Beyond (piano-vocal score)
SKU:
$20.00
$20.00
per item
Beyond (piano-vocal score), a chamber opera by Lisa Neher & Caitlin Vincent for soprano, mezzo-soprano, and piano. Additional spoken lines by an offstage or prerecorded voice. Optional non-singing background characters.
Length: 15 minutes
No performance royalties charged for independent artists, student productions, and productions with free admission.
In other instances, sliding scale performance rights licensing will be arranged with the composer with consideration for the performer's budget
Synopsis
In the distant future, humans have fled a dying Earth and embarked on a voyage to colonize the farthest reaches of outer space. A generation of life-like androids has been built to support their journey. Designated only by number, these androids work as cleaners, mechanics, and servants for the dwindling human population aboard the fleet of colonial spaceships. But as the ships near their destination, the future of the android population is in doubt. While some favor an integrated society, those in power fear the androids’ capacity to evolve and order the dismantling of all but a few. . .
Set outside a ship dismantling center, Beyond follows two androids—142-6 and 513-2—as they consider what waits for them beyond the door. While 513-2 thinks they’re being assigned new jobs on the ship, 142-6 understands they’re actually being destroyed. As they watch other androids being summoned for ‘Processing,’ 142-6 wonders why the humans even gave them the ability to evolve in the first place. Meanwhile, 513-2 shares their secret hope of having window at their new post so they can finally see the stars. 513-2 then hears the tone of their own summons and cheerfully enters for ‘Processing.’ Suddenly shaken by their loss, 142-6 realizes they’re the only one left who can take a stand and decide to stop the cycle of oppression, once and for all.
A glimpse of one possible future for humanity in the stars, Beyond is a compelling meditation on life, death, and what it truly means to be human.
Beyond was commissioned and workshopped by Strange Trace and premiered by One Ounce Opera in Februrary 2025.
Set outside a ship dismantling center, Beyond follows two androids—142-6 and 513-2—as they consider what waits for them beyond the door. While 513-2 thinks they’re being assigned new jobs on the ship, 142-6 understands they’re actually being destroyed. As they watch other androids being summoned for ‘Processing,’ 142-6 wonders why the humans even gave them the ability to evolve in the first place. Meanwhile, 513-2 shares their secret hope of having window at their new post so they can finally see the stars. 513-2 then hears the tone of their own summons and cheerfully enters for ‘Processing.’ Suddenly shaken by their loss, 142-6 realizes they’re the only one left who can take a stand and decide to stop the cycle of oppression, once and for all.
A glimpse of one possible future for humanity in the stars, Beyond is a compelling meditation on life, death, and what it truly means to be human.
Beyond was commissioned and workshopped by Strange Trace and premiered by One Ounce Opera in Februrary 2025.
Cast:
142-6 [mezzo/medium voice, range: A3-G5] – One of the last surviving androids from the first generation and one of few to grasp the true
dynamics of their relationship with the humans. Highly advanced and jaded after decades of evolution.
503-2 [soprano/high voice, range: B3-A5 (ossia C5] – One of the most recent generations of androids. Childlike and naïve, with a strict understanding of
the ‘order’ of things. Not evolved enough to understand the injustice in their world but showing the earliest glimmer of
evolving into something more.
Electronic Announcer (spoken lines offstage) This role could also be pre-recorded and played as a sound effect.
Optional: Several non-singing androids in the waiting room (acting roles only - no speaking or singing)
Note: The androids were intentionally conceived as being gender non-specific. Accordingly, inclusive casting based solely on voice type is encouraged.
Musical Numbers:
Note: Each musical section should flow immediately into the next. Divisions into musical numbers are for ease of rehearsal process and organization only.
1. Recitative: I never knew there were so many (503-2, 142-6, Electronic Announcer) - page 2
2. Duet: They need us (503-2 & 142-6) - page 8
3. Recitative and Aria: You haven't been here long enough / They gave us their faces (142-6) - page 12
4. Recitative: I don't understand (503-2 & 142-6) - page 17
5. Aria: There aren't any windows in Systems (503-2) - page 20
6. Recitative: You won't tell, will you? (503-2, 142-6, Electronic Announcer) - page 26
7. Recitative and Aria: Only three cycles old / Cycle after cycle (142-6) - page 29
8. Recitative: One-forty-two-dash-six. Please enter for processing. (142-6 & Electronic Announcer) - page 35
142-6 [mezzo/medium voice, range: A3-G5] – One of the last surviving androids from the first generation and one of few to grasp the true
dynamics of their relationship with the humans. Highly advanced and jaded after decades of evolution.
503-2 [soprano/high voice, range: B3-A5 (ossia C5] – One of the most recent generations of androids. Childlike and naïve, with a strict understanding of
the ‘order’ of things. Not evolved enough to understand the injustice in their world but showing the earliest glimmer of
evolving into something more.
Electronic Announcer (spoken lines offstage) This role could also be pre-recorded and played as a sound effect.
Optional: Several non-singing androids in the waiting room (acting roles only - no speaking or singing)
Note: The androids were intentionally conceived as being gender non-specific. Accordingly, inclusive casting based solely on voice type is encouraged.
Musical Numbers:
Note: Each musical section should flow immediately into the next. Divisions into musical numbers are for ease of rehearsal process and organization only.
1. Recitative: I never knew there were so many (503-2, 142-6, Electronic Announcer) - page 2
2. Duet: They need us (503-2 & 142-6) - page 8
3. Recitative and Aria: You haven't been here long enough / They gave us their faces (142-6) - page 12
4. Recitative: I don't understand (503-2 & 142-6) - page 17
5. Aria: There aren't any windows in Systems (503-2) - page 20
6. Recitative: You won't tell, will you? (503-2, 142-6, Electronic Announcer) - page 26
7. Recitative and Aria: Only three cycles old / Cycle after cycle (142-6) - page 29
8. Recitative: One-forty-two-dash-six. Please enter for processing. (142-6 & Electronic Announcer) - page 35