TENOR ARIAS

WHY IS EARTHA KITT TRYING TO KILL ME?: A LOVE STORY 
Composer: Jeffrey Dennis Smith
Librettist: David Johnston

SYNOPSIS 

The setting is a police interrogation room in Queens, New York. The time is the present. A young man, JB Williams, tells an unseen police detective that he is innocent.  He begins to tell a strange story, about an unknown crime and the late cabaret/film star Eartha Kitt. His life is in danger. He pleads for help.

JB relates how he saw Eartha Kitt about a month ago, just before he met the love of his life, Joey Cocteau, an up and coming young artist. He tells the detective about the first time he saw Joey – on the cover of a gay magazine. It was love at first sight and JB decides he must meet him.  He tells of their first meeting.

He recalls seeing Eartha Kitt for the second time, while doing his laundry. She threatens his life with a machete.  He tells of everything he knows about Joey and how he learned this information.

He describes the events of today, leading up to his interrogation. He goes to the Met Museum where he has another encounter with Eartha Kitt.  He flees in a cab and goes to Queens.  He arrives at his boyfriend’s art opening. At the opening, JB follows Joey up to the roof.  Joey lashes out and JB pushes him from the roof. Joey falls but then starts to fly. He twists and flies and turns into hundreds and hundreds of Eartha Kitts. 

JB acknowledges that a body was found on the street, outside the building. But he insists that he is innocent and pleads for understanding. 

THE GOOGLE SONG
Tenor – may be sung by any type of tenor voice

JB Williams is being questioned by the police, regarding the death of a young artist named Joey Cocteau.  JB was in love with Joey and maintains his innocence in the death.  In this aria, he explains his passionate love and how it was he was able to learn so much about Joey on the internet.