, and “Suppertime” will be performed in front of my production peers due to restrictions on an audience.“Burn” Hamilton, words and music by Alex Lacamoire and Lin- Manuel Miranda Eliza Hamilton is one of three Schuyler sisters from New York. She is loving, loyal and committed. She fell in love with Alexander Hamilton at first site and married him. She was also the founder of the first private orphanage in New York City. I choose this song because it really highlights a frustration that I think it’s safe to say we all feel with the year 2020. The song talks about destruction and resurrection. After having been lied to and cheated on by Alexander, Eliza burns the love letters he wrote her that made up the foundation of their relationship. She burns those memories down and she picks herself up from the ashes. She comes back as someone who will not be battered and broken. She is strong. She can handle anything. This year has broken many down in more ways than one. I dare say it has taken more than its given. Nevertheless, we can rise from the ashes stronger than we went in the fire. We may bend but we will NEVER break. The rehearsal process in pulling this song together was very tedious. With COVID regulations and restrictions in place we could only meet to rehearse it together once a week. This meant a discipline on my part to practice on my own to make it as flawless as I could. The masks made things like diction and intonation harder. It was also difficult because normally we would rehearse in front of our peers and receive their encouragement and feedback, etc. but that was not possible. With that being said, we still found small ways to be there for each other and I think things came together quite nicely.“Dead Mom” Beetlejuice, music by Eddie Perfect and books and music by Scott Brown and Anthony King This musical is a stage adaptation of the 1988 film, Beetlejuice. In “Dead Mom” the young gothically angsty protagonist, Lydia, sings about the harsh realities of losing a parent. I selected it on the merits of its impactful lyrics and rock feel. The rehearsal process for this song has proven to be much different from prior years. For the most part, we rehearsed one at a time, distanced, and wearing a mask. The challenge of wearing a mask is the restricted range of emotion that can be visibly seen by anyone viewing the singer. However, once we got into recording, faces were again seen (safely) and we really got to play with full facial expressions. Nevertheless, I am so thankful to be able to make art and share it with others through this recording process. “Does Anybody Have a Map?” Dear Evan Hansen, music and lyrics by Benji Pasek and Justin PaulWe play Heidi Hansen and Cynthia Murphy, the moms of the main characters. Each parent is trying to connect to their children and struggle to keep their families together. When selecting this song, we felt it was a perfect expression of the world we are living in right now. No matter the situation, everyone often feels like they need a guidebook that simply does not exist. We feel the song’s lyrics represent the fact that this year has thrown the entire world a curveball and that everyone is making it up as they go. “All That Jazz” Chicago, music by John Kander and words by Fred EbbVelma Kelly is an eccentric night club/ Vaudeville performer who goes to jail for the murder of her sister and husband. Determined to get away with her murder, Velma will not let anyone stand in her way. I selected this song to pay tribute to the performance of Chicago that was supposed to happen last March. This song is very high energy and brings a fun blast from the past to this year’s song selections. Rehearsing looks much different to say the least, but with the help of technology, the show has been able to go on! I am excited to perform live again, even with a small audience. “You Don’t Know This Man” Parade, music and lyrics by Jason Robert BrownThis song is from the musical Parade, which is based on the 1913 trial and subsequent execution of Jewish American Leo Frank in Georgia. The song is sung by Lucille Frank, Leo’s wife, expressing that her husband has been wrongly accused of the crime he is being punished for.I chose this song partly because of its raw, real emotion. It’s been an exciting journey figuring out the best ways to express that emotion and allow it to shine through. The rehearsal process has also been a very interesting journey, as we’ve not all been able to rehearse and perform live all together, but I’m thankful for the opportunity to explore other ways of performing, like experiencing the process of filming and recording in a studio for the first time. Even though it’s not been ideal, there are still a lot of really awesome things that have come out of this whole process."Alone in the Universe" Seussical, words and music by Stephen FlahertyIn Seussical's original staging, both characters, insightful Horton and angsty Jojo, feel alienated, misunderstood, and, well, alone.?We selected this song because we believe everyone feels this way at one point in their life, especially now during quarantine. People are only able to talk through screens and masks and that can make it hard to connect with others. The song ends however, on a hopeful note. Despite how alone we feel, there will always be others around to comfort us. Since Betsy stayed home for health reasons this semester, rehearsal time meant laggy zoom calls, mute buttons, and lots of patience. It was challenging but we pushed through. We hope you enjoy the end product!“Why We Build the Wall” Hadestown, words and music by Ana?s MitchellIn the song, Hades, the king of the underworld is preaching to his devoted followers, explaining the importance of building a wall. This song was chosen by David DeBlieck because of its powerful messages about politics, and power especially today. Rehearsing was different because of COVID-19 as we had to be distanced and masked during rehearsals. Thankfully we are able to perform this song live because the emotion of the song will be more easily conveyed.?“The Human Heart” Once on this Island, music by Stephen Flaherty, book and lyrics by Lynn LahrensI had the good fortune of seeing the Broadway revival of Once on this Island in 2017 with Lea Salonga playing the role of Erzulie, goddess of Love. The story is set in the Caribbean where a storm has just ravaged an island community, leaving an orphaned Ti Moune stranded in a tree. Four deities direct the fate of this young girl as she grows up with her adoptive parents and seeks her purpose in life. On one magical night, Ti Moune experiences romantic love for the first time while Erzulie sings “The Human Heart”. When considering song selections for this year’s show, I knew in my heart that this song would accompany an ensemble movement “prayer” and serve as the finale of our show. Many thanks to Raven, Maizah and Steffi who share their beautiful voices in this selection, and to the entire cast who endured a cold, wet day in October to film the dance. I hope that our performance leaves you with hope, and a sense of how we all belong to the human heart. ................
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