Indie Comics Spotlight: Creator Corner: Carmen: The Graphic Novel

Today, Ria rides solo as she interviews Alek Shrader about his amazing new kickstarter. 

Ria’s Twitter: @RiaCarrogan – Ria has her own show called Femme On Film  that airs on the feed of Comics In Motion (with 3 episodes out thus far,  including one in November 2021 with Tonya about Grease 2) plus she can  also be found on Pop Guerrillas, Seasons Greetings & Indie Comics  Spotlight, all of which are found here: https://anchor.fm/comics-in-motion-podcast

CARMEN: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL is the passion project of writer Alek Shrader, an operatic tenor and director, who is best known for his appearance in The Audition, a documentary about the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. For his first graphic novel, Shrader collaborated with the New York Times bestselling illustrator P. Craig Russell, who is renowned both for his graphic novel adaptations of Neil Gaiman’s novels, and his acclaimed adaptations of opera, including Mozart's The Magic Flute, Leoncavallo's Pagliacci, and Wagner's Ring Cycle. For CARMEN: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL, P. Craig Russell provides the layouts, which are finished, illustrated, and colored by Aneke, who has drawn comics for DC Comics and Marvel. CARMEN: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL is planned as an epic 90-page adaptation, featuring a stunning cover illustrated and colored by Aneke.

“There’s a reason that Carmen remains one of the most frequently performed operas,” said Shrader. “Themes that were fashionable in Bizet’s day still captivate audiences. There’s a power struggle between the sexes, a meditation on the question of freedom versus fate, and a stark contrast between the exotic Roma lifestyle and a repressed society. And, of course, everything is set to some of the most gorgeous and tuneful music in all of opera.”

“What appeals to me most about Carmen is the strength of her character,” said Aneke. “Her timeless appeal to audiences transcends time, politics, and societal change. Through her strength, we see her vulnerability, passion, and sexuality exude from the stage. Through a graphic novel, new audiences can be introduced to one of the most well-known, fearless women in opera.”

The development of CARMEN: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL originated through Arizona Opera’s OnPitch Business Challenge, created in association with ASU’s Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts and the W. P. Carey School of Business. Funding for OnPitch was made possible by an Innovation Grant from OPERA America, through the generous support of the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation. OPERA America’s Innovation Grants support exceptional projects that have the capacity to improve the vibrancy of opera in the field’s most important areas of practice, with a focus on empowering organizations to increase their investment in experimentation and innovation and contribute to field-wide learning.

“CARMEN is the perfect opera for longtime opera aficionados and newcomers alike,” said Shrader. “And ultimately that’s why I wanted to adapt Carmen with Arizona Opera. If you love Carmen, but are new to comics, you can appreciate the storytelling on the page. And if you are a comics fanatic but are new to opera, here's a book that practically sings.”

For updates, follow Arizona Opera on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. To support the project, head to the Kickstarter campaign.