Opera Voodoo

Providing real-world guidance and insights for opera producers, Opera Voodoo, is the long-needed "how-to" book for professional opera companies, local amateur productions and university directors. The author discusses the most important roles within any operatic production, how these roles are essential to the final product's success and the best practices for casting agents to utilize when determining hiring choices in order to assemble the most creative, efficient and harmonious production team. Dr. Rusthoi delves into the characteristics and behaviors considered the most valuable when hiring for specific cast and crew positions for full-scale, professional opera productions, and delineates a few of the typical pitfalls that casting agents and/or artistic directors can encounter when building a team for any production. Addressing "red flags" for casting agents, band-aids for unfortunate situations and providing resources for the work of pursuing the best artists, this book is an essential guide for regional professional stage producers everywhere.