a modern full-length original comedic superhero opera
Perfect for any audience!
SYNOPSIS
Joe is at loose ends, careerwise, until he lucks into the perfect gig: sidekick to Anyville’s new superhero, Fortuna the Time-Bender. Alas, his involvement in the world of good vs. evil leads to the unthinkable: the kidnapping of Joe’s beloved girlfriend by archfiend The Headmaster, and his trio of ever-loving, ever-loyal, ever-evil henchwomen, the Schoolgirls of Doom!
“… torrents of enormously clever wordplay very much in the W.S. Gilbert tradition.”
— Tom Strini, Urban Milwaukee
Roles
NARRATOR: She tells us the story of Fortuna, a story which at any given
moment she might find to be amusing, horrifying, bemusing, terrifying,
engaging, boring, exciting, confusing, engrossing, off-putting, clever, or dumb.Vocal Range: Soprano
FORTUNA: Tall, statuesque ... in every way the ideal superheroine. She is
always in costume, in a mask. She has no other identity. She is always
Fortuna.Vocal Range: Soprano
JOE: Dumpy, average everyman. Perhaps a bit roly-poly. Tends to dress
pretty casual ... denim jeans, flannel shirts, etc.Vocal Range: Tenor
ELIZABETH: Smart, pretty, grounded, realistic ... and always looking well
groomed and professional. Dressed for success.Vocal Range: Soprano
HEADMASTER: A very stereotypical Victorian-era British schoolmaster.
Arch, arrogant, authoritarian.Vocal Range: Baritone/Tenor
MANDY: Raven-haired British schoolgirl. The most intense of the three,
and the oldest (or at least the one who acts the oldest).Vocal Range: Alto
CANDY: Ditzy blond British schoolgirl. The most giggly and vapid of the
three. The one who acts the least mature.Vocal Range: Alto
SANDY: Nerdy, bespectacled, red-headed British schoolgirl. The most
bookish and condescending of the three.Vocal Range: Soprano
Orchestration & Production Size
Cast Size: 8 principals
Orchestration: Piano, Synth 1, Synth 2, Guitar/Mandolin/Banjo,
Bass (acoustic/electric), Violin, ClarinetAvailable Reductions: Piano only, available for smaller venues.
Selected Songs
“… The music is lively … an earful of polysyllabic puns … Shakespearean wordplay coupled with accessible melody.”
— Rosy Ricks, Urban Milwaukee
She’s Captured Me
The Headmaster realizes he’s in love
with his beautiful hostage.
A Clever Clue
“Endeavor if you’re so inclined,
However you will never find —
Whatever you might say or do —
A cleverer clue!”
To inquire about reading a perusal script and score, contact composer Jason Powell.
Superhuman
What’s a Gilbert & Sullivan pastiche
without a little bit of patter?
Upcoming Productions
About the Composer
Jason Powell is a writer, composer, librettist, lyricist, actor, singer and instrumentalist based in Milwaukee, WI. His first original sci-fi musical, Invader? I Hardly Know Her, was performed off-Broadway at the New York City Fringe Festival. He’s the librettist/lyricist and composer for Fortuna the Time-Bender vs the Schoolgirls of Doom, as well as for another superhero-themed show, the musical Doc Danger and the Danger Squad. Maybe one of these days he’ll write something with a short title.
"… makes liberal references to the world of operetta, pop culture, superhero comic books, game shows, and anything else that crossed Powell's mind as he was writing. Yet it's filled with some seriously challenging vocal writing. And it's funny … very, very funny.”
— Elaine Schmidt, The Milwaukee Journal
