Susan Stoderl
Writer / Composer
Susan Stoderl
Susan
A.F.R.A.I.D.
(American Females for Righteousness, Abasement, Ignorance and Docility)
Music and Libretto by Susan Stoderl
A.F.R.A.I.D. is a sassy opera narrated by Fanny Fern, one of the first woman to have a regular newpaper column and commanded the highest pay rate ($100 per column) of any writer in the United States in 1855. She did not mince words on the state of womanhood.
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- Belle Fortune's Aria
Mrs. Hunter Fortune and her daughter Belle have arrived at Lord & Taylor to shop for Belle's trousseau. In this parody of "The Doll Song," Belle sings about the rules of proper social behavior learned at her mother's knee. Sung by Elizabeth Munn (Belle Fortune) and Lorene Phillips (Mrs. Hunter Fortune), with Mary Bopp, at the piano.
- Trio: Saturday, Sunday, Monday, ...
Rachel Stitcher, Bridget O'Malley and KathleenO'Leary have arrived at the home of Senza Bliss, ready for work. As the scene opens,they sing of their never ending work week. Sung by Naomi Katz Cohen (Rachel Stitcher),Gretchen Mundinger (Bridget O'Malley) and Melissa Collom (Kathleen O'Leary), Mary Bopp, piano.
- Septet: Kick her down!
Bridget O'Malley, Kathleen O'Leary have been dismissed from Senza Bliss' staff on charges of immorality and are now forced to work at the house of ill-repute administered by Liza Dulin. The ladies of A.F.R.A.I.D. (Constance Purity, Senza Bliss and Mrs. HunterFortune) are confronted on the street by the fallen doves (Bridget, Kathleen and Liza),aided by Fanny Fern and Rachel Stitcher. Sung by Ilya Speranza, Deborah Thomas, Meryl Sher, Naomi Katz Cohen, Meghan Dibble, Tracey Adele Cooper, Jessica Sabat, and Tracy Bidleman.
Susan Stoderl
Susan
