The alien IT's final scene from Fireworks (1999-2002)


		The alien IT's final scene from Fireworks (1999, 2002) Words by Billy Aronson. Music by Kitty Brazelton.
		Soprano, I.T., played by Ann Hoyt is one of a cast of 6 singers in Fireworks, a 4th-of-July farce, libretto by Billy Aronson. All the action occurs outdoors in a park somewhere in America on the 4th of July. Alien explorer I.T. lands and encounters 5 distinctly individual Americans, not one of whom notices that IT is a space creature:	Ann Hoyt, soprano, as I.T. Steven Osgood, piano, music director
		I.T., soprano Teenage REBEL, mezzo-soprano Single MOM, alto ACTOR, tenor NERD, baritone GROUNDSKEEPER, bass At this point, which is late in the 75-minute one-act drama (we have already witnessed a ridiculous reenactment of the American Revolution brought about by the out-of-work ACTOR who conscripts everyone else's unwilling participation), I.T. has started to master bits of the American language. She had arrived only able to utter "oo" in falling 4th-laced arpeggios. Now she can stutter colloquialisms. Commissioned by American Opera Projects' Family Opera Initiative. Premiered Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn, July 2002, New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. Recorded at WesTrax, May 2000 by Ivan Feder.
		What have I seen? What have I seen? This thing they do and do and do and do and do I mean I mean What have I seen? What have I seen? What have I seen? "I neeeeed" [echoing REBEL] "I want to do" [echoing MOM] "If you do the thing I need Then I will do a thing for you" [echoing NERD & ACTOR] "If I do a thing that you want will you do a thing for me?" [echoing GROUNDSKEEPER] "What do I need?" "What do I want?" What have I seen? To have the things taking place on your outside Brought about by things on your inside Incidents that you're seeing Shaped by what is in your being To observe your hands and know They're going where you want them to go To feel yourself With the others Bearing the weight With the others Sharing the weight With the others Driven onward all as one Not as particles are blown But by an impulse all your own Stirring deep inside of you Inside of me How would that be? Inside of me How would that be? Why they choose those hues in par-ti-cu-lar— (red—white—& blue— & yellow too) I cannot explain with a certainty But I sense the thing that inspires them Something that provokes and entrances me Yes I sense the thing that they celebrate As they send those hues flashing up above Far more striking than any colored lights Is the thing the lights are in honor of A a idea A thu- thu- thought So so so utterly complete And yet continuously wrought The strangest thing I've seen in all the vast infinity How would that be? How would that be? How would that be? A puh puh pain I buh buh burn To spread word of what I have wit-nessed All along my long return I will shout what I have seen a-cross the swarming stellar sea Muh Muh maybe it could root within another galaxy Maybe even uh uh I could suh suh slip away and see Even maybe fuh fuh fuh fuh fuh fuh feel it within me How would that be? How would that be? How would that be To be free?
			all rights reserved © & (p) 1999, 2000 & 2002, Billy Aronson and Catherine B. Brazelton & Snicim Vinahel (ASCAP).