About this project
'Our Basic Nature' is a multi-media work of music-theater inspired by the memoir Growing Up Human by psychologist Dr. Maurice Temerlin. In 1964, Temerlin and his wife Jane adopted a day-old chimpanzee, to whom they gave the name Lucy. Their intention, wrote Temerlin, was to raise Lucy “as much as possible as though she were a human being.”
The one-man show, incorporates music, theater, and projection design, to explore the blurred lines between animal and man through this incredible story.
Who We Are: The team creating Our Basic Nature is a group of artists who met at Glimmerglass Opera and have worked together for several years; composer John Glover, librettist Kelley Rourke, baritone Andrew Wilkowske, and music director Jocelyn Dueck. This is a truly collaborative and artist-driven project. The ensemble joining us for the premiere of this work is the "cohesive and powerful" (Bomb Magazine) Redshift.
Why We Need Your Help: American Opera Projects will present this work-in-development at WNYC's Greene Space in Manhattan on December 10, 2010. This is the first crucial step in getting this work out into the world as we continue to workshop the piece and present it to other theatrical/operatic companies and producers. We need your help to cover the costs of artist travel to NYC, film and recording fees, rehearsal space, and artist stipends for their performances. Help support this work in its first crucial stage of development!
Find out more at:
http://www.ourbasicnatureopera.com/
FAQ
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Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on November 16, 2010.
Pledge $25 or more
Receive a signed copy of the CD of the Galapagos performance cleverly packaged by designer Jenny Kampmeier
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Receive signed copies of both the CD and DVD of the Galapagos performance cleverly packaged by designer Jenny Kampmeier
Pledge $100 or more
The first five donors to give over $100 will receive a signed CD of the RadioLab episode which inspired this project signed by RadioLab host Jad Abumrad, and signed copies of the CD and DVD from the Galapagos performance
Project By
Connected
A composer by trade, John has composed music for theater, opera, and the concert hall. Commissions from organizations and musicians including the American Conservatory Theater [War Music], Baltimore Opera [Huck Finn: A Children’s Opera], and violist Liuh-wen Ting [Life- Cycles] have distinguished him as an emerging voice in contemporary music. John has received numerous awards, fellowships and grants for his music from organizations including the Thornton School of Music at USC, and the American Music Center. He received his undergraduate training in composition with a focus in saxophone performance from Indiana University and his master’s degree in composition from the University of Southern California.
John writes notes, articles, and online courses for organizations such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Glimmerglass Opera, the Chicago Sinfonietta, Carnegie Hall, and Opera America.
He currently lives in New York City where he co-curates the music/art series NewYorksoundCircut at the Brecht Forum and is operations manager for the American Composers Orchestra.
