No "Out There"

Hopera: Chronicles of a Fallen Hero
Untitled Document Hip Hop + Opera = Hopera Hello friends, family and love ones: I hope we¢ll be able to catch up sometime soon. We are all seem to be running at a fast pace to keep up with and thrive during this revolutionary time, while working on a million things. This note is to tell you briefly about Hopera, one of my new exciting producing endeavors, and to request your support. It is my commitment to supporting youth in realizing their dreams. Have you ever met one of those young talents whose maturity, intellectual capacity, innovation, and commitment to their art compels you to find ways to support their work? I¢ve met such a young man in Adrian Dunn. I am writing you today to share his story and to ask you to support his powerful work, Hopera: Chronicles of a Fallen Hero. You can be a part of bringing this important work to the stage by joining 99 other $25 contributors¢ help me help Adrian. The funds we raise offset expenses such as rehearsal space, artists¢ fees and media production ensure that we can present Chronicles to a Chicago audience. A preview performance, in preparation for mounting the full production in the fall, will take place on Thursday, July 10th, at 7:00 p.m., in the beautiful new theater facilities at Kennedy King College (63rd and Halsted). A contribution of $50 or more entitles you to admission to that performance as well as an invitation-only reception afterward. I hope you will choose to join me in this rare opportunity to bring the stories of young African American men in the 21st-century to the dramatic musical stage. Please make your check payable to HoperaWorld, Inc. and mail it to me at: HoperaWorld, 6839 S. Ridgeland Avenue, Suite 102, Chicago, IL 60649. If you prefer, I can meet you to pick it up. (More details about the productions are below, and at www.hoperaworld.com, www.youtube.com/hoperaworld, www.myspace.com/hoperaworld) Thank you! Sincerely, Byron Johns Executive Producer HoperaWorld, Inc. More Background on Hopera: Creator of the book and the score for Chronicles, Adrian is a talented, young classically trained vocalist. A native of Cleveland and recent graduate of Roosevelt University, I met him over a year ago and was taken by the originality in his musical expression. Fusing two radically different but complimentary genres, Chronicles follows the life a young Chicagoan, Obadiah, and his internal struggles with family, loss, race and environment. Blending classical and contemporary vocalists, dancers, and hip-hop artists, this universal story allows us all to share in Obadiah¢s universal struggles, emotional angst, and emotional victory to overcome the odds. The loss of several close friends to violence was the impetus for this project, and I am inspired by how Adrian has chosen to use his artistic talents to empower and inspire others, whether Black men or any in communities that sometimes feel invisible to the greater society. Obadiah¢s story has the power to not only transform but to save the lives of youth who find themselves in similar struggles. Your generous contribution will provide other benefits not available to other audience members. Your support will allow you to: * Preview excerpts of the work before they are seen by the public; * Receive invitations to promotional events and parties leading up to the fall premier of Chronicles; and * Attend select open rehearsal followed by talkbacks with the artistic staff and members of the cast.

YOU’RE INVITED! Special Preview Performance of Chronicles of a Fallen Hero Kennedy King College Theater 740 W. 63rd Street July 10th 7:00 pm $50 contribution includes performance and V.I.P. reception. RSVP to info@hoperaworld.com Or call 312-927-8409 Chronicles of a Fallen Hero, follows the life of a young Chicagoan, Obadiah, and his internal struggles with family, loss, race, and environment. This universal story allows us all to share in Obadiah’s struggles, emotional angst, and victory to overcome the odds. With a fresh new spin by Adrian Dunn, Hopera is a fusion of hip-hop and opera that integrates the use of classical and contemporary vocalist, orchestral instruments, hip-hop artists, DJs, dancers, and live band. Music & Book: Adrian Dunn Stage Direction: Ruben Echoles Choreography: Ebone’ Lewis Music Production: Justen “JRob” RobinsonStage Management: Deanna Reed HoperaWorld Executive Staff Managing Director: Omar Miller Executive Producer: Byron Johns