AOP to Present World Premiere Opera AS ONE at BAM Fisher in 2015

The Brooklyn Academy Of Music (BAM) has announced American Opera Projects (AOP) among the participants in the BAM Professional Development Program (BAM PDP) led by BAM and the DeVos Institute of Arts Management at the Kennedy Center. The companies for this session are of mixed disciplines ranging from opera to theater to dance. AOP's participation in the program will culminate in 2015 with the World Premiere of As One, an original music theater work to be created by composer Laura Kaminsky, librettist Mark Campbell, and filmmaker Kimberly Reed.

The BAM PDP is a 9-month program that utilizes the strengths of both institutions to provide professional development training and deeply discounted theater and rehearsal studio rental to an annual selection of qualifying Brooklyn non-profit arts organizations. Through the program, supported by Brooklyn Community Foundation and The New York Community Trust, BAM and the DeVos Institute strive to help arts organizations expand their skill base, increase their institutional capacity, and build necessary foundations for their long-term success. The second cycle of the program began this fall and culminates with each Brooklyn-based company presenting a self-funded production in the BAM Fisher Fishman Space within the year following the training portion.

As One, AOP's world premiere production for the BAM PDP, chronicles a transgender person as she emerges into harmony with herself and the world around her are portrayed with compassion, candor, and humor. The work is being written expressly for acclaimed singers mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke and baritone Kelly Markgraf, who will share the role of the protagonist. They will be joined by the renowned Miró Quartet. An interactive film will be created by Kimberly Reed that serves as the production's background. As One will be AOP's second world premiere at the BAM Fisher following Out Cold/Zippo Songs (Phil Kline, composer) which was presented as part of BAM's 30th Next Wave Festival in October 2012.

As One (www.operaprojects.org/as1) will begin development in AOP's First Chance program in 2014 with in-house and public workshop performances at AOP's home base, as well as at the BAM Fisher in Fort Greene. Project activity will include collaborations with two other opera companies; UrbanArias in Arlington, VA; and West Edge Opera in Berkeley, CA; and two Conservatories of Music, U of Texas at Austin and SUNY Purchase.