Bum Phillips is an opera in two acts by American composer Peter Stopschinski. Kirk Lynn wrote the English language libretto based on Bum Phillips' 2010 memoirs Bum Phillips: Coach, Cowboy, Christian. The opera was conceived by theater director Luke Leonard and commissioned by Monk Parrots, Inc. as described in a 2014 Sports on Earth article titled "A Night at the Bum Phillips Opera".
Performance history
February 2013 – Workshop performance of act 1 produced by Post Theatre Company at Long Island University-Post and La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club. March 15–30, 2014 – World premiere in the Ellen Stewart Theatre at La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club in New York. The performance was attended by former NFL players and Houston Oilers, Dan Pastorini and Lawrence Harris, and Bum Phillips' son and NFL coach, Wade Phillips. It was conducted by Peter Stopschinski, performed by American Modern Ensemble, and directed and designed by Luke Leonard. Dan Pastorini reacted, "Bum Phillips and opera don't belong in the same sentence ... And I sat there and I watched this thing unfold for two hours, and at the end of it I had tears coming down my cheeks," and Wade Phillips responded, "It certainly meant a lot to us. Meant a lot to me ... Not many people get a tribute to them in any way and this opera did it for us." September 24, 2015 – Benefit performance produced by Dan Pastorini Charity at the Stafford Centre in Stafford, Texas. The performance was introduced by Dan Pastorini and attended by NFL players Earl Campbell, Billy Johnson, Ken Burrough, Robert Brazile, and others.
Roles
+RoleVoice typePremiere cast, 15 March 2014Conductor: Peter StopschinskiBum PhillipsbaritoneGary Ramsey"Photo Flash: La MaMa and Monk Parrots Celebrate Bum Phillips All-American Opera Benefit Performance", BroadwayWorld, 27 March 2014Debbie Phillipsmezzo-sopranoAlison BolshoiMomsopranoAnna NoggleClara Lynn (Adult)sopranoChelsea BurrisThree TV Announcers: Color 1, Play–by–play, Color 2soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenorJessie Dean, Briana Hunter, Victor KhodadadDaughtersopranoMegan LalleyBud Adams/Dadbass-baritoneJohn SmileyEarl CampbellbassAnlami ShawGifford NielsentenorHunter FrederickMike BarbertenorPatrick MulryanClara Lynn (Child)altoGates LeonardDan Pastorini/Mike RenfroactorJoey LePageKen BurroughactorEmmanuel ElpenordEnsemble/Chorus: Townspeople of Orange, Texas, Phillips women, referee, Oilers fans, Derrick Doll, prisoners, Jesus
Instrumentation The work is scored for one violin, one bass, two French horns, one drummer, percussion, and two pianos (one Fender Rhodes).
References
Further reading "Top Five Similarities Between Opera and Football" by Amanda Angel, Operavore, WQXR-FM
External links , NFL Films Presents, show no. 7, 14 October 2014, Fox Sports 1 , La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, New York, 16 March 2014