Hook Up – COR

CAST: Emily Lukasik | PHOTO CREDIT: Dahlia Katz

CAST: Alicia Ault, Emily Lukasik, Alexis Gordon | PHOTO CREDIT: Dahlia Katz

CAST: Emily Lukasik, Nathan Carroll | PHOTO CREDIT: Dahlia Katz

View more photos below - click here

OVERVIEW

Title: Hook Up
Composer: Chris Thornborrow
Librettist: Julie Tepperman
Commissioned By:

Tapestry Opera

Language: English
Producer:

Tapestry Opera and Theatre Passe Muraille

Run Time:

Roles:

Role	Voice Type	Range ?	Character Description
Mindy	high	G3-F5	A new university student, age 17
Cindy	high	A3-F5	Mindy's best friend since grade 9, just turned 18
Tyler	middle	C3-F4	Mindy's boyfriend of two years, also 17
Steph/Mom/Professor/Heather	high	Ab3-F5	Residence leader / Mindy's Mom / Feminism 101 Professor / Tyler's friend
Dad/Dude/Duke	middle-low	G2-F4	Mindy's Dad / Tyler's friend / Residence leader

Please Note: The table above has content that is scrollable left to right.

Orchestration: Percussion, Piano, Soundscape

Trailer

View more videos below - click here

SYNOPSIS

Content warning: explicit language, sexual violence, sexual content, alcohol, blackout drinking

Hook Up tells the story of three friends who have made it to university, each with their own unique desires and inner conflicts. Mindy is just excited to keep her high school friend circle together and finally get some privacy with her boyfriend. Tyler, Mindy’s boyfriend, is caught between his love for Mindy and the new, extroverted pressures of uni life. Finally, there’s Mindy’s best friend, Cindy, who’s ready to explore her newfound freedom. Each character’s path and diverging reactions to a traumatic event speaks to the dysfunctional and inadequate ways sex, rape culture, and consent are taught (and not taught) to young people, and the impact of sexual violence and trauma on our lives and relationships, on and off campus.

We begin with each character in their dorm room at (the fictional) Lanark University: Mindy saying goodbye to her parents, Cindy lamenting her nerdy roommate, and Tyler playing Fortnite on headset. Ensuing scenes demonstrate the wildly different advice Lanark Resident Advisors give girls and boys. The girls are told to be constantly vigilant against "douchy" guys who'll take advantage of them if they get "black-out drunk," emphasising that "It's your job to keep yourself safe;" while the boys are told (only half-jokingly) that “No means yes, and yes means anal.”

It doesn’t take long for each relationship to get tested. Mindy’s homebody approach to university puts new pressures on Tyler who wants to make new friends and not spend every single night in Mindy's dorm "Netflix & Chilling;" meanwhile Cindy and Mindy begin questioning and judging each other’s lifestyle, in particular Mindy's judgements towards Cindy's constant partying and careless hook-ups. Slut-shaming and prude-shaming ensues.

It all comes to a head when Tyler and Mindy decide to “take a break,” and Cindy finally convinces Mindy to go out and get some experience by hooking up with a random stranger at an upcoming campus Halloween party. They go, and Mindy discovers Tyler there with another girl. Lots of drinking follows...

The next morning, Mindy is left stunned and shocked at what little she remembers from the party and is horrified that she woke up naked in a stranger's bed. Cindy tries to make light of the situation before Tyler storms in, showing them both Instagram photos of Mindy making out with an unknown Dude at the party - none of which Mindy remembers. Tyler breaks up with her, while Mindy goes on to blame Cindy for failing to look out for her at the party.

Mindy spirals into a deep depression and doesn't leave her room or respond to Cindy's or her parents' attempts at contact for three days. In the final scene, a knock on Mindy's door from a female ally gently presents the possibility of recovery, yet, like in real life, leaves no concrete resolution.

Hook Up, with its integration (via projections) of the intense social media lives of our three main characters, strikes a profound cord; it combines humour and real-talk with complex issues and fully realized, complicated characters.

MUSIC DESCRIPTION

Chris Thornborrow cleverly blends the engaging rhythmicality of contemporary musical theatre with the harmonic and structural complexity of contemporary opera. The result is a through-composed piece that underpins the complexity of the issues the show presents. Instrumental forces are nominal, befitting a modern musical theatre style, with piano, percussion, and keyboard being the only necessary equipment. Melodic lines are complex, but not overly so, allowing for a wide range of singers to perform this work.

SCORES FOR PURCHASE

Piano Vocal Scores:

Hook Up – Piano Vocal Score

Purchase This Score

Libretto:

Hook Up – Libretto

Purchase This Score

Arias & Excerpts:

Hook Up - Section 1, Scene 1: "Opening Montage Overture"

Cindy, Mindy, and Tyler revel in the newfound freedom of university life. Cindy delights in being single, Mindy says goodbye to her parents, and is excited for more privacy and time with Tyler... who is looking forward to playing more Fortnite.

