Hover, conceived and developed by Lindsay Cuff (librettist) and Benton Roark (composer), explores seemingly impossible travails endured by the human body. It is set in a municipal swimming pool in the present day, though it “travels” backward in time to New York at the turn of the 19th century and to Mexico City during the Spanish Inquisition.

The action is staged in, on top of, and around an indoor pool.  Locating this “stage” so particularly aims not only to intensify the sonic and dramatic experience, but to strengthen the growing tradition of using alternative public space as a site for artistic performance and dialogue.

 A fully staged workshop of Act One was performed with singers and musicians in front of an invited audience at the Vancouver JCC Aquatic Centre in Vancouver.

Creative Team:
Stage Director: Richard Wolfe
Music Director: Marguerite Witvoet
The Dreamer (mezzo): Jennifer McLarenThe Traveler (baritone): Joshua McFaul
The Diver (baritenor): Alex McMorran
Nurse/Inquisitor 1: Lucy Smith
Nurse/Inquisitor 2: Melanie Adams
Doctor/Inquisitor: Shane Raman
Anesthesiologist/Head Inquisitor: Steven Bélanger
Synchronized swimmer 1/choreography: Courtney Grant
Synchronized swimmer 2: Ally Plecash

Clarinetist: Carolyn Gauthier
Guitarist: Adrian Verdejo
Percussionist: Brian Nesselroad
Violist: Molly MacKinnon
Double bassist: Mark Haney
Rehearsal Pianist: Michael Park
Recording Technician: Ryan NoakesPiano-vocal music workshop, May 2012 at UBC (Vancouver, BC)

Piano-vocal music workshop, May 2012 at UBC (Vancouver, BC)
Stage Director: Richard Wolfe
Music Director: Marguerite Witvoet
The Dreamer (mezzo): Jennifer McLaren
The Traveler (baritone): Joshua McFaul
The Diver (baritenor): Alex McMorran
Nurse/Inquisitor 1: Lucy Smith
Nurse/Inquisitor 2: Melanie Adams
Doctor/Inquisitor: Shane Raman
Anesthesiologist/Head Inquisitor: Steven Bélanger
Rehearsal Pianist: Michael Park