Keturah sits down with Lawrence Edelson, founder of the American Lyric Theater, and Artistic Director of Opera Saratoga.  They discuss the Composer Librettist Development Program (CLDP), what makes a good librettist, the art of dramaturgy, and creating new opera in America.

Keturah speaks with librettist and director, Leonard Foglia about directing new work, working with Ricky Ian Gordon, Jake Heggie, Gene Scheer, and Horton Foote, working as a dramaturge on Moby-Dick, and writing/creating the genre of the Mariachi Opera.

Keturah has a conversation with librettist, Lila Palmer, about a number of her operas, including Dead Equal and The Selfish Giant.  She also ruminates about the recent announcement of CAMI’s imminent closing, and the state of the arts today.

In this Bonus episode, Keturah speaks with Alejandra Valarino Boyer at Seattle Opera, librettist Mark Campbell speaking for Fort Worth Opera, and Mark Streshinsky at West Edge Opera, all about upcoming libretto and composer/librettist workshops and residencies taking place this fall.  She also speaks to Campbell about the Campbell Librettist Prize offered through Opera America, and gives a shout out to Guerilla Opera, who recently had their presentations from their summer Libretto Lab.

Keturah speaks with librettist and playwright, Stephanie Fleischmann, about her work at ALT, and upcoming works with Jeremy Howard Beck, David Hanlon, and others.

Keturah interviews librettist, Royce Vavrek, about how he came to write opera libretti, his work with David T. Little and Missy Mazzoli, and how he collaborates on new opera.

Keturah speaks with dramaturg and educator, Cori Ellison, about her role in the creation of new work, the importance of the dramaturg in opera production, what truly makes a libretto work, and the intricate job of crafting supertitles.

Keturah has a conversation with Canadian playwright and librettist, Kanika Ambrose.  They discuss her upcoming opera with Ian Cusson, Of The Sea, her work at the Curtis Institute on Anansi and The Great Light, her Caribbean heritage and how it informs her writing, performing in one’s own work, and much much more.

Keturah speaks with librettist, director & choreographer, John de los Santos about his path into libretto writing, comedy in contemporary opera, looking at work as a director vs. a librettist, and experiencing paranormal activity while doing research for his and Clint Borzoni’s upcoming opera, The Copper Queen.

Keturah talks with playwright and librettist Richard Wesley.  They discuss his work with Trilogy: An Opera Company, collaborating with composer, Anthony Davis, on the Pulitzer Prize winning opera, The Central Park Five, how the works of black writers fit into the greater theatrical canon, and how he has faith in and hope for today’s youth in continuing the fight for social justice.