1 00:00:01,700 --> 00:00:05,033 >>> ARBOR OPERA THEATER IN ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, USES OPERA 2 00:00:05,100 --> 00:00:08,466 TO COMBAT THE STIGMA OF DEPRESSION AND OTHER ILLNESSES. 3 00:00:08,534 --> 00:00:11,499 RECENTLY, THE GROUP DECIDED TO PERFORM AN ADAPTATION OF 4 00:00:11,567 --> 00:00:14,999 LA TRAVIATA TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF THESE ISSUES. 5 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:21,166 [ MUSIC ] >> ARBOR OPERA THEATER WAS 6 00:00:21,233 --> 00:00:24,299 FOUNDED IN 1999 BY THREE SINGERS WHO HAD FINISHED THEIR SCHOOLING 7 00:00:24,367 --> 00:00:26,632 AND WERE LOOKING FOR PROFESSIONAL-LEVEL PERFORMANCE 8 00:00:26,700 --> 00:00:29,033 OPPORTUNITIES. THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION 9 00:00:29,100 --> 00:00:31,866 WAS TO HELP THE EMERGING PROFESSIONAL ARTIST TO BRIDGE 10 00:00:31,934 --> 00:00:34,266 THE GAP BETWEEN THE ACADEMIC WORLD AND THE PROFESSIONAL 11 00:00:34,333 --> 00:00:37,666 WORLD. >> FOR THE FIRST, OH, I'D SAY 12 00:00:37,733 --> 00:00:42,632 SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS THAT THE COMPANY EXISTED, THAT WAS REALLY 13 00:00:42,700 --> 00:00:46,499 THE FOCUS, JUST HOW CAN WE PROVIDE THESE EXPERIENCES FOR 14 00:00:46,567 --> 00:00:51,832 SINGERS AND I THINK ALSO TO PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY WITH AN 15 00:00:51,900 --> 00:00:54,699 EXTENSION OF THE EXISTING ARTS PROGRAMMING. 16 00:00:54,767 --> 00:00:57,433 >> WE INCORPORATED AND PRODUCED OUR FIRST OPERA, LUCIA DI 17 00:00:57,500 --> 00:01:01,199 LAMMERMOOR, IN 2000 AND HAVE TYPICALLY DONE AN OPERA EACH 18 00:01:01,267 --> 00:01:04,500 JUNE ALONG WITH CHAMBER OPERAS, RECITALS, AND CABARETS 19 00:01:04,567 --> 00:01:07,865 THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE YEAR. >> AOT DECIDED TO DO THIS 20 00:01:07,933 --> 00:01:12,832 PARTICULAR ADAPTATION OF LA TRAVIATA TO DRAW AWARENESS TO 21 00:01:12,899 --> 00:01:19,433 THE STIGMA AROUND MENTAL ILLNESS THAT OFTEN RESULTS IN SUICIDES. 22 00:01:19,501 --> 00:01:22,898 AND WE WERE INFLUENCED BY THE DEATH OF ROBIN WILLIAMS AND ALSO 23 00:01:22,966 --> 00:01:26,366 SOME OF US HAD EXPERIENCED SUICIDE IN OUR OWN FAMILIES. 24 00:01:27,334 --> 00:01:34,600 [ MUSIC ] >> SO THE STORY HAS BEEN AROUND 25 00:01:34,666 --> 00:01:38,099 FOR A LONG TIME. AND WHEN I LOOKED AT THIS STORY 26 00:01:38,167 --> 00:01:41,500 AND I DECIDED THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE DOING THIS PRODUCTION, I 27 00:01:41,567 --> 00:01:44,533 REALLY WANTED TO BREAK IT DOWN AND SAY, WHY IS THIS STORY SO 28 00:01:44,601 --> 00:01:49,566 RELEVANT 163 YEARS LATER? WHY DO AUDIENCES STILL LIKE IT? 29 00:01:49,633 --> 00:01:52,433 IT HAS THIS BEAUTIFUL MUSIC, BUT THERE'S MORE TO IT THAN JUST 30 