SAGA: A Mysterious Rock-Opera Thriller

Janos Gereben on April 1, 2014

Heaven knows I got plenty of notices about the April 2-4 world premiere presentation of SAGA of the 21st Century Girl, but nowhere did I see an explanation for "SAGA," presuming it to be an acronym. At "press time" (which means late in the day), I inquired if it stands for something or just the product of somebody pressing the caps lock accidentally. No reply so far.

As to the matter, from the producing organizations, First Look Sonoma and ROCKIT Opera:

Composer/librettist Sheli Nan’s SAGA of the 21st Century Girl: A Rock Opera Thriller is conducted by Mary Chun and directed by Melissa Weaver. It stars Crystal Philippi in the title role as the disturbed young Girl struggling to cope with her self-absorbed Mother (Valentina Osinski) and gutless Father (Jo Vincent Parks) and their dysfunctional home.

Portraying various aspects of the predatory impulse are the Shadows, both hilarious and genuinely frightening, portrayed by Alexis Lane Jensen and John Duykers. Video imagery designed by Matthew E. Jones will enliven the action.

Nan describes the libretto as "biting satire and social commentary as viewed through a musical lens," and the score as "influenced by Baroque, Salsa, Afro-Cuban music and the work of Weill and Brecht — for mature audiences."

Late-late word on the capitalization question: "Not an acronym or a caps lock issue. The composer just wanted the title to stand out." Done and done.