Shadowboxer, is an opera

Opera

Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...

 in two acts composed by Frank Proto

Frank Proto

Frank Proto American composer and bassist. Proto was born on July 18, 1941, Brooklyn, New York. Double Bass student of Fred Zimmermann and David Walter. Graduate of the Manhattan School of Music 1966 Master of Music. Self-taught composer...

 to a libretto

Libretto

A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a...

 by John Chenault based on the life of Joe Louis

Joe Louis

Joseph Louis Barrow , better known as Joe Louis, was the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1937 to 1949. He is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time...

, the legendary American boxer. Conceived and directed by Leon Major

Leon Major

Leon Major is a Canadian opera and theatre director. He is the Artistic Director of The Maryland Opera Studio for the University of Maryland, College Park...

 at the University of Maryland

University of Maryland School of Music

The University of Maryland School of Music is a music school located in College Park, Maryland outside of Washington, D.C. The School of Music is the largest performing arts unit at the University of Maryland, College Park.The UM School of Music is a comprehensive music school, with undergraduate...

 Opera Studio, it premiered on 17 April 2010 at the University's Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center.

Roles

• Joe Louis
  Joe Louis
  Joseph Louis Barrow , better known as Joe Louis, was the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1937 to 1949. He is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time...
  
   – created by Jarrod Lee
• Young Joe – created by Duane Moody
• Marva Trotter – created by Adrienne Webster
• Max Schmelling – created by Peter Burroughs
• Lillie Brooks – created by Carmen Balthrop
• Jack Blackburn
  Jack Blackburn
  Charles Henry "Jack" Blackburn was an American boxer and boxing trainer.-Biography:He was born in New Year's Day, January 1, 1883....
  
  – created by VaShawn McIlwain
• Julian Black – created by Robert King
• John Roxborough – created by Benjamin Moore
• Ring announcer – created by David Blalock
• Beauty #1 – created by Madeline Miskie
• Beauty #2 – created by Amelia Davis
• Beauty #3 – created by Amanda Opuszynski
• Reporter #1 – created by Andrew Owens
• Reporter #2 – created by Andrew McLaughlin
• Reporter #3 – created by Colin Michael Brush
• Joe the boxer – created by Nickolas Vaughn
• Joe's opponents – created by Craig Lawrence

Synopsis

The opera begins with an elderly, sickly Louis in a wheelchair, remembering scenes of his life. The first act shows him becoming a successful professional boxer and ends with his triumphal defeat of the German Max Schmeling

Max Schmeling

Maximillian Adolph Otto Siegfried Schmeling was a German boxer who was heavyweight champion of the world between 1930 and 1932. His two fights with Joe Louis in the late 1930s transcended boxing, and became worldwide social events because of their national associations...

 in 1938. With this victory Louis became an American hero. The second act follows his decline, eventual defeat in the ring, and his problems with the American Internal Revenue Service

Internal Revenue Service

The Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...

.

Sources

• Alenier, Karren LaLonde, "'Shadowboxer: Joe Louis Fights His Ghosts" (review), The Dressing, 21 April 2010
• Downey, Charles T, "'Shadowboxer" (review), Ionarts, 22 April 2010
• Fulford, Robert, "In This Corner: History!" (review), National Post - Toronto, 3 May 2010
• Battey, Robert, "'Shadowboxer: Based on the Life of Joe Louis' at Maryland Opera Studio" (review), Washington Post, 19 April 2010
• Weber-Petrova, Kate, "'Shadowboxer - A Tormented Joe Louis" (review), Opera Today, 24 April 2010
• Midegette, Anne, "Inspired by Joe Louis, opera 'Shadowboxer' scores one for reality", Washington Post, 17 April 2010
• Sain, Ken, "'Shadowboxer - An Opera that packs a punch" Gazette.Net, 15 April 2010
• Smith, Tim, "'Shadowboxer,' opera about legendary Joe Louis, premieres at Clarice Smith Center" (review), 'Baltimore Sun, 20 April 2010

External links

• Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, Press release: Newly Commissioned Opera Showcases Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis 2, March 2009
• Shadowboxer: website
• Shadowboxer: Official website