Director Spotlight - Moira O'Sullivan

Welcome back to our Opera for the 22nd Century blog for another feature from the cast/creative team of Fortune's Children - A Zoom Opera by David Wolfson. Do you have your tickets yet? We hope to see you live on Zoom on Friday, October 16 or Saturday, October 17. Today we're pleased to feature the director of Fortune's Children, Moira O'Sullivan. Moira made her HOTOpera debut directing excerpts from The Loathly Lady by Paul Richards/Wendy Steiner at our 8th annual New in November Festival; then returned to direct Triangle by Tony Solitro during NIN9 and returned the following season to direct Womb with a View by Beth Ratay at NIN10. We hope you enjoy learning about Moira's career and what directing this opera means to her.

Moira O'Sullivan is a director and actor based in NYC. Most recently, she directed The Mon Valley Medium as part of The Emerging Artists Festival in NYC which then transferred to Carnegie Stage in Pittsburgh. She has directed for Hartford Opera Theater's New in November Festival the last three years (A Womb with A View, The Loathly Lady and Triangle). Other credits include Rosemary (New Wave Theater Collective), and Insomniacs (Playhouse on Park). As an actor, she has been seen Off-Broadway at 59E59 Theaters and in regional theaters across New England. Favorite shows include Biloxi Blues, Oleanna, and It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play. BFA NYU Tisch. www.moiraosullivan.com

We recently interviewed Moira about directing Fortune's Children. Here's what she had to say:

HOTOpera: Is this your first time singing in an opera created for an online platform? If so, how is it different than working in person?

Moira: This is my first time directing for an online platform, besides participating in some workshops and readings. I am so excited to explore this medium, because it's a weird little hybrid between theater and film. I think it offers a unique sense of intimacy between the audience and the performers, in the same way that a close-up in a movie does. The distance from the front row to the stage has disappeared and I love that the audience can feel like they're on a zoom call with people they know... who just happen to be singing.

HOTOpera: This opera is about COVID and the effect that the virus has on a family. Do you think it's possible for COVID to bring a family closer together?

Moira: I absolutely think COVID can bring families together. This terrible time has led to people turning to the simpler things, like baking bread from scratch and doing puzzles as a family. It is in the hardest times that we turn to those we love for strength and comfort and that is exactly what has happened for me and my family.

HOTOpera: What are you most looking forward to when we can perform together again in the real world?

Moira: What I miss the most about the rehearsal process is the down time in the rehearsal room, when people start trickling in for the day with their coffee and everyone makes small talk and gets to know each other. It's the breaks and the post-rehearsal beers that I am yearning for in this virtual process!

HOTOpera: What is something fun that you want our audience to know about you?

Moira: Though this piece is definitely a drama, I usually live in the world of comedy! I have an improv team called Cocktails with Marsha that (usually) hosts a show every month in NYC. I dabble in stand-up and sketch and truly miss performing goofy comedy shows in sticky bars in Brooklyn!

Thank you for visiting our Opera for the 22nd Century blog! We hoped you enjoyed learning about Thao. Stay tuned for our final interview before the world premiere with composer/librettist, David Wolfson. We hope to see you on Zoom on 10/16 or 10/17 at 7pm. Visit our website to purchase your tickets today and learn more about this innovative chamber opera created for Zoom!