00:01:52,501 --> 00:01:54,999 THE MUSIC. SO WHEN I REALLY BROKE DOWN THE 31 00:01:55,066 --> 00:01:59,732 CHARACTERS AND LOOKED AT SORT OF THE ARCHETYPES OF VIOLETTA AS 32 00:01:59,799 --> 00:02:05,299 THE VICTIM AND ALFREDO AS THE KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR AND THE 33 00:02:05,366 --> 00:02:09,066 FATHER REPRESENTING SOCIETY AND THE FORCES THAT TRY TO KEEP THEM 34 00:02:09,133 --> 00:02:12,999 APART, I REALIZED THAT THE STORY WASN'T SO MUCH ABOUT A COURTESAN 35 00:02:13,067 --> 00:02:17,965 AND TUBERCULOSIS AND DEATH BUT MORE ABOUT THE SOCIETAL STIGMA. 36 00:02:18,033 --> 00:02:21,132 SO AS I UPDATED THE STORY, I REALLY WANTED TO FOCUS ON WHAT 37 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:24,666 WOULD BE A SOCIETAL STIGMA IN OUR CURRENT TIME. 38 00:02:24,733 --> 00:02:28,432 AND AS I SORT OF QUERIED WITH PEOPLE AND ASKED THEM WHAT THEY 39 00:02:28,500 --> 00:02:31,465 THOUGHT THAT WAS, MANY IDEAS CAME UP, BUT THE THEME OF MENTAL 40 00:02:31,533 --> 00:02:33,932 ILLNESS KEPT COMING UP OVER AND OVER AGAIN. 41 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:36,299 >> TO TELL THE STORY IN THIS WAY ABOUT SOMETHING THAT AFFECTS SO 42 00:02:36,366 --> 00:02:39,332 MANY PEOPLE -- DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST 43 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:42,765 BIPOLAR DISORDER BUT ANY SORT OF MENTAL ILLNESS -- IT'S A 44 00:02:42,833 --> 00:02:46,066 PROFOUND THING TO HAVE SOMEONE IN YOUR LIFE WHO IS AFFECTED BY 45 00:02:46,133 --> 00:02:49,399 THOSE OR TO BE AFFECTED BY THOSE THINGS AND TO SHARE THAT STORY 46 00:02:49,466 --> 00:02:53,732 THROUGH THIS INCREDIBLE MUSIC, SO BEAUTIFUL, BUT TO SHARE THIS 47 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:56,532 IN A WAY, I THINK IT'S GOING TO TOUCH A LOT OF PEOPLE AND BE A 48 00:02:56,600 --> 00:03:01,365 REALLY CATHARTIC EXPERIENCE FOR BOTH THOSE OF US IN IT AND THE 49 00:03:01,432 --> 00:03:03,166 AUDIENCE. 50 00:03:05,399 --> 00:03:08,199 >> I THINK THE ATTRACTION OF LA TRAVIATA IS NOT ONLY IS IT 51 00:03:08,266 --> 00:03:12,066 ONE OF THE MOST BELOVED OPERAS OF ALL TIME, BUT ALSO IT HAS 52 00:03:12,134 --> 00:03:14,899 THEMES THAT ARE READILY TRANSFERABLE. 53 00:03:14,967 --> 00:03:18,265 SO IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT A SPECIFIC HISTORICAL EVENT OR 54 00:03:18,332 --> 00:03:21,866 SPECIFIC HISTORICAL FIGURES OR SOMETHING THAT WAS GOING ON IN 55 00:03:21,933 --> 00:03:24,199 HISTORY. IT'S ABOUT SPECIFIC THEMES. 56 00:03:24,266 --> 00:03:28,866 THEMES ARE MORE EASILY ADAPTED TO DIFFERENT TIME PERIODS. 57 00:03:28,933 --> 00:03:33,365 >> I ACTUALLY KNEW THE LA TRAVIATA STORY. 58 00:03:33,432 --> 00:03:39,498 I KNEW ABOUT ITS THEME. I KNEW ABOUT THE TURMOIL. 