Uploaded May 2023 | Updated September 2026, 42 minutes ago
"I want to make sure that the choices we make are intentional, that they serve a purpose. If they don’t, then why are we changing it?" -Hawai'i Opera Theatre, private correspondence
American productions of operas sometimes retitle the works in English. But sometimes, for other reasons, the title is left intact. But what are the rules around these naming conventions? And how have companies navigated this issue for Puccini's "Madama Butterfly?" Zach Barr (they/them) investigates this issue, discussing both the unspoken guidelines that companies follow, and responses from marketing teams working today.
Music in this video is provided by Podington Bear, and used under a Creative Commons BY-NC license.
"And Now, They Sing" playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4vfdXUW5yrUATqDIsz1d5C8wDdewZflz
For suggesting topics: twitter.com/AdmiralZachBarr
For donations: ko-fi.com/admiralzachbarr
"I want to make sure that the choices we make are intentional, that they serve a purpose. If they don’t, then why are we changing it?" -Hawai'i Opera Theatre, private correspondence
American productions of operas sometimes retitle the works in English. But sometimes, for other reasons, the title is left intact. But what are the rules around these naming conventions? And how have companies navigated this issue for Puccini's "Madama Butterfly?" Zach Barr (they/them) investigates this issue, discussing both the unspoken guidelines that companies follow, and responses from marketing teams working today.
Music in this video is provided by Podington Bear, and used under a Creative Commons BY-NC license.
"And Now, They Sing" playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4vfdXUW5yrUATqDIsz1d5C8wDdewZflz
For suggesting topics: twitter.com/AdmiralZachBarr
For donations: ko-fi.com/admiralzachbarr
![Low Budget Milky Whites [LIVE at BroadwayCon 2024]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/m6EUYZNgxT4/mqdefault.jpg "Low Budget Milky Whites [LIVE at BroadwayCon 2024]
He wasn’t puppeteering her just yet; she was still inanimate. Then he tilted her head ever so slightly, and instantly there she was: imbued with life and seemingly quizzical — even if her big, almost teary eyes are really just beveled foam coated with clear epoxy that catches the light. Yeah, we’re best friends, said Kanagawa. -Laura Collins-Hughes, 2022
Of all the characters from “Into The Woods,” none have seen more…variation between productions than Jack’s beloved cow. The defunct Tumblr blog “Low Budget Milky Whites” catalogued a bestiary of staging choices: puppets, masks, facepaint, balloons, and more. But, funny as they are, what can these costumes teach us about the medium of theatre? Zach Barr (they/them) discusses the differences between Static and Dynamic Art, through the lens of the cow as white as milk.
Performed July 27, 2024 – LIVE at BroadwayCon 2024
Thank you to BroadwayCon and the Mischief Management staff for hosting me! This was my first time ever presenting And Now They Sing live, and it was a blast the whole way through. Special shoutout to the attendee who brought their own Milky White puppet and asked me to sign the udder afterwards – I missed your name but you made my whole weekend.")
