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Synopsis
Dark, intense and equally joyous and sorrowful, The Scarlet Ibis tells the story of a remarkable disabled boy, nicknamed Doodle by his older brother, who pushes him to be “normal.” Set in rural North Carolina from 1912-18, the story contrasts notions of physical wholeness versus mystical otherness. The episodic libretto transports us to various locations: a house, a barn loft, a field and swamp. Doodle and his tough-minded brother's lives become intertwined with that of an exotic tropical bird which has flown far off course. The opera unfolds in thirteen expressionistic scenes, moving from Doodle’s traumatic birth to a tragic ending. Based on the widely anthologized 1960 short story by James Hurst, the narrative draws on elements of Southern Gothic, boy’s adventure, and family tragedy. The original production premiered in the PROTOTYPE Festival, and was promoted as suitable for audiences of 12 and older.
Productions
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Title Information
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Approximate Runtime (hh:mm)
1:40
Number of Acts
1
Original Cast
Hai-Ting Chinn, mezzo-soprano
Eric Brenner, countertenor
Abigail Fischer, mezzo-soprano
Nicole Mitchell, alto
Keith Phares, baritone
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