…Sarah is in love with Richard,

but as she sits in her Manhattan apartment contemplating that fact she becomes increasingly frustrated. Richard is in love with his nine-foot Steinway, Elsie. Sarah always knew she wanted a man who played the piano, but after a year’s time, she still cannot get him to take her out on a real date. Although she would much prefer a romantic dinner in the Rainbow Room, a legendary site for marriage proposals, she faces up to her boyfriend’s reality and carries take-out Chinese food to Richard’s apartment. To be fair, Richard is torn between the loves of his life and is trying to sort out his feelings for both Sarah and Elsie.

Production History

Originally produced at the Chicago Stages Festival in 2000 and at New York City’s Kaye Playhouse in 2003, …And Piano Make Three is the third in a trilogy of one-act operas created by Mr. Seward for two performers, one of whom plays the piano.  The women’s roles in the other two acts, Piano Detective and Piano Princess, are written for mezzo and lyric soprano, respectively, with …And Piano Make Three written for coloratura soprano.  Thus, the woman’s voice becomes increasingly higher from act to act.  In addition to the casting, several other commonalities bind the three acts together. In each case, the man is named a variation of Richard (Dick and Rick); two common musical motives — heard here as “What a magical year this has been…” and “When will he wear my wedding ring?”; quotes from the works of William Shakespeare; a use of film genre — first, film noir, second, fantasy, and here, romantic comedy; music which arises comedically out of the situation; and, finally, a whimsical, “over-the-top” focus on some aspect of music.  Each work can play separately or as a trilogy with an Epilogue (which takes place in the mind of a composer).

Produced by Tarpley Mott with a new multimedia concept at the Edinburgh Festival, 2007, for a weeklong run at the prestigious St. Andrew’s and St. George’s (New Town) venue on George Street.  The work also traveled to other innovative spaces in Edinburgh, including a performance loft and even abbreviated excerpts in the window of the John Lewis department store!  Mr. Mott also produced the opera at the Painted Bride Theatre in Philadelphia in 2008.  During both these productions, ‘Elsie Piano’ came to life, appearing as a popular attraction in the streets of Edinburgh and Philadelphia.