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North American Works Directory Listing
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I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky
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| Composer: |
John Adams
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| Librettist: |
June Jordan
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| Other Artistic Personnel: |
Paul Dresher Ensemble
Peter Sellars (Stage Director)
Grant Gershon (Music Director)
Mark Grey (Sound Designer)
Gronk and other LA graffiti artists (Sets)
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| Premiere Date: |
May 13, 1995
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| Producing Company: |
University of California, Berkeley
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| Description: |
In a poor neighborhood of Los Angeles, the lives of seven young characters become entwined when Dewain, a former gang leader, is arrested by a policeman (Mike) for shoplifting two bottles of beer. He had been hurrying home to see his girlfriend Consuelo, an undocumented political refugee from El Salvador who is the mother of his baby. Dewain faces a harsh mandantory sentence if convicted of this petty crime, his third offense. Mike’s arrest of Dewain is captured on videotape for a local TV station program hosted by Tiffany, an anchorwoman. Tiffany is attracted to Mike, but her interest is not reciprocated. Meanwhile, David, a charismatic local preacher, is romancing Leila, a community activist. Rick, the public defender assigned to Dewain’s case, makes an impassioned plea in court for releasing Dewain. An earthquake hits the city, and the crisis causes much soul-searching. David realizes he is truly in love with Leila. Mike acknowledges that he is gay; Tiffany turns her attention toward Rick, who was dazzled by her at the trial. Consuelo tries to convince Dewain to run away with her to El Salvador, but he decides to stay.
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| Character List (Major): |
Tiffany, a white TV crime-as-news reporter (mz)
David, a black Baptist minister (high t)
Mike, a white cop (bar)
Dewain, a black reformed gang leader (bar)
Leila, a black graduate student working as a sex counselor in an abortion clinic (mz)
Consuelo, an undocumented immigrant mother of two, from El Salvador (mz)
Rick, a Vietnamese American legal aid defence attorney (t)
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| Reviews: |
New York Times, Edward Rothstein, 7/30/1995;
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| Orchestration: |
2 reeds(I=cl,bcl,II=asax)-3kbd(I=pft/sampler,II=sampler,III=synth) - gtr(=elec.gtr) - db(=elec.bass gtr) - drum kit(=MIDIdrums) For complete technical requirements go to: http://www.earbox.com/tech-guide/eq/ja-c-s-eq.htm
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| Contact: |
Hendon Music / Boosey & Hawkes
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| Address: |
229 W 28th Street, Floor 11
New York, NY 10001
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| Phone: |
212-358-5300
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What is OPERAAmerica.org?
Spring 2013 Magazine Issue
- Letter from the President/CEO
- Of One: The Quest for Asian Fusion in the Opera House
- Vancouver: Where Nature Nurtures Art
- Inheriting the Wind
- My First Time
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From Airport:
The easiest way to reach the OPERA America offices is to get a cab at the airport. Cost is $40-45 (not including tip).
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JFK -
Take the AirTrain ($5 - approx. 15 minutes) to the Jamaica Street Station and transfer to the Long Island Railroad (LIRR).
Take the LIRR to Penn Station ($12 - approx. 35 minutes). See Penn Station directions below.
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LaGuardia -
Take the M60 Bus to the Hoyt Ave/31st Street. Get on the
 or  Train and take that to 42nd/Times Square Station.
Follow the Times Square Station directions below.
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Newark - Take the New Jersey Transit train to Penn Station ($15 - approx. 45 min). See
the Penn Station Directions below.
From Penn Station/Madison Square Garden:
Leave the station through the 7th Avenue/33rd Street exit and walk south for four blocks. The building is on the right hand side.
From Grand Central Station:
Take the  Train to the 42nd/Times Square station and transfer to the  Train.
Take the Train to the 28th Street stop and walk north on 7th Avenue.
The building is on the same block as the train stop.
From 42nd Street/Times Square:
Take the Train to the 28th Street stop and walk north on 7th Avenue.
The building is on the same block as the train stop.
For more detailed directions, most up-to-date pricing or to specify a different starting location, please visit the MTA Web site.
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