Sankaram | The Understudy

PERUSALSCORE

The Understudy

Music by Kamala Sankaram

Libretto by Cara Ehlenfeldt and Jason Cady 2020

Chamber Opera in Three Acts

PERUSALSCORE

The Understudy

Chamber Opera in Three Acts

Music by Kamala Sankaram

Libretto by Cara Ehlenfeldt and Jason Cady

2020

Performance Notes

Singers – stick notation indicates spoken text. Words in bold should line up with larger metric beats. You are usually in rhythmic unison with one or more instruments, so the goal is to be as rhythmically accurate as possible while trying to speak naturally.

x noteheads indicate sprechstimme – words should be more pitched than in the stick notation.

All Instruments – Feel free to treat this as a studio recording in your approach. Staves with multiple melodic lines are intended to be overdubbed.

Viola – Diamond noteheads indicate light finger pressure – play the notes as though you are playing a harmonic in order to add noise to the sound.

Bass – For the pizz glisses, continue to pizz freely as you gliss up

SFX – I’ve only included the sound effects that I specific requests for. All others are at your discretion.

Setting

Manhattan, 1970s

Performing Forces

Pat Dickson ...............................................................................................................................................Mezzo-Soprano Partner to Donna Pearlbottum

Donna Pearlbottum ..............................................................................................................................................Soprano

Private Eye

Wanda ....................................................................................................................................................................Soprano impresario of the Flat Iron Opera Company

Missy...........................................................................................................................................................Mezzo-Soprano

Singer at the Flat Iron Opera Company

Tony ............................................................................................................................................................................Tenor

Singer at the Flat Iron Opera Company

Rich Lexington ......................................................................................................................................................Baritone Director of the Flat Iron Opera Company

Manny ............................................................................................................................................................Bass Baritone stage manager at the Flat Iron Opera Company

Baritone Saxophone

Piano

Electric Guitar

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Viola Double Bass

SFX

Duration: 30'

First printing, March 2024

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