Character	Voice Type	Range ?
Cindy	high	B3-F5
Mindy	high	G3-F5
Tyler	middle	C3-F4
Mother	high	C4-E5
Father	middle-low	A2-D4

Please Note: The table above has content that is scrollable left to right.

Hook Up - Section 1, Scene 2: "The Rules of the Dorm"

Dorm RAs lay down the laws of drinking and sex, which are incredibly different for the boys vs. the girls.

Character	Voice Type	Range ?
Steph	high	Ab3-E5
Duke	middle-low	A2-F4
Cindy	silent-spoken	spoken
Mindy	silent-spoken	spoken
Tyler	silent-spoken	spoken

Please Note: The table above has content that is scrollable left to right.

Hook Up - Section 1, Scene 3: "Meet Up: The First Night"

Cindy is annoyed she’s not roommates with Mindy; the audience knows Mindy has secretly asked for her own room. Tyler wants to go a party, but Mindy convinces him to “Netflix and chill.”

Character	Voice Type	Range ?
Mindy	high	B3-D5
Tyler	middle	C3-C4
Cindy	high	C4-E5

Please Note: The table above has content that is scrollable left to right.

Hook Up - Section 2, Scene 1: "Honeymoon Suite: Trouble in "Pornadise""

Tyler is bored. Mindy worries they’re becoming their parents, and wants to spice things up. Tyler suggests watching porn together, which only makes things more awkward.

Character	Voice Type	Range ?
Mindy	high	Bb3-D#5
Tyler	middle	C3-D4

Please Note: The table above has content that is scrollable left to right.

Hook Up - Section 2, Scene 2: "Feminism 101: Gender, Justice & Change"

A kick-ass professor guides the girls through a "Feminism 101" presentation, while Cindy and Mindy’s relationship reaches a boiling point. Cindy judges Mindy’s homebody approach to university life; Mindy judges Cindy’s seemingly only interest in “hooking up” at parties.

Purchase This Score

Character	Voice Type	Range ?
Female Professor	high	A#3-F5
Cindy	high	C#4-Eb5
Mindy	high	C#4-Eb5

Please Note: The table above has content that is scrollable left to right.

Hook Up - Section 2, Scene 2A: "In the Hall"

Cindy and Mindy are kicked out of class for causing a disturbance. Mindy comes clean about having asked for a private room behind Cindy's back. The two reconcile and agree to hang out (without Tyler) that night.

Character	Voice Type	Range ?
Cindy	high	C4-E5
Mindy	high	D4-E5

Please Note: The table above has content that is scrollable left to right.

Hook Up - Section 2, Scene 2B

Tyler lets the guys know he’s free for the night. They roast him, and head to the pub.

Character	Voice Type	Range ?
Tyler	middle	D3-D4
Dude 1	middle-low	D#3-C4
Dude 2	middle-low	A3-D5

Please Note: The table above has content that is scrollable left to right.

Hook Up - Section 2, Scene 3: "Girl's Night" (duet)

Cindy tells Mindy about her empowering sexual explorations of late, and questions if Mindy is really ok with spending her life with just one person.

Purchase This Score

Character	Voice Type	Range ?
Cindy	high	C#4-D5
Mindy	high	C#4-E5

Please Note: The table above has content that is scrollable left to right.

Hook Up - Section 2, Scene 4: "Texting Blitz"

A barrage of texts combined with singing let us know what Cindy, Mindy, and Tyler have been up to. Relationships grow more and more intense, culminating in Cindy telling Mindy she’s seen Tyler studying with a second year girl named Heather.

Character	Voice Type	Range ?
Cindy	high	C4-Eb5
Mindy	high	C4-D5
Tyler	middle	D#3-F4

Please Note: The table above has content that is scrollable left to right.

Hook Up - Section 2, Scene 5: "Time Out" (duet)

Mindy confronts Tyler about his “study partner” and accuses him of lying to her, which Tyler denies. Mindy makes a sudden decision: she wants a time-out, and thinks they should see other people. Tyler leaves, confused and devastated.

Character	Voice Type	Range ?
Mindy	high	C4-E5
Tyler	middle	D3-G4

Please Note: The table above has content that is scrollable left to right.

Hook Up - Section 3, Scene 1: "The Rules of the Hookup" (duet)

Cindy and Mindy get into constumes and pre-drink for the Halloween Kegger. Cindy teases Mindy for her lack of sexual adventurousness and gives her “the rules of the hook up” just in case...

