La Vie Boheme

A few days ago, Heather won two tickets to the touring production of RENT. Since Wednesday's show, I've been looking for a way to work the production into the blog...and now I've found it, thanks to some inventive high school music teachers.

See, I don't really like musical theatre and I never have. I believe theatre is theatre and music is music. Still, I must admit the song "Season's of Love" is basically awesome. Many people consider RENT the rock opera because of the controversial themes of AIDS,  drug addiction and multi-racial relationships, not to mention that the characters are all basically starving artists including a musician. The RENT Orchestra does employ a whole lot of electric guitars, but that's about as Metal as things get.

Enter Craig High School of Janesville, Wisconsin.

Apparently, someone affiliated with the show choir is a little bit glam because the students recently performed Def Leppard's "Rock Brigade." This isn't a well known Lep song, so I assume the choral director must be a big fan. Watch the video at YouTube.

Of course we all know Tommy is the first rock opera, but what about a Metal opera? The music of Queensryche and Dream Theater could easily be adapted to the stage, but would the public pay money to see such an event?

I think someone needs to write a Metal opera based on glam bands of the 80s. There's plenty of material to work with, and if we want to base the opera on a love triangle (is there any other option?) we can use songs like Cinderella's "Nobody's Fool" and Def Leppard's "Women" leading up to the climax . The song "November Rain" can easily serve as the dénouement. For the falling action, something fun (but still West Side Story-esque)  like Motley Crue's "Wild Side."

Just think of the box office sales.

Comments

[Hard Rock Hideout]

I made the mistake of renting RENT on DVD. Those are two hours of my life that I wont ever get back.

I got it for my wife, who wanted to see it. I had no idea that it was a musical. UGH!

[Allyson]

That's hilarious, HRH.
Does this mean you're not down for a Metal musical?

Allyson

[aXe mAn]

That is the first time I ever heard of a "Metal" opera! I don't know what to think about that......lol

[Chessie]

Hrm...I'd always considered Queensryche's Operation Mindcrime & Mindcrime 2 as 'metal opera'. Seeing both done live on stage as musicals only enforced that belief. 2112 by Rush is another 'opera' under consideration. I also believe there is a production of 80's songs that is out now...be darned if I can remember the name of it...anyway, Jack Blades of Night Ranger was in the production for a while.

Also consider those in metal who have Operatic training. Geoff Tate, Kip Winger (his aunt, an opera teacher/singer, was one of his instructors), Bruce Dickenson come to mind.