Seattle Opera Seeks Reality-Style Video Host

Seattle Opera announced today it is searching for someone to host a reality-style video project titled Confessions of a First-Time Operagoer. The company is looking for an opera novice who has never seen a production of Wagner's Ring to spend some time with Seattle Opera-taking a behind-the-scenes peek into the creation of the Ring, meeting and mingling with long-time Ring lovers and artists, and attending Seattle Opera's renowned production of the Ring-to create a reality-show style 10-minute documentary at the end of the summer chronicling the host's experience.

This video is one of the first projects Seattle Opera is implementing as a recipient of a Wallace Foundation Excellence Award grant. The four-year grant from The Wallace Foundation focuses on building relationships with the community through technology. To create Confessions, Seattle Opera is partnering with Reel Grrls, a Seattle-based media and technology training program for young girls. Members of Reel Grrls will comprise the film crew for the host's summer adventures, and will be responsible for editing and creating the final product.

The Confessions host must be between the ages of 18 and 30 years old and new to the Ring. Extensive operagoing experience is not required; in fact, the company is looking for someone who has only previously attended a handful of operas, or even fewer.  The ideal Confessions host
is comfortable on camera and eager to experience and learn about the Ring. Love of social networking-whether it's through blogging, Facebook, or Twitter-and a desire to share his or her experiences through those media is essential. The host should be available to attend performances
of the four Ring operas on August 9, 10, 12, and 14, as well as at least seven separate days throughout the summer for supplementary activities, such as scene shop tours or discussions with seasoned Ring fans.

Interested applicants will need to fill out an application form and submit a 1-2 minute video explaining why they should be selected as the host of Confessions. Between May 1 and May 22 (Richard Wagner's birthday) applications may be submitted by mail or in-person to Seattle
Opera Administrative Offices, Attn: Confessions Application, 1020 John Street, Seattle, WA 98109. Videos may also be uploaded to Seattle Opera's Facebook page.

For those who don't have access to a video camera, a live casting call will be held during the Friday, May 15 performance of Mozart's Marriage of Figaro. The auditions will take place in the Kreielsheimer Promenade at McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer Street, starting at 5 p.m. Application forms
will be available and a camera crew will be present to record the videos.

Starting June 1, Seattle Opera will post the top five videos on its website, seattleopera.org, for a public vote. Voting will take place on Seattle Opera's blog, seattleopera.blogspot.com, and a winner will be announced on June 6.

For more information, or to download an application form, visit seattleopera.org/confessions.

Seattle Opera's Board of Trustees dedicates the 2008/09 season to Speight Jenkins in celebration of his 25th anniversary as general director.

Founded in 1963, Seattle Opera is one of the leading opera companies in the United States.  The company is recognized internationally for its theatrically compelling and musically accomplished performances, especially the Opera's interpretations of the works of Richard Wagner. Seattle Opera's Wagner tradition began under the leadership of the company's founding general director, GLynn Ross, and has continued since 1983 under General Director Speight Jenkins.  Since 1975, Seattle Opera has presented 35 cycles of the Ring (three different productions), in addition to acclaimed productions of all the other major operas in the Wagner canon. Seattle Opera has achieved the highest per capita attendance of any major opera company in the United States and draws operagoers from four continents, nineteen countries, and forty-nine states.

Founded in 2001, Reel Grrls is a unique after-school media and technology training program that empowers girls to critique media images and to gain media technology skills in a safe, open environment, mentored by a network of multi-cultural women media professionals. Each year, 100 girls go through the program and graduate with valuable skills in video, audio, and web production. Reel Grrls believes that it is important to give young women the skills to critically evaluate the media they are exposed to and then to empower them to produce their own media. As media plays such an influential role in the global society, Reel Grrls believes that if women and girls are to achieve equality and advancement in today's world, they must be taught to be media literate.