Why Is Eartha Kitt Trying to Kill Me?
Available for Production
ORCHESTRATION:
Clarinet in Bb (doubling Bb Bass Clarinet), Piano, Electric Guitar (doubling Acoustic Guitar), Violin, Cello, Double Bass, Percussion (one player):drumset (bass drum; hi-hat; ride, crash, splash, china, sizzle cymbals; snare drum; mounted tom; floor tom) 2 woodblocks, triangle, finger cymbals, shaker, tambourine, bell tree, mark tree, glockenspiel, small concert bass drum
CHORUS:
None
ROLES:
1 Singer
JB WILLIAMS (Tenor)
DURATION:
50’
Opera in One Act
HISTORY:
Concert Performance:
January 2015
American Lyric Theater | New York, New York
Staged World Premiere:
July 2018
Urban Arias | Arlington, VA
“…an operatic gem.”
Why is Eartha Kitt Trying to Kill Me?: A Love Story is a one-act opera about a mysterious – and unlikely – murder suspect. A tour de force love story and mad scene all in one, a man shares his bizarre confession concerning the fate of a hot, young, art world star. Originally written for tenor Keith Jameson, this jazz-infused, one-act monodrama is the perfect vehicle to showcase a dynamic singing actor.
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. It twists and flys 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.
Media
Video
Press
“…a contemporary, jazzy, edgy score with lyrics to match... Crazy? Over the top? Who cares… Why is Eartha Kitt Trying to Kill Me?: A Love Story is a vision of what opera might be in the future. And that would be a good thing.”
“…a smart take on what the medium can be: poignantly tragic, yet light and accessible.”
Materials
Libretto
Piano Vocal Score
Full Score
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