The Shining Opera Is a Sell-Out in Minneapolis
David Gelmini
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Unless you’re Stephen King, you’ll agree that Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining is one of the greatest horror movies ever made. And although King had it remade as that mediocre 1997 TV miniseries, Kubrick’s film was so damn brilliant that it will be hard for future adaptations in any medium to surpass it.
Which could explain why the people behind the latest version decided to go a different route entirely, turning the story into an opera. Yup, if there’s one thing that the horrors of the Overlook Hotel needed, it was more singing. Librettist Mark Campbell secured King’s approval for the project, then worked with composer Paul Moravec for three years to make it happen.
The Shining opened at the Minnesota Opera in Minneapolis, and it must be doing well because the tickets are currently completely sold out. Which is great for business, but a bummer if you were hoping to catch it any time soon. I’ll be honest; I’ve never had any love for theatre and never understood why big name actors are sometimes drawn to the stage instead of to the screen, but the fact that people are turning up in droves means that they must be doing something right. And I’m kind of curious to hear how someone will sing “Here’s Johnny!”
If you managed to score tickets, post your review below!
Synopsis:
Stephen King’s best-selling novel comes to life in this suspenseful new opera by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Paul Moravec and librettist Mark Campbell (Silent Night and The Manchurian Candidate). As the Torrance family settles in at the infamous Overlook Hotel, Jack comes face to face with his own demons – real and imagined. Will he be able to protect his wife and son from the evil forces within the hotel? This dramatic thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat with a dynamic musical score befitting King’s page-turner. Brian Mulligan, who delivered a riveting performance as Hamlet, returns to the Minnesota Opera stage as Jack Torrance.
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