WELCOME TO THE MADNESS
AUTHORS
Welcome to the Madness, an immersive site-specific opera, presents a robust history of artistic innovation at Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts Camp in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Actress/musician Charlotte Perry and dancer/ filmmaker Portia Mansfield met at Smith College and ventured west in 1913, transforming vacant acres into a vital hub of early modern dance and experimental theatre. An incubator for performing artists at the 20th century’s vanguard including Julie Harris, Merce Cunningham and John Cage, Agnes de Mille, Dustin Hoffman, and many more, Perry-Mansfield became the heart of an American cultural circulatory system.
Composer: Leanna Kirchoff
Librettist: Rachel J. Peters
Adapted from primary source texts from the Perry-Mansfield archives
SYNOPSIS
INSTRUMENTATION
Flutes, Clarinets, Violin, Cello, Guitar, Percussion
DURATION
1 hour 30 minutes
CAST
MARJORIE PERRY, Mezzo-Soprano
CHARLOTTE PERRY, Mezzo-Soprano
PORTIA MANSFIELD, Soprano. Must be an excellent dancer.
MARGERY (SWETT) MANSFIELD. Soprano.
AN ACROBAT, Nonsinging/nonspeaking.
TWO REPORTERS, played by the men playing JOSÉ LIMÓN and LOUIS HORST.
JOSÉ LIMÓN, Tenor. Dancing role with minimal singing. Must be played by a Latino performer.
HARIETTE ANN GRAY, Dancing role with minimal singing.
LOUIS HORST, Baritone.
AMERICA MARSHALL, Contralto. Must be played by a Black performer.
THE MARJORIE MARGERY CHORUS, SATB.
These characters are all real historical figures and must be cast accordingly with care.
PERFORMANCE HISTORY
World Premiere: Opera Steamboat in collaboration with Perry-Mansfield, 2024.
This work is available for performance worldwide. Contact Leanna Kirchoff for perusal materials.
IMAGES
World Premiere Production by Opera Steamboat | Directed by Amanda Berg Wilson | Photos by Melissa Hampton