59 00:03:39,566 --> 00:03:44,331 I KNEW ABOUT VIOLETTA'S DEATH, THE STIGMA THAT KIND OF LED TO 60 00:03:44,399 --> 00:03:47,265 THE PROBLEMS THAT SHE HAD HAD WITH FAMILY MEMBERS OF SOMEONE 61 00:03:47,332 --> 00:03:52,032 SHE LOVED. AND WE NEEDED TO ADAPT IT TO THE 62 00:03:52,100 --> 00:03:55,899 CURRENT DAY AND AGE TO CHANGE THE STORY. 63 00:03:55,967 --> 00:03:59,732 SO THAT WAS DONE WITH THE GOAL OF MAKING IT RELEVANT TO WHAT 64 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:03,332 THE NATIONAL NETWORK OF DEPRESSION CENTERS DOES, 65 00:04:03,399 --> 00:04:06,998 WHICH IS TO ATTACK DEPRESSIONS AND BIPOLAR ILLNESSES. 66 00:04:07,066 --> 00:04:12,265 SO IN THIS RENDITION, THIS ADAPTATION, SHE HAS BIPOLAR 67 00:04:12,333 --> 00:04:23,165 ILLNESS, AND WE'RE USING THE BRINGING TOGETHER OF ART, MUSIC, 68 00:04:23,233 --> 00:04:26,498 AND SCIENCE TO REALLY MOVE US FORWARD. 69 00:04:27,733 --> 00:04:33,998 [ MUSIC ] >> THE REALLY INTERESTING THING 70 00:04:34,066 --> 00:04:37,232 THAT I FOUND OUT IN WORKING WITH SOME OF THE CAST MEMBERS IS HOW 71 00:04:37,300 --> 00:04:41,632 MANY OF THEM HAVE IN THEIR FAMILIES OR PERSONALLY 72 00:04:41,700 --> 00:04:46,365 THEMSELVES HAVE MENTAL ILLNESS. AND IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING TO 73 00:04:46,433 --> 00:04:50,765 HEAR WHAT THEY SAID. ONE OF THE CAST MEMBERS TALKED 74 00:04:50,833 --> 00:04:54,065 ABOUT HOW REALLY EMOTIONAL IT WAS FOR HER AT REHEARSALS 75 00:04:54,133 --> 00:04:59,098 BECAUSE THIS WAS SO PERSONAL AND HAS HIT SO CLOSE TO HOME. 76 00:04:59,166 --> 00:05:03,132 >> MENTAL ILLNESS ACTUALLY RUNS ON ONE SIDE OF MY FAMILY. 77 00:05:03,200 --> 00:05:07,332 I HAVE A GRANDMOTHER WHO IS BIPOLAR AND HER SISTER WAS 78 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:12,965 SCHIZOPHRENIC. MY MOTHER AND I BOTH HAVE 79 00:05:13,033 --> 00:05:16,532 STRUGGLED WITH DEPRESSION ON AND OFF, ANXIETY. 80 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:19,999 WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, I ACTUALLY STRUGGLED QUITE A BIT WITH 81 00:05:20,066 --> 00:05:22,932 CUTTING AND WITH SELF-MUTILATION. 82 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:27,999 THAT'S KIND OF HARD TO ADMIT AND TO TALK ABOUT ON CAMERA BUT WHAT 83 00:05:28,066 --> 00:05:32,165 BETTER PLACE TO SHAKE THAT FOR MYSELF, TOO, THAN WITH THIS 84 00:05:32,233 --> 00:05:35,232 PRODUCTION. THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT FOR ME 85 00:05:35,300 --> 00:05:38,532 WAS A LONG JOURNEY. >> SO YOU HAVE AN ILLNESS THAT 86 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:41,165 IS TREATABLE, BUT PEOPLE ARE RELUCTANT TO OFTEN GO GET HELP. 87 00:05:41,233 --> 00:05:43,732 WHY IS THAT? BECAUSE THERE IS STILL A BIT OF 88 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:46,899 PREVAILING SHAME. WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS, BUT THAT 89 00:05:46,966 --> 00:05:50,532 STIGMA GETS IN THE WAY, AS SOMETIMES I AM FOND OF SAYING. 