A list of some things I have learned.

Some things I've learned while doing opera.

1- they are LONG. So - a 7:30 curtain means - you'll be done at 11:15...and tired. Because you just performed a 4-ish hour long opera in a heavy dusty period dress.

2- a good musical director is AMAZING and makes the scary foreign language and tricky rhythms and musical dynamics easy! (YES - our music director is GREAT - and he is the alternate conductor for the NYPhilharmonic. He knows what he is doing!)

3- The boys aren't gay - and they watch sports.

4- The girls aren't fat. In fact - most are skinny, well dressed, and extremely pretty.

5- An opera director, in order to be effective, needs to work completely differently from a musical or straight theatre director. It ALL needs to planned in advance because everything in quadruple cast, so the staging is more of a "put in" than an organic learning experience. I imagine the BEST directors make the put-ins feel like a collaborative process. I am told this is the case with my opera directing hero Peter Sellas.

6- I have a great instrument. I kind of know how to use it. Still have no idea how to read that freaking music or harmonize on anything but first soprano. And I need it.

7- High notes are awesome.

8- Most opera singers (NOT all - just most) - really can't act. Like - even a little. And even fewer can stand on one foot or move very well at all.

9- One should never volunteer to play a lead, be head of press, AND costumes designer at the same time. It will result in a nervous breakdown and everyone will think you are crazy - even you are the sweetest most upbeat person on the planet.

10- the opera girls are so ridiculously supportive and helpful - baritone basses all think they are super sexy - and tenors are completely convinced the world circles around them and everyone should kiss their feet.

11- Even the TINIEST opera company still has super impressive sets and costumes. I suppose its part of the art form.

12 - Most opera singers don't realize - Shakespeare didn't compose music. So Caliban's "Be not afeared" speech - is not always spoken by a bass/baritone. Or music Ariel be a countertenor male. They are always confused about how I can know all the LYRICS but none of the music to "The Tempest" or "Midsummer Night's Dream" opera.

And that's all for now - I'm pooped! Time for sleep!:)