In 2019, Experiments in Opera started a new venture that marked a significant innovation in the opera development process. Rather than think about operas as four—six-year projects made by individual librettists and composers, and inspired by television writers’ rooms, EiO assembled a group of playwrights, librettists, storytellers and composers to collaborate on a single large-scale opera. This group of artists works together on script outlines, story ideas, librettos and musical scores. The Writers’ Room project addresses EiO’s mission to rethink the process of creating opera and to nurture new voices as part of a community of artistry and learning.
The Writers’ Room will continue in its third iteration in the fall of 2022, generating works for production in 2023—24. The cohort will include five writers and five composers who will create five 15—20 minute operas connected thematically (but not serialized). No prior experience in opera is necessary. The application period for writers is now closed; EiO will post information for composer applicants shortly.
Timeline:
Monday, August 15th: Deadline for applications (applications are now closed; all applicants will be contacted shortly.)
Mid-September: Meetings will start the week of September 12th and continue weekly for 6—8 weeks. Meeting sessions are each 3 hours long.
Late spring, 2023: Workshops will be held
2022—23 season: Finished works premiere in EiO’s next season
Previous Writers’ Rooms:
In celebration of EiO’s 10th Anniversary, the company launched its first Writers’ Room and embarked on an epic new video opera series titled Everything for Dawn. Learn more about the artists and the work here.
During the 2020-2021 season, Experiments in Opera convened a second iteration of the Writers’ Room to produce the podcast opera, Aqua Net & Funyuns. Learn more about the artists involved in this remotely-produced opera and listen to the five delirious stories here.