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OVERVIEW
Title: R.U.R. A Torrent of Light
Composer: Nicole Lizée
Librettist: Nicolas Billon
Language: English
Producer: Tapestry Opera and OCAD University
Run Time: 90
Roles:
| Role | Voice Type | Range ? | Character Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helena | middle-high | A♭3-B♭5 | Human scientist, 38 years old |
| Dom | middle-low | C3-B♭4 | Human scientist, 44 years old |
| [Helena] | high | G3-C6 | A robot in the likeness of a 22-year-old Helena |
| [Alex] | middle-high | F♯3-G♭5 | A robot in the likeness of a human in their early teens |
| [Quinn] | middle-low | F2-G4 | A robot |
| [Riley] | middle-high | F3-F5 | A robot |
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SYNOPSIS
As Dom becomes more focused on growing R.U.R’s profits, Helena’s creative research leads to an unexpected technological breakthrough that pits the couples’ visions squarely against each other. They’ve reached a turning point for humanity, but is humanity ready?
Inspired by Karel Čapek’s 1920’s science-fiction play Rossum’s Universal Robots (which introduced the word “robot” to the English language), composer Nicole Lizée’s and writer Nicolas Billon’s R.U.R. A Torrent of Light grapples with one of our generation’s most fascinating questions.
MUSIC DESCRIPTION
PREMIERE PRODUCTION INFORMATION
Premiere Production: May 28 - June 5, 2022 at The Great Hall, OCAD University, Toronto ON
Producers: Tapestry Opera and OCAD University
Cast:
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Helena | Krisztina Szabó |
| Dom | Peter Barrett |
| [Alex] | Scott Belluz |
| [Helena] | Danielle Buonaiuto |
| [Quinn] | Micah Schroeder |
| [Riley] | Alex Hetherington |
| Soprano | Maeve Palmer |
| Soprano | Annie Ramos |
| Mezzo-Soprano | Jennifer Routhier |
| Dancer | Sofi Gudiño |
| Dancer | Katherine Semchuk |
| Dancer | Emily Spearing |
| Dancer | Brayden Jamil Cairns |
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Director | Michael Hidetoshi Mori |
| Music Director | Gregory Oh |
| Choreographer | Jaime Martino |
| Set Designer | Cameron Anderson |
| Costume Designer | Joanna Yu |
| Lighting Designer | Michelle Ramsay |
| Sound Designer | Debashis Sinha |
| Projection Designer | Cameron Davis |
| Assistant Director | Keith Klassen |
| Associate Choreographer | Rodney Diverlus |
| Assistant Choreographer | Julia Cosentino |
| Assistant Conductor | Juliane Gallant |
| Wearable Technology Designer, Social Body Lab at OCAD University | Kate Hartman |
| Wearable Technology Designer, Social Body Lab at OCAD University | Nick Puckett |
| Wearable Technology Designer, Social Body Lab at OCAD University | Adam Tindale |
| Producer | Caroline Hollway |
| Technical Director | Adrien Whan |
| Technical Manager (Set, props stage) | Ryan Wilson |
| Head of Wardrobe | Alessia Urbani |
| Props Coordinator | Alannah Dzijacky |
| Surtitlist | Camille Rogers |
| Stage Manager (February 2022 Workshop & World Premiere) | Dustyn Wales |
| Stage Manager (December 2021 Workshop) | Daniel Oulton |
| Assistant Stage Manager | Jordan Guetter |
| Apprentice Stage Manager | Conner Bustamante |
| Running Wardrobe | Alex Gilbert |
CREATION
QUOTATIONS FROM MEDIA
"Lizée’s score is a revelation. It uses off-beat rhythms and glitchy synthesizers to create a robotic soundscape that is at once beautiful and terrifying — just like A.I. itself."
- Light's Up Toronto
"...a musically brilliant and thought provoking theatre piece..."
- Opera Canada
"...a visually and aurally compelling production that successfully marries opera and automation, and encourages us to look into the eyes of our creations to try to find the best in ourselves..."
- Broadway World
AWARDS
Dora Mavor Moore Awards
Outstanding New Opera: Nicole Lizée & Nicolas Billon
Outstanding Direction: Michael Hidetoshi Mori
Outstanding Production: Tapestry Opera in partnership with OCAD University
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble: Maeve Palmer, Annie Ramos, Jennifer Routhier, Alex Hetherington, Micah Schroeder, Sofi Gudiño, Katherine Semchuk, Emily Spearing and Brayden Cairns
Outstanding Musical Direction: Gregory Oh
Outstanding Achievement in Design: Debashis Sinha
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MEDIA
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