Hard Work Having Fun: Baltimore Rock Opera Society

What defines the quintessential seem of a rock opera? 

Cynthia Schatoff, who goes by Darmock (band director): Rock opera can’t be narrowed down to any a single seem or genre. Every display has a various story and type. From rock ballads to funk, pop, metal, and extra. What is at the main of all of the music are memorable tunes that assistance the tale of the present.

Are there particular devices or musical approaches that are unique to rock opera?

Darmock: There have been a number of different kinds of devices applied in rock opera performances, but none one of a kind to rock opera. Generally there are drums, guitars, bass, and keyboard. Occasionally there are other instruments this kind of as aerophone, cello, saxophone and far more based on the creation.

Due to the fact the rating is composed by a wide range of composers, what do you do as the band director to create cohesion all through the musical quantities?

Darmock: The composers really should be presented credit score for doing work with a single another and using every other’s will work when setting up tunes to generate cohesion. The moment the band had the compositions we worked with each other to harmony our parts and make adjustments rhythmically or dynamically in which wanted.

 

How very long have you been doing work on BROS productions? 

AG Sherman (costume designer): Like a ton of us, I have been executing Baltimore Do-it-yourself things for many years. I volunteered with BROS for the 1st time on the next run of their very first exhibit, Gründlehämmer. I went off to do other things for a when and came back proper just before the pandemic, whomp whomp. Corona pressured us all to concentration. Given that then, I worked on some puppet things, a several sculptural masks, and ran Costumes for Glitterus. 

Can you discuss how closely you do the job with lighting, established style, and props in establishing the costumes?

AG Sherman: BROS is all about collaboration and the power of teaming up. This time, Costumes worked most intently with Props (genius Michael Bull also can make our weapons and armor), the Dragon Team (far too many to record but led by Sam Hanson, who arrived ready to breathe fireplace and kick-ass), and the incomparable Creatures Krackens, Justin Sabe and Tracey Townsend. Tracey and I created the sleaze-spider, Zeth, jointly for Isiah Dorsey’s stellar efficiency. I’ve had the satisfaction of recognizing [Creatures Designer] Justin Sabe for around 15 many years. He continues to be persistently entire of pleasant surprises. 

Simply because of the elemental character of the clearly show, early on I pitched to Aran Keating, and the clearly show creator, Sarah Burns Gilchrist, that the costumes ought to be dependent on the Tarot. They and director Amanda Rife authorized me the flexibility to coloration the Arcana with my very own ‘70s-tinged fashion, resulting in an anachronistic underground major-steel search that hopefully feels well timed and matches the matter subject. Lighting guru Chris Allen and the Sets Group, led by Max Sobolik and Kate Smith-Morse, developed things that just gelled organically. Kate and I talked about choosing the excellent colour and element for certain vignettes, but we ended up unquestionably on a similar wavelength from the start out.