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Soma Theatre: Thirst

Consolidated Works
Seattle, WA

Thirst opens Thursday May 18th and continues Friday, Saturday at 7:30 PM. Thirst performs on Sunday at 3:00 PM. This original Masque Opera, performed by an ensemble of actors, singers and musicians, is directed by composer Stan Hoffman.

Movement, masks and live music play a central role in creating the mythic world of Thirst, A Masque Opera. In that world, an age-old story unfolds-a story of a man torn between his mother's world of natural harmony and his father's world of over-consumption and power. Excitement is created when he finds himself caught in their struggle over one of our most precious and endangered resources: Water.

According to Hoffman, who is also an Ethnomusicologist and co-founder of Gamelan Pacifica (a musical ensemble performing traditional Javanese and modern music), Thirst draws from Hindu mythology, Asian theatre techniques, Renaissance Masque and Western opera, Thirst is an exciting synthesis of physical theatre, opera, and mythic story telling.

Stan Hoffman is using a method of collaborative script development, which actively involves all the performers in every aspect of the production: from visual design, movement, music to storytelling. Arne Zaslove, is providing Masque training and consulting, Richard Lopez and Adam Larmer, are providing physical training inspired by the work of Tadashi Suzuki, as developed by Robin Hunt and Steve Pearson at the PATP program at the University of Washington. Music director Stephen Fandrich of Seattle Harmonic Voices lends the ethereal sounds of overtone singing and shimmering accompaniments on Javanese instruments.

"It is unusual in this day and age to work on a production over a period of nine months. A committed ensemble can take the production to a level beyond what a traditional workshop can."

Kid Friendly: No

Dog Friendly: No

Non-Smoking: No

Wheelchair Accessible: No

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