Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program alum Rachel J. Peters (Cycle 14) will present her new opera THE LESSON live on Zoom through On Site Opera. Performances begin on January 21st, 2022.
Based on Georg Philipp Telemann's DER SCHULMEISTER the new 45-minute opera with additional music, libretto, and singing translation by Peters, brings an internationally celebrated operatic contralto (Stephanie Blythe) into the world of Zoom teaching while her headlining stage engagements are put on hold. Thought to be teaching trained singers at a prestigious conservatory, she catches her assistant in a scheduling faux pas and instead takes the Zoom stage for a classroom of liberal arts students at a community college with the same acronym – a group with little singing experience or interest in what the great diva had in mind. Intercepted by an overwhelmed school administrator (Laquita Mitchell) with a side hustle as an amateur choir director, the pair clash over teaching technique, singing and the true meaning of art. While scales and arias were part of the curriculum, with a little humor and a lot of heart, they leave with a much more valuable lesson in humility, humanity, and truly finding their voice.
For more information and tickets, CLICK HERE.