''Shadowboxer'', is a boxing

opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a librett ...

in two acts composed by

Frank Proto Frank Proto (born July 18, 1941 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American composer and bassist. He was a double bass student of Fred Zimmermann and David Walter. He is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music in 1966 with a Master of Music. A self ...

to a

libretto A libretto (Italian for "booklet") is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to the t ...

by John Chenault based on the life of

Joe Louis Joseph Louis Barrow (May 13, 1914 – April 12, 1981) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1934 to 1951. Nicknamed the Brown Bomber, Louis is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential boxers of all time. He rei ...

, the legendary American boxer. Conceived and directed by

Leon Major Leon Major (born 1933, Toronto) is a Canadian opera and theatre director. He is the Artistic Director of The Maryland Opera Studio for the University of Maryland, College Park. From 1998-2003 he was Artistic Director of Boston Lyric Opera and from ...

at the

University of Maryland The University of Maryland, College Park (University of Maryland, UMD, or simply Maryland) is a public land-grant research university in College Park, Maryland. Founded in 1856, UMD is the flagship institution of the University System of M ...

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

Roles

– created by Jarrod LeePremiere cast fro
''Shadowboxer: Cast''
(official website) * Young Joe – created by Duane Moody * Marva Trotter – created by Adrienne Webster *

Max Schmeling Maximilian Adolph Otto Siegfried Schmeling (, ; 28 September 1905 – 2 February 2005) was a German boxing, boxer who was heavyweight champion of the world between 1930 and 1932. His two fights with Joe Louis in 1936 and 1938 were worldwide cul ...

– created by Peter Burroughs * Lillie Brooks – created by

Carmen Balthrop Carmen Arlene Balthrop (May 14, 1948 – September 5, 2021) was an American operatic soprano from Washington, D.C. Career She made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Pamina in Mozart's ''Die Zauberflöte'' and performed on Broadway in the title r ...

Jack Blackburn Charles Henry "Jack" Blackburn (May 20, 1883 – April 24, 1942) was an American boxer and boxing trainer. Fighting in the first half of his career as a lightweight and later a welterweight, he was known for an exceptional defense and fought m ...

– 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

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 The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the revenue service for the United States federal government, which is responsible for collecting U.S. federal taxes and administering the Internal Revenue Code, the main body of the federal statutory ta ...

References

{{Reflist

Sources

* Alenier, Karren LaLonde
"'Shadowboxer: Joe Louis Fights His Ghosts"
(review), The Dressing, 21 April 2010 * Downey, Charles T

(review), Ionarts, 22 April 2010 * Fulford, Robert

(review), National Post - Toronto, 3 May 2010 * Battey, Robert

(review), Washington Post, 19 April 2010 * Weber-Petrova, Kate
"'Shadowboxer - A Tormented Joe Louis"
(review), Opera Today, 24 April 2010 * Midegette, Anne

Washington Post, 17 April 2010 * Sain, Ken
"'Shadowboxer - An Opera that packs a punch"
Gazette.Net, 15 April 2010 * Smith, Tim

(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'': Official website
Operas 2010 operas English-language operas Operas set in the United States Boxing mass media Operas set in the 20th century Cultural depictions of Joe Louis Cultural depictions of Max Schmeling Operas based on real people