Intimate Apparel: The OperaOriginally an award-winning play, Lynn Nottage’s INTIMATE APPAREL was inspired by her great-grandmother’s life in New York in the early 20th century. The Pulitzer-laureate also created the libretto for Ricky Ian Gordon’s grand-yet-intimate opera whose complete instrumentation is two pianos. The story follows the life of a young, single seamstress who has recently emigrated from Barbados, the fascinating cast of characters in her life, and her socially-unacceptable feelings of affection for a Jewish fabric salesman. |
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Roles
8W, 6M +Ensemble
Musicians
2
Acts
2
Duration
2 hours 30 minutes |
Creators
Lynn Nottage
Libretto By Lynn Nottage is a playwright and a screenwriter, and the first woman in history to win two Pulitzer Prizes for Drama. Her plays have been produced widely in the United States and throughout the world. Recent work...
Ricky Ian Gordon
Music By Ricky Ian Gordon was born on May 15, 1956 in Oceanside, NY and raised on Long Island. After studying piano, composition, and acting, at Carnegie Mellon University, he settled in New York City, where he quickly...
Videos
Reviews
"A KNOCKOUT! A joy to hear!"
The New York Times Critic's Pick
"It soars to the rafters! A story of ambition, fortitude, and longing for love."
TheaterMania
Casting
Esther
Female
African-American | Age: 30 - 39 | Vocal Range: Soprano |
Unmarried, lonely, plain, but warm, sympathetic, and strong; operatic soprano.
Mrs. Dickson
Female
African-American | Age: 40 - 59 | Vocal Range: Soprano
Strong-willed but warm, owner and mother hen of boarding house for "colored girls;" operatic soprano.
George
Male
African-American | Age: 30 - 39 | Vocal Range: baritone
Handsome, a laborer on the Panama Canal, proud, rough, impulsive; operatic baritone.
Mayme
Female
African-American | Age: 20 - 39 |
Prostitute and saloon singer who is Esther's close friend; operatic mezzo.
Mr. Marks
Male
Caucasian | Age: 30 - 39 | Vocal Range: Tenor
Romanian Jewish fabric merchant in 1905 NYC. Attractive, masculine, sensitive, sympathetic; operatic tenor.
Mrs. Van Buren
Female
Caucasian | Age: 20 - 39 |
Attractive, wealthy Fifth Avenue socialite in a lonely marriage who is desperate to have a child; operatic lyric mezzo.
Chorus
All Genders
Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass Voices
Credits
Libretto by Lynn Nottage, Music by Ricky Ian Gordon