Purchase This Score

Character	Voice Type	Range ?
Mindy	high	C#4-D5
Cindy	high	Bb3-D5

Please Note: The table above has content that is scrollable left to right.

Hook Up - Section 3, Scene 2: "The Party Chant (Video)"

Costumed party goers cross the campus, chanting.

Character	Voice Type	Range ?
Party Goers	silent-spoken	spoken

Please Note: The table above has content that is scrollable left to right.

Hook Up - Section 3, Scene 3: "The Party"

Cindy and Mindy eye potential hook-ups for Mindy. Tyler arrives with Heather. Mindy’s livid, and Cindy reminds her not to do anything crazy. Mindy’s response is to commit to the idea of hooking up with someone at the party.

Character	Voice Type	Range ?
Cindy	high	C4-C5
Mindy	high	A3-C#5
Tyler	silent-spoken	silent
Heather	silent-spoken	silent
Cowboy Dude	silent-spoken	silent

Please Note: The table above has content that is scrollable left to right.

Hook Up - Section 3, Scene 3C: "The Buddy System"

Cindy tries to get Mindy to come away with her, but Mindy insists she's fine and goes upstairs with Cowboy Dude.

Character	Voice Type	Range ?
Cindy	high	B3-B4
Mindy	high	D4-E5
Cowboy Dude	silent-spoken	silent

Please Note: The table above has content that is scrollable left to right.

Hook Up - Section 4, Scene 1: "The Morning After: Walk of Shame"

Hungover, walking home the morning after the party, Mindy remembers disturbing images from the night before - she isn't sure exactly what happened.

Character	Voice Type	Range ?
Mindy	silent-spoken	silent
Cowboy Dude	silent-spoken	silent
Party Goers	silent-spoken	silent

Please Note: The table above has content that is scrollable left to right.

Hook Up - Section 4, Scene 2: "Text Alerts"

Mindy plugs in her phone, which died at the party. It comes alive with a constant stream of texts from Tyler and Cindy from the night before, who were both worried about her. Mindy rushes to the bathroom to throw up.

Purchase This Score

Character	Voice Type	Range ?
Mindy	silent-spoken	silent
Cindy	high	Db4-Db5
Tyler	middle	C#3-E4

Please Note: The table above has content that is scrollable left to right.

Hook Up - Section 4, Scene 3: "Putting the Pieces Together"

Someone has posted pictures of Mindy at the party with different men. Mindy, Cindy, and Tyler argue about who is to blame. Cindy and Tyler depart angry, leaving Mindy sitting alone on her bed.

Purchase This Score

Character	Voice Type	Range ?
Mindy	high	C4-Eb5
Cindy	high	A3-C#5
Tyler	middle	C#3-G4

Please Note: The table above has content that is scrollable left to right.

Hook Up - Section 5, Scene 1: "Mindy's Spiral"

Mindy tries to understand if she was raped at the party. She can't make herself contact anyone, but seeks information online; Cindy slips a morning after pill under the door.

Purchase This Score

Character	Voice Type	Range ?
Mindy	silent-spoken	silent
Cindy	high	B3-C#5
Tyler	silent-spoken	spoken
Mindy's Dad	middle-low	B2-E4

Please Note: The table above has content that is scrollable left to right.

Hook Up - Section 5, Scene 2: "Heather" (duet)

Heather and Mindy share a moment of intimacy as they discuss their experiences of sexual violence.

Purchase This Score

Character	Voice Type	Range ?
Mindy	high	Bb3-F5
Heather	middle-high	A3-Eb5

Please Note: The table above has content that is scrollable left to right.

PREMIERE PRODUCTION INFORMATION

Premiere Production:

January 29 - February 9, 2019 at Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace, Toronto ON

Producers:

Tapestry Opera and Theatre Passe Muraille

Cast:

Role	Name
Mindy	Emily Lukasik
Cindy	Alicia Ault
Tyler	Nathan Carroll
Mom/Steph/Heather	Alexis Gordon
Dad/Duke/Dude	Jeff Lillico

Please Note: The table above has content that is scrollable left to right.

Premiere Production Team:

Role	Name
Director and Dramaturg	Richard Greenblatt
Music Director & Pianist	Jennifer Tung
Producer	Jaime Martino
Set/Costume Design	Kelly Wolf
Sound Design	Chris Thornborrow
LX/Video Design	Montgomery Martin
Stage Manager	Tamara Vuckovic
Production Manager (Tapestry)	Shawn Henry
Production Manager (TPM)	Eric Read
Apprentice Stage Manager	Anna Spencer
Percussionist	Greg Harrison
Pianist	Andrea Grant
Talk-Back Facilitators: CANVAS Arts Action Programs	Ayla Lefkowitz
Talk-Back Facilitators: CANVAS Arts Action Programs	Miriam Selick

Please Note: The table above has content that is scrollable left to right.

