{"id":1454,"date":"2018-01-31T06:09:45","date_gmt":"2018-01-31T06:09:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/aroadkillopera.com\/test\/?p=1454"},"modified":"2018-01-31T06:29:04","modified_gmt":"2018-01-31T06:29:04","slug":"a-roadkill-opera-from-the-grammys-in-2015-to-the-ascap-foundation-musical-theatre-workshop-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aroadkillopera.com\/test\/2018\/01\/31\/a-roadkill-opera-from-the-grammys-in-2015-to-the-ascap-foundation-musical-theatre-workshop-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"A Roadkill Opera: From the GRAMMYs in 2015 to the ASCAP Foundation Musical Theatre Workshop 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"

Oh my.<\/p>\n

A Roadkill Opera<\/strong> <\/em>has been invited to audit the\u00a0February 2018\u00a0ASCAP Foundation Musical Theatre Workshop<\/a> in Los Angeles,\u00a0presented in conjunction with Universal Theatrical Group.\u00a0The acclaimed annual Workshops (there will be a spring edition in New York) are led by Artistic Director Stephen Schwartz \u2014 the Tony, Oscar and Grammy Award-winning composer\/lyricist whose numerous credits include the Broadway musicals Wicked<\/em><\/strong>, Godspell<\/strong>,<\/em> and Pippin<\/em><\/strong>, as well as the DreamWorks’ film The Prince of Egypt<\/em><\/strong>, and Walt Disney films Enchanted<\/em><\/strong>, Pocahontas<\/strong>,\u00a0<\/em>and The Hunchback of Notre Dame<\/strong>. T<\/em>he program is composed of various workshop sessions featuring prominent guests from all aspects of musical theater including producers, directors, critics, performers, and composers. Workshop alumni include Steven Lutvak (Tony award-winning A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder<\/em><\/strong>), Glenn Slater (Tony-nominated School of Rock<\/em><\/strong>), Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin (Elf<\/em><\/strong>).<\/p>\n

Among the songwriters who have participated in the workshops over the years are: Jonathan Larson (Rent<\/em><\/strong>), Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Ragtime<\/em><\/strong>), Steven Lutvak (A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder<\/em><\/strong>), Andrew Lippa (The Addams Family<\/em><\/strong>) and Glenn Slater (Sister Act<\/em><\/strong>).<\/p>\n

\"Photo
Jeffrey Dokken conducts the chamber orchestra for A Roadkill Opera<\/strong> while recording engineer Jeff Gruber adjusts microphones. Orchestral tracks were recorded live and simultaneously (for the most part) in January 2013 at Blue House Studios in Kensington, Maryland.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This is inspiring. When the 2013 studio recording of\u00a0A Roadkill Opera<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0led to\u00a0an invitation to attend the GRAMMYs<\/strong><\/a> in February 2015, there had only been a single public workshop concert performance. In 2016 there were six\u00a0fully-staged performances; four at the Mead Theatre Lab at Flashpoint<\/strong> in Washington, DC, and two by the Symphony Orchestra of Northern Virginia (SONOVA)<\/strong> at the James Lee Community Theater<\/strong> in Falls Church, Virginia.<\/p>\n

\"Photo
A Roadkill Opera<\/strong>\u2018s librettist Stephan Alexander Parker and music director\/conductor Jeffrey Dokken show their Grammy tickets before the Premiere in February 2015. The Roadkill entourage also included video director Ben Ganz and merchandizing director DJ Choupin. Composer Ferdinando Paer was not available to attend, as he passed away in 1839.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Photo
A Roadkill Opera<\/strong>‘s Stephan Alexander Parker and Jeffrey Dokken with photographer\/merchandising director DJ Choupin at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards<\/strong> in February 2015.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Photo
A Roadkill Opera<\/strong>‘s video director Ben Ganz (founder of Vego Pictures<\/a><\/strong>) checks on the after-party for the 57th Annual Grammy Awards<\/strong> while librettist Stephan Alexander Parker is pleased he remembers where he parked the car…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n