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 one particular sound or style. Every single display has a distinctive tale and design. From rock ballads to funk, pop, metallic, and far more. What is at the main of all of the audio are unforgettable tunes that assist the tale of the exhibit.

Are there unique devices or musical approaches that are one of a kind to rock opera?

Darmock: There have been a amount of various sorts of devices employed in rock opera performances, but none exceptional to rock opera. Normally there are drums, guitars, bass, and keyboard. Often there are other devices these types of as aerophone, cello, saxophone and a lot more dependent on the production.

Considering that the score is penned by a wide variety of composers, what do you do as the band director to create cohesion throughout the musical quantities?

Darmock: The composers really should be presented credit history for functioning with a single one more and making use of every other’s will work when making tunes to create cohesion. At the time the band experienced the compositions we worked collectively to equilibrium our elements and make adjustments rhythmically or dynamically where desired.

 

How extensive have you been doing the job on BROS productions? 

AG Sherman (costume designer): Like a great deal of us, I’ve been performing Baltimore Do-it-yourself things for decades. I volunteered with BROS for the initial time on the 2nd operate of their to start with exhibit, Gründlehämmer. I went off to do other things for a while and came back proper prior to the pandemic, whomp whomp. Corona compelled us all to emphasis. Given that then, I worked on some puppet things, a number of sculptural masks, and ran Costumes for Glitterus

Can you explore how intently you get the job done with lighting, set style, and props in producing the costumes?

AG Sherman: BROS is all about collaboration and the electric power of teaming up. This time, Costumes labored most carefully with Props (genius Michael Bull also will make our weapons and armor), the Dragon Group (as well various to list but led by Sam Hanson, who arrived ready to breathe fire and kick-ass), and the incomparable Creatures Krackens, Justin Sabe and Tracey Townsend. Tracey and I built the sleaze-spider, Zeth, jointly for Isiah Dorsey’s stellar overall performance. I’ve experienced the satisfaction of realizing [Creatures Designer] Justin Sabe for around 15 decades. He remains continually entire of delightful surprises. 

Because of the elemental character of the exhibit, early on I pitched to Aran Keating, and the show creator, Sarah Burns Gilchrist, that the costumes must be based on the Tarot. They and director Amanda Rife permitted me the liberty to color the Arcana with my very own ‘70s-tinged style, resulting in an anachronistic underground weighty-metal appear that ideally feels well timed and fits the subject matter make a difference. Lighting guru Chris Allen and the Sets Workforce, led by Max Sobolik and Kate Smith-Morse, created things that just gelled organically. Kate and I talked about finding the ideal colour and detail for certain vignettes, but we have been definitely on a similar wavelength from the get started.