CREATION

DEVELOPMENT

Hook Up had a development period of about five years, and was Michael Mori’s first commission as Artistic Director of Tapestry Opera.

It began in August 2013 as part of Tapestry Opera’s LibLab program (where Chris and Julie met) and was titled Cindy + Mindy = BFs 4EVR, a story about two girls using Facebook Messenger to slut-shame one another. This was then developed into Selfie, a seventy-five minute piece exploring cyberbullying, meant for a middle school audience.

Development of Selfie ultimately stalled in 2015, but both Thornborrow and Tepperman were committed to telling a story with complex and complicated women centre stage. In 2016, they brought on dramaturge and director Richard Greenblatt for inspiration and re-invigoration. They re-focused the work to explore the themes of consent and rape culture on university campuses.

Thornborrow has experience in several genres, and utilized his knowledge of chamber writing and film music to tell the “story underneath the story.” As the piece evolved, he adjusted the vocal lines farther from an operatic style to a more contemporary musical theatre aesthetic. He also included in his soundscape typical noises from campuses and parties to further evoke the setting.

QUOTATIONS FROM CREATIVE TEAM

“...we’ve been very careful to not turn this opera into a brochure or a tidy lesson with a concrete resolution; we intentionally end in a place where there are more questions than answers, with the hopes of sparking rich conversations. From the very beginning we, along with Tapestry, have been committed to engaging professionals to facilitate talkbacks and provide resources after the performances. For us, it’s not about portraying ‘victims’ and ‘perpetrators,’ but hoping that the art we put out into the world can contribute to a larger conversation and narrative.”

- Julie Tepperman

QUOTATIONS FROM MEDIA

"This is opera at its most socially engaged and political. Often this is a recipe for theatrical disaster. But almost miraculously, Hook Up actually works. …It is serious and thought-provoking theatre that speaks to a pressing social issue. But it's also nice to have our brows unfurrowed by lines such as, "those Cheetos are nasty."

- John Terauds, Toronto Star

"All I'm saying is: I heard belting in a show produced by a company with opera in its name and I'm HERE FOR IT. #LIVING"

- Greg Finney, Schmopera

“The talented people at Tapestry Opera have done something seemingly impossible: they made an entertaining, deeply moving and powerful modern opera about campus rape. Worth your time."

- Sarah Fulford, Toronto Life

"The story and production packs a punch... Hook Up looks at issues that teens are dealing with and treats them with respect, compassion and generosity of spirit. It's an important work."

- Lynn Slotkin, The Slotkin Letter

"Beautiful, gut-wrenching and absolutely riveting."

- Keira Grant, Mooney on Theatre

"Tepperman's libretto is incredible, because it's real. So true it hurts."

- Jenna Simeonov, Schmopera

"An exceptional show...Rich characters. Urgent theme. Powerful production."

- Glenn Sumi, NOW Magazine

"composer Chris Thornborrow and librettist Julie Tepperman’s new work had a powerful effect on the audience... an artistically accomplished piece of music theatre, [and] a must-see event."

- Jennifer Parr, Wholenote

"The operatic, yet accessible treatment of such an affecting topic should make Hook Up a creative powerhouse that brings new audiences to the artform. Beyond that, it should provoke thought, spark discourse and shed light on the true meaning of consent. Everyone should experience it."

- Arpita Ghosal, Sesaya Preview

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Webpage Link

Program

Press Package

Preview: Shedoesthecity

Preview: Schmopera

Hook Up: Selected Audience Responses

“I was left thinking about how we as young women have the confidence to set our boundaries as we explore our sexuality until that agency is taken away through sexual violence, guilt, and shame.”

" I could not stop thinking about it all night. It was so incredible to see it with my daughter. We have had some really deep discussions these past two days."

“I want to tell you how much I was moved by your show – literally, to tears, several times. The words were so stunning, so simple, so clever, and so heart-wrenching. Thank you so much for telling these stories in a way that makes us all, especially men, question our own implication in a perpetual cycle of blame, abuse, and a baffling lack of accountability.”

“I thought it was fantastic and daring and respectful through every complex moment, and always searingly honest and full of heart. Extraordinary.”

MEDIA

PRODUCTION PHOTOS

VIDEOS

Trailer

Highlight Reel

Content Tags:

There are no reviews yet. Be the first one to write one.

REVIEW THIS OPERA

Submit a Suggestion

Please Note: As we try our best to ensure that all the data on this page is correct please understand that these pages were built by humans, so we're bound to make mistakes. Let us know if you have found any errors, typos, or mistakes on this page. If you have any suggestions on adding tags to this page, please use this email link as well. Thank you, your help and contribution are appreciated.

Submit Suggestion For This Page