90 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:53,999 I DON'T LIKE IT, BUT STIGMA KILLS. 91 00:05:54,066 --> 00:05:58,266 AND IN SOME CASES PEOPLE WHO DON'T GET TREATED EVEN GET SO 92 00:05:58,333 --> 00:06:02,032 MUCH IN DESPAIR THAT THEY DIE OF SUICIDE. 93 00:06:02,100 --> 00:06:09,465 SO WE'RE TRYING TO ESSENTIALLY USE A MEDIUM OF ART AND MUSIC TO 94 00:06:09,533 --> 00:06:13,766 SEND A SIGNAL THAT MOVES PEOPLE EMOTIONALLY AS WELL AS 95 00:06:13,833 --> 00:06:18,799 SCIENTIFICALLY TO UNDERSTAND BETTER WHILE GOING INTO A 96 00:06:18,867 --> 00:06:22,332 FRAMEWORK OF I'M GOING TO BE A VOICE TO TAKE THESE THINGS ON. 97 00:06:23,566 --> 00:06:31,999 [ MUSIC ] >> WE KNOW FROM BRAIN RESEARCH 98 00:06:32,066 --> 00:06:36,332 THAT MUSIC IMPACTS ANOTHER PART OF THE BRAIN AND THAT PEOPLE 99 00:06:36,400 --> 00:06:39,732 REACT TO MUSIC IN OTHER WAYS AND TO ART THAN THEY DO JUST THE 100 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:43,032 SPOKEN TEXT. SO THIS IS A WAY OF REALLY 101 00:06:43,100 --> 00:06:45,299 MOVING PEOPLE AT A DIFFERENT LEVEL THAN THEY WOULD BE MOVED 102 00:06:45,367 --> 00:06:49,432 IF THEY WENT TO A SYMPOSIUM ON MENTAL ILLNESS OR THEY READ 103 00:06:49,500 --> 00:06:53,266 FACTS ON THE NNDC WEBSITE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. 104 00:06:53,333 --> 00:06:56,532 >> AND, INEVITABLY, THIS AND OTHER APPROACHES LIKE THIS ARE 105 00:06:56,600 --> 00:06:58,932 THE WAY THAT YOU CUT THROUGH STIGMA. 106 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:01,565 WE'VE GOT TO TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS. 107 00:07:02,466 --> 00:07:09,932 [ MUSIC ] >> I LOVE OPERA, AND WHEN I MET 108 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:14,066 SHAWN AND HE FIRST STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS PRODUCTION, 109 00:07:14,133 --> 00:07:16,531 I WAS ABSOLUTELY MESMERIZED BY THE IDEA. 110 00:07:16,599 --> 00:07:21,565 I THOUGHT, OH, MY GOSH, TO BRING TOGETHER SOMETHING THAT WAS SO 111 00:07:21,632 --> 00:07:26,698 IMPORTANT TO SOMEONE THAT I LOVED SO MUCH, MY BROTHER, WITH 112 00:07:26,766 --> 00:07:31,598 WHAT ENDED UP KILLING HIM, IT'S JUST MEANT TO BE. 113 00:07:31,666 --> 00:07:36,433 AND IN LOOKING AT THE FINISHED PRODUCT, IT WAS A VERY EMOTIONAL 114 00:07:36,499 --> 00:07:39,966 PERFORMANCE FOR ME, ESPECIALLY THE FIRST TIME I SAW IT. 115 00:07:40,033 --> 00:07:43,698 IT REALLY HIT HOME, WHICH IS WHY I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR 116 00:07:43,766 --> 00:07:45,565 PEOPLE TO SEE IT. 117 00:07:46,566 --> 00:07:52,132 [ APPLAUSE ] >> FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE 118 00:07:52,200 --> 00:07:53,832 VISIT: