The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs
Atlanta Opera
through May 8, 2022

The Opera is taking a break from the usual classic opera to bring to our stage this new one composed by Mason Bates with a libretto by Mark Campbell. The opera won some Grammys when it premiered just 5 years ago, and this company has played in a few cities in the USA and soon will travel to Canada as well.

Tomer Zvulun has spent three years working with the creative team to bring this newly staged version to Atlanta. To say it ain’t your usual production is kind of obvious when you see the swarm of projections that take over the stage through 18 scenes. And the scenes deal with the life and work of Steve Jobs; but not necessarily in chronological order. S, Katy Tucker handled the projections design, and a full orchestra is in the pit under the baton of Michael Christie.

Much of the story takes place around Cupertino and Job’s times in school and college; as he tries to define himself and life in general. John Moore takes the stage as Jobs, and Billie Bruley plays his original partner, Steve Wozniak. While Jobs may have been a genius in transforming present day communications and computer usage; he wasn’t always the most considerate of corporate barons. He had a brief affair with Chrisann Brennan (Elisabeth Sutphen) and did her wrong in a terrible manner. Later he actually wed Laurene Powell (Sarah Larsen) who did her best to put up with his behavior. He was a real putz.

The opera is a one-act running about 100 minutes, as it swings back and forth through dates and aggravations. It isn’t one that has the legs of a Carmen or La Boheme by any means. But it is especially meaningful in the glare of the spotlight on what’s going on in our world these days.

More info and tickets at AtlantaOpera.org