The Stage 32 Videos: Cyber-bullying

Hi all, I'm Michael Roth, a composer based in LA - and I recently produced a new through-sung web series, THE WEB OPERA, based on a true story - the trailer is posted here, and below is more info about this unique project - and I would love to know what you think: <<<<<< “A great 21st Century Opera, an important story told very very well.’— Randy Newman - THE WEB OPERA, Michael Roth’s provocative self-produced groundbreaking experiment in opera, film and music created to be presented online, tells of a group of college freshmen and the invasion of privacy that forever changes a young man’s life. Based on true events. filmed as if seen via laptop, iPhone, or iPad, this story about the violation of privacy compels the viewer to violate the privacy of the characters themselves. An official selection at fourteen film festivals and acclaimed with a Humanitarian Award, THE WEB OPERA also encourages and supports via its website suicide prevention and the fight against cyber abuse. Watch the first three episodes of THE WEB OPERA here - https://www.thewebopera.com ***** “Roth and his collaborators have created a unique, remarkable, and moving work that wrestles with the toxic dangers posed by the confluence of (here, homophobic) bullying and internet technology. In THE WEB OPERA, the audience views the action through the perspective of a computer webcam and/or the camera of a computer, laptop, or iPhone. Throughout, we are reminded of how much humans have become dependent upon and addicted to this technology. The close-up, claustrophobic shots only serve to exacerbate this hard truth. Roth’s musical score is an ingenious synthesis of styles and genres, classical and popular, featuring both computer and traditional instruments. For certain, the influences of both the Broadway stage and popular music may be heard. But what emerges is a style all Roth’s own, one that does not sound derivative. I particularly admire the way Roth delineates the three central characters (all the principals are referred to by their computer screen names); the college roommate (FG97), his friend (June99), and the violinist (Violinist98). Violinist98 (touchingly sung and acted by Adam von Almen) in particular emerges as a sympathetic, three-dimensional character. Violinist 98’s beautiful Episode 2 monologue could easily hold its own on the popular or concert recital stage. The other two principal vocalist/actors, Reuben Uy and Stephanie Cecile Yavelow, are also absolutely convincing in every way. All of the singers employ a popular (rather than an operatic) method of voice production, entirely appropriate for the drama and Roth’s music. I found THE WEB OPERA to be both a compelling and fulfilling musical experience, a worthy and thought-provoking work that merits attention.” (Ken Meltzer, Fanfare Magazine) Watch the first three episodes of THE WEB OPERA here - https://www.thewebopera.com <<< Composer Michael Roth, whose work has been called “music one could imagine Charles Ives composing had he encountered beat poetry and rock and roll” has composed chamber music, music for film and dance, and especially music and sound for theatre, over 250 scores heard throughout North America (Broadway, off-Broadway, Canada’s Stratford Festival), collaborating with Tom Hanks, Randy Newman, Christopher Plummer, Peter Sellars, Stacy Keach, Brian Dennehy, Stephen Erdody, Peter Sprague and many others – including his authorized music/theatre treatment of SAMUEL BECKETT’S “IMAGINATION DEAD IMAGINE” for string quartet, recorded voices, and laptop, performed in Los Angeles, San Diego, and most recently, at a Beckett Festival in Prague.