WORK IN DEVELOPMENT
QUEER STORIES
OF JOY
Starting from a six months project in collaboration with the podcast INSELMILIEU and Volksoper Wien, Civic Opera Creations looks at the positive moments of queer life to give them their stage. Throughout the process, we create opportunities for queer artists*, the diverse spectrum of queer humans and allies to connect, be represented and take part.
First in a song cycle and foto exhibition and in the next years a full opera under the umbrella of the "QUEER STORIES OF JOY" project.
A project by
in partnership with
Kindly supported by
With additional support by
Karba Pack, Familie Cantini & Dr. Elke Koller-Piskernik.
What does queer joy mean to you?
What special or everyday moments come to your mind? What (or who) incites this feeling of happiness?
OUR ARTISTS
ARTISTS
Carmen C. Kruse
Concept & Stage Direction, she/her
Carmen C. Kruse grew up in Carinthia and Hamburg and lives in Vienna. Her work as a director is characterized by an examination of social issues and their effects on individuals. Fed by community interviews, they create immersive worlds in which orchestra and dramatic action are closely linked. Productions have recently brought Kruse a.o. to Nikkikai Opera Theatre Tokio, Japan, the Bregenzer Festspiele, Baden-Baden Osterfestspiele Baden-Baden, and the Festival d'Aix en Provence. She won the CROSS Award and the directing competition at the Easter Festival in Baden-Baden, and was a finalist of the German NOperas! and Italien Oper.a 20.21 competitions. Kruse is an alumna of the Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab in New York, Beth Morrison Projects Producer Academy, the EMAA Master, Zurich, and the Women Opera Makers Workshop with Katie Mitchell of Académie du Festival d'Aix. @carmenckruse www.cckruse.com
THE PROCESS SO FAR
QUEER STORIES OF JOY - Interviews
17. April 2024 - O*Books, 1020 Vienna and 20. April 2024 - Volksoper, 1090 Vienna
Pictures by Jana Mack - Inselmilieu
Pictures by Marie Steiner - Civic Opera Creations
the heART of queer joy - Fotoshootings mit Jana Mack
April 26th and 27th, 2024 - Studio Glasdach, 1210 Vienna
Pictures by Carmen C. Kruse - Civic Opera Creations
the heART of queer joy - Fotoexhibiton at QUEER MUSEUM VIENNA
June 4 to 10, 2024 - Otto-Wagner-Areal, Baumgärtner Höhe 1, 1140 Vienna
The photo exhibition "the heART of queer joy" captures the feeling of queer joy in all its facets. It is an exploration of what often remains invisible. Portraits by photographer Jana Mack show the individual expressions of "queer joy". Website Queer Museum Vienna
Gefördert durch den 14. Bezirk Penzing und die Wirtschaftsagentur Wien mit Unterstützung durch das Studio Glasdach.
QUEER STORIES OF JOY - First process look with the creative team
June 4, 2024 - O*Books, Bruno-Marek-Allee 24, 1020 Vienna
Pictures and video by O*Books Wien und Inselmilieu
Together with Inselmilieu reporter Julia Breitkopf, director Carmen C. Kruse introduced librettists J.G. Danso, Louie Ulrich and Jamila Soibiri, as well as composer Ariadne Randall. Timothy Connor, Lauren Urquhart and Rafael Salas Chia performed first compositions and texts (to the right: "Katie" by Ariadne Randall and "Queen Moment of Joy" by Evan Lawson). Afterwards the audience shared their thoughts and experiences.
Pictures by Inselmilieu Podcast
Pictures by Inselmilieu Podcast
the heART of queer joy - Fotoexhibiton Tour mit Julia Breitkopf & Carmen C. Kruse
June 6, 2024 - Queer Museum Vienna, Otto-Wagner-Areal, Baumgärtner Höhe 1, 1140 Vienna
Pictures by Inselmilieu Podcast
Gefördert durch den 14. Bezirk Penzing und die Wirtschaftsagentur Wien mit Unterstützung durch das Studio Glasdach.
QUEER STORIES OF JOY - WORKSHOP PERFORMANCE AT THE VOLKSOPER
June 22, 2024 - Volksoper Wien, Probebühne 1, Severingasse 7, 1090 Wien
Pictures by Barbara Palffy - Volksoper Wien and Jana Mack - Inselmilieu
(c) 2024, Civic Opera Creations, Verein für Kunst, Kultur & Soziales, ZVR:1792837722, Austria