Male singers needed for new folk opera workshop / Tear a Root from the Earth

The writers of a new opera comprising folk, blues, and bluegrass music, Tear a Root from the Earth, are looking for two male vocalist/actors comfortable with folk music for an early workshop of the piece.

Tear a Root from the Earth is a folk opera that uses the traditional American musical forms of blues and bluegrass to tell a quintessentially Afghan story. Two narratives, set at two different points in recent Afghan history, explore themes of family, conflict, desperation, and repetition.

The workshop will focus on a portion of one act of the opera (comprising roughly seven contiguous songs), and will only require two performers: a tenor and tenor/baritone. The performers can be of any age and ethnicity.

Shah Wali [tenor], a young Afghan grape farmer, living in the present day in a small village outside Kandahar. In an effort to make money and gain access to medicine for his ailing mother, Shah Wali reluctantly joins up with Taliban. He quickly becomes disillusioned with their mission and their tactics, and must make a life or death decision about how he will proceed.

Zalmay [tenor or baritone], a childhood friend of Shah Wali's who is a local, low-level Taliban commander. Zalmay is the one who convinces Shah Wali to join up using deception, gives him courage in the heat of battle, and is ultimately betrayed by Shah Wali when his deception is revealed.

The time commitment includes:
an individual session with the composer (at a time and location convenient for each performer)
two evening rehearsals with a band on July 2 & 3 in the U St area, with food and drink provided.

A $50 stipend will be paid to each performer.

Please reply with headshot, resume, and links to any vocal recordings.
If you are interested and available, we will happily send along materials including music, lyrics, and initial recordings.

Best,
Marina McCure, John Bair, and Johnny Walsh

Marina McClure
(703) 963-8644
marina.l.mcclure@gmail.com
www.marinamcclurephotography.com
www.marinamcclure.com