John Adams (i)

What did our critic think of 1776 at DCPA?

The upcoming co-production of John Adams' I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky, from IN Series and Theater Alliance, is the latest in a swath of area theater postponements due to the region's COVID-19 transmission numbers. 

Every season the Los Angeles Philharmonic, though its cutting edge Green Umbrella new music series, provides patrons with its most intellectually daring forays into the works of living composers and musicians. Overseen by LA Phil Creative Chair John Adams, the Green Umbrella series consists of five concerts during the 2015/16 season performed by the LA Phil New Music Group and guest ensembles and presents eight new commissions, seven world premieres, three U.S. premieres, and five West Coast premieres.

Every season the Los Angeles Philharmonic, though its cutting edge Green Umbrella new music series, provides patrons with its most intellectually daring forays into the works of living composers and musicians. Overseen by LA Phil Creative Chair John Adams, the Green Umbrella series consists of five concerts during the 2015/16 season performed by the LA Phil New Music Group and guest ensembles and presents eight new commissions, seven world premieres, three U.S. premieres, and five West Coast premieres.

Long Beach Opera Artistic and General Director Andreas Mitisek announces the company's 2015 season featuring works by contemporary North American and English composers: the US premiere of Gavin Bryars' Marilyn Forever, the Los Angeles premiere of Tobias Picker's Therese Raquin, and a new production of Philip Glass' Hydrogen Jukebox. Kicking off the season, LBO will perform the Southern California premiere of John Adams' I was looking at the ceiling and then I saw the sky.

I am a research fanatic; I admit it. With each role I play I become my own dramaturge, digging around to learn everything I can about the source material of the play, the period it is set in… anything that will enable me to get inside the skin of the character. Years ago, I created a series of solo shows in which I played screen siren Marlene Dietrich. I felt a huge responsibility, as I attempted to embody such an iconic and distinctive star, to see every film, listen to every recording, and read every book in my quest to be as authentic as possible in my portrayal. With 1776 and John Adams, I am dealing with American history and one of our founding fathers…Talk about responsibility!

I am a research fanatic; I admit it. With each role I play I become my own dramaturge, digging around to learn everything I can about the source material of the play, the period it is set in… anything that will enable me to get inside the skin of the character. Years ago, I created a series of solo shows in which I played screen siren Marlene Dietrich. I felt a huge responsibility, as I attempted to embody such an iconic and distinctive star, to see every film, listen to every recording, and read every book in my quest to be as authentic as possible in my portrayal. With 1776 and John Adams, I am dealing with American history and one of our founding fathers…Talk about responsibility!

He has great analytical skills, approaches his roles with remarkable intelligence, and even accompanies himself at the piano. Baritone Stephen Powell, who sings his first Tonio in San Diego Opera's opening production of 'Pagliacci' this season, embodies the phrase, 'multi-talented.'