The Baltimore Rock Opera Society‘s production of The Electric Pharaoh. All photos by Brooke Hall.
Over the years, the Baltimore Rock Opera Society productions have become my one of my favorite things in the world to shoot. The experience at the last dress rehearsal before opening night is intoxicating; the BROS famous frantic energy is almost addictive. The Double Feature in 2011, Amphion and The Terrible Secret of Lunastus, was when I finally understood the true meaning of the word ‘face-melting.’ I’ve shot every dress rehearsal since. I’d like to take a moment to thank the BROS for building something worth documenting. You never fail to excite my eye and give me good reason to pull out the ol’ digital SLR. -Brooke
Editor’s Note: What Works Studio, the publisher of What Weekly, is proud to have Shannon Light Hadley on our team, who is also the kickass Marketing Director for the Baltimore Rock Opera Society. She did not write this disclaimer.
From the BROS:
The Electric Pharaoh is a rock musical set in a place which was once ancient Egypt, but is now a futuristic city where electricity is currency and a powerful Pharaoh keeps the people divided. A strange boy from the lower crust of society uncovers the secrets of the past with his friends and sets off a revolution.
Marissa O’Guinn as a Scarabel – a member of the Pharaoh’s ensemble.
Chenzira (Jon Dallas) inside the psychedelic dream world of Nouspace.
Terrènce Pope as a member of the Uraeus Guard.
The Pharaoh’s Scarabels: Katie Harrington, Sarah Gretchen Heiderman and Melissa O’Guinn.
Amanda J. Rife as the Pharaoh.
Jon Dallas as Chenzira, a Dimmer from the lower crust of society.
Danielle Robinette as Amunet, a Luxie girl from a powerful family.
Chenzira takes papyrus to enter into the dreamworld of Nouspace.
Chenzira inside Nouspace.
Sumaki (Leeann Monat) will not be bribed by Million (Derek Vaughan Brown).
The Cascade Festival dancers.
Cascade Festival with Marissa O’Guinn.
Marissa O’Guinn.
The Cascade Festival.
Tariq (Corey Hennessey) celebrates with his friends during the festival.
Sparkly Garbage: Pollux (Kathy Carson) and Monocerus (Kristina Green).
Chenzira charges Tariq’s talisman while the festival crowd looks on.
The Uraus arrest Tariq for disrupting the festival.
Danielle Robinette as Amunet, performing “Puzzle in Time.”
Jon Dallas as Chenzira.
Derek Vaughan Brown as Million.
Corey Hennessey as Tariq.
Corey Hennessey as Tariq, the leader of the uprising against the Pharaoh.
Chenzira reveals his glowing scars to his friends – “There’s so much information here.”
Eric Poch as Esper stealing the show with “Torture Makes Me Feel Just Fine.”
The trio attempts to break into the pyramid and is captured.
Tariq (Corey Hennessey) pleads with Sumaki to stand with the uprising.
Sarah Gretchen Heiderman as one of the Pharaoh’s Scarabels.
The Scarabels attempt to destroy the trio.
Pharaoh is powerless.
Stripped of her power, the Pharaoh falls.
BROS Artistic Director Aran Keating, and show director Mason Ross.
The Electric Pharaoh, written by Chuck Green and directed by Mason Ross, was the 6th original rock opera produced by the Baltimore Rock Opera Society. We asked the BROS to provide us with the list of every single person involved in the show to get some idea of how many people worked on this production. As always – they didn’t disappoint.
The Electric Pharaoh is:
Mason Ross, Debra Lenik, Greg Bowen, Anna Platis, Zachary Yarosz, Jack Sossman, Miriam Cummons, Johno Marra, Stephen Frank, Erica Patoka, Judy Kurjan-Frank, Sarah Flash Gorman, Naomi Davidoff, Eliza Vlasova, Matt Beale, Miles Pekala, Douglas Johnson, Michael Bull, Heather Graham, Chuck Green, Margaret Bromilow Peterson, Hannah Friedland, Shannon Light Hadley, Mike Ridgaway, Kim Stanbro, Marceline White, Patrick McMinn, Will Gee, Kevin Blackistone, Jeff Schabdach, Chris Allen, Nisha Ramnath, Eli Breitburg-Smith, Dave K., Dylan Koehler, Jen Tydings, Zack Branch, Tim Olewnik, Jon Dallas, Corey Hennessey, Danielle Robinette, Amanda J Rife, Derek Vaughan Brown, Eric Poch, Leeann Monat, June Keating, Marissa O’Guinn, Lawrence D Bryant IV, Katie Harrington, Sarah Gretchen Heiderman, Caitlin Rife, Brian S Kraszewski, Terrènce Pope, Alexander Scally, Kathy Carson, Kristina Green, Matthew Casella, Philip Doccolo, Moira Goldie Horowitz, Griffin Stanbro, Catherine Dunne, Ryan Dunne, Shiah IrgangLaden, Cathy Tydings, Jonathan Jacobs, Dustin “Tresch” Peterson, Brandon Williams, Jon Caplan, Cason Korman, Jerz Durkin, Dom Cerquetti, Katrina Bost, Eric Church, Jessie Delaplaine, Jason DiResta, John Ellis, Christian Marra, Joe Martin, Mike Martino, Samantha Polinik, Alan Schnittman, Daniel Sneiderman, Andy Winegrad, Morgan Woodle, Zack Yarosz, Randall Ziman, Marco Duenas, Eliza Vlasova, Karianna Barr, Jacob Dillow, Natalie Drutz, Eli Feight, Rachel Frigot, Sarah Gilcrest, Susanna Gieske, Anthony Gray, Jennifer Hasselbusch, Lisa Hillring, Christina Holmes, Susannah Horrom, Viki Keating, V Lee, Devin Martin, Jen Moore, Risa Ono, Kristie Winther, Amanda Blackwell, Miles Pekala, Jay Baldwin, Sally Byers, Greg Chaprnka, Carlos Guillen, Eric Serfass, Melissa O’Brien, John Decampos, Lucas Gerace, Evan Merkel, Maura Dwyer, Chris Reuther, Cheri Kase, Ashley McElfresh, Lori Travis, Meaghan Whalen, Matthew Reid, Jake Caples, Jared Margulies, Aran Keating, Bob Rose, Ashleigh Haddad, Vangie Ridgaway, Kerry Brady, Mark Sine
