HOUSE OF LEGENDARY
GIVE NOW TO THE CREATION OF
“HOuse of LEGENDARY”
house of legendary
Composed by joseph n. rubinstein
libretto by jason kim
House of Legendary is the story of a famed drag performer Dee Legendary as they embark on a passionate love affair with Officer John, whose fascination with Dee takes an unexpected and dangerous turn. A contemporary riff on La traviata, House of Legendary is an exploration of queer family set against the backdrop of NYC’s 1980s ballroom scene.
Composer Joseph N. Rubinstein and librettist Jason Kim’s work is a stylish and flamboyant, intimate and daring, lyrical chamber opera fused with 1980s dance music, jazz and pop influences.
Joseph N. Rubinstein grew up in Newport News, VA and currently lives in New York City. Joseph’s music emphasizes emotional directness and vivid storytelling, and is often inspired by American life and history, explorations of identity, and the natural world. Organizations that have presented his music include The Juilliard School, Fort Worth Opera Festival, the Seagle Music Festival, American Opera Projects, The Manhattan School of Music Opera Theater, the American Traditions Vocal Competition, the Santa Fe Desert Chorale’s art song recital series, Renee Fleming’s SongStudio at Carnegie Hall, and Spoleto Festival USA’s “Intermezzi”. He has collaborated on new theatrical works and songs with librettists and writers including Mark Campbell, Jason Kim, and Melisa Tien. Joseph received a 2017 Opera Genesis Grant from American Opera Projects and The Hermitage Artist Colony for developmental work on the opera “House of Legendary”, as well as a 2020 Repertoire Development Grant from Opera America for the same project. He is an alumnus of American Opera Projects Composers & The Voice program, New Dramatists’ Composer-Librettist Studio, and the Pacific Chorale’s Choral Sketches program.
Joseph N. Rubinstein
Composer
Jason Kim is a Korean-born dramatist. His television writing includes BARRY (HBO), GIRLS (HBO), LOVE (Netflix), GRACEPOINT (Fox), and DIVORCE (HBO). His feature work includes an adaptation of the upcoming true crime book THE FLAWLESS for Fox Searchlight Pictures. His play THE MODEL AMERICAN opened the Williamstown Theatre Festival in 2017 on the Nikos Stage. His musical KPOP premiered on Broadway at the Circle in the Square Theatre in 2022. He is an alum of Composers & the Voice (2013-15). Jason is the recipient of a Writers Guild Award and has been nominated for multiple Emmy Awards, two PGA Awards, and a NAACP Image Award.
Jason Kim
Librettist
A word from the composer and librettist about the inspiration behind the work. From 2020.
Development artists
Aaron-Casey Gould
Tenor
Michael Kuhn
Tenor
Trevor Martin
Baritone
Jordan Rutter-Covatto
Countertenor
Caroline Worra
Soprano
Kemar Jewel
Emcee
House of Legendary is supported in part by Opera America's Repertoire Grant, as well as New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and with a residency at The Hermitage Arts Center Retreat.
AOP’s programs are made possible in part by the Howard Gilman Foundation, The Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Inc., The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Amphion Foundation, BMI, and the contributions of many individuals.
PRESS
Watch the interview with France 24 to hear Aaron-Casey Gould discuss House of Legendary.
Information
Duration 100' / no intermission
Commission House of Legendary is currently in development with The American Opera Project, in association with Seagle Festival. It has received development workshops and support from AOP’s Composers & the Voice program, Amanda + James, Fort Worth Opera’s Frontiers Showcase, and The Hermitage Artist Retreat. AOP is currently seeking co-commissioners and producers for the World Premiere. Libretto/score sample available upon request.
Premiere TBD
Roles 5 singers (1 soprano, 1 countertenor, 2 tenors,1 baritone) ;1 ballroom emcee (spoken role); optional dancers / performers
Instrumentation flute, 2 clarinets (bass clarinet), piano, 2 percussion, 2 violins, viola, cello, string bass
Development Artists Aaron Casey, Jordan Rutter-Covatto, Michael Kuhn, Caroline Worra, Trevor Martin
Publisher Staged performances of this work require licensing through the creators.