Help Wanted: Verismo Opera Filling Super Roles

Fort Lee’s lengthy history as the birthplace of the motion picture industry is well known. But there’s another bit of history that some people don’t know. For more than 20 years, the town has also been home to the New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera, the only professional, grand opera company based in North Jersey under Artistic Director Lucine Amara. While leading actors such as Mary Pickford, Lionel Barrymore and many others were seen in town making movies, people from everyday walks of life also appeared in the background as extras performing non-speaking roles in a busy street scene or a crowd on the set.

Just as its counterparts in the movie industry, Verismo Opera is getting ready to launch the 2012 productions of Giuseppe Verdi’s grand opera, Il Trovatore, and Giacomo Puccini’s masterpiece, Madama Butterfly, and needs supernumeraries.

What’s that a supernumerary, you may ask? 

“They’re the equivalent of extras in a film," said president and technical director Gianni Simone. "Supers, as they are called in the opera world, volunteer to carry out non-speaking, non-singing roles. They may want to have the experience of being onstage and watching as the action unfolds up close. We also need volunteers to work behind the scenes, too.”

Supers, ages 16 and up, are needed to play a variety of roles. 

“We are looking for community members to assume the roles of followers of Count di Luna and Manrico, messengers, soldiers, guards, noblemen, nuns, gypsies for the company’s performances of Giuseppe Verdi’s Il Trovatore on April 20 [and] 22 at the bergenPAC in Englewood," Simone said. "Others are needed to assume the roles of Cio-Cio San's relations and friends, geishas and servants for the fall performance of Madama Butterfly. They will work closely with the company’s general manager/stage director, Evelyn La Quaif, a prominent voice teacher and performer.”

According to La Quaif, no experience is required to be a super. 

“People just need to have a love of music and maybe a hidden desire to be on stage as someone else other than themselves," she said. "We have people from all venues, professions, economic backgrounds, ethnicities, etc. They just have to commit to something that will be a learning experience, get to wear great costumes, be someone else for a few days and, in general, have great fun.”

She added that Verismo Opera’s size helps to cultivate a sense of family. 

“We offer a more intense and intimate participation in a company that prides itself on its ‘family’ connections with one another," she said. "We know each person by name, his or her likes and dislikes, life problems and the joy they experience and enjoy sharing with one another. The Met is a great, but it’s a large company. The word ‘large’ is the issue. It is also a more difficult venue in which to get a job.”

Supers and chorus members are drawn from throughout the metropolitan area.

"We are very fortunate to have singers and non-singers in our chorus and supers," La Quaif said. "They come from all over -- Rockland County, Northern New Jersey, as well as Bergen County. Though, in the beginning, some may feel afraid that they don't have what it takes to be an actor, once they have their costumes on and feel the magic of the stage, they're hooked.”

Fort Lee’s Rita Tonitto has firsthand experience appearing as a super and also singing in the Verismo Opera Chorus. In her early years, she worked as an office manager with a company until retiring shortly afterward. In 1995, she started singing in the chorus in La Traviata and later became a super when allergies and sinusitis plagued her voice. 

Tonitto has assumed a range of roles, including a druid in Norma, a slave girl in Aida, a hand maid to the queen’s personal maid in Maria Stuarda, Butterfly’s mother in Madama Butterfly, a bridesmaid in Lucia di Lammermoor, and even a manager of a cigarette factory in Carmen.

“There’s a big rush when you’ve been on stage and done just that much; it’s a great feeling," Tonitto said. "It’s fun too. You have a better appreciation for the arts, the artists and what they do in the lead roles.”

She encouraged others to get involved as a super. 

“If you desire or want to try something like this, to get on stage, do it," she said. "For some, it may appeal to a longing to be on stage, and they may like it, as some people have found, and you might keep coming back.”

And the best part is you get to rub elbows with prominent singers and dancers, among others. 

“You meet all kinds of interesting people," Tonitto said. "Over the years, I met famed ballet star Irene Fokine, whose ballet company performed with us. There was a famous geisha who performed with us. Also, one of the young men who won Verismo Opera’s annual vocal competition and sang with us later joined the Metropolitan Opera Chorus.”

Tonitto, who is also the organization’s volunteer coordinator, will be involved again this time working backstage when Verismo Opera presents Il Trovatore on Friday, April 20, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 22, at 3 p.m. 

“I had been involved before in 2000 and played a noblewoman," she said. "Now I coordinate the supers. [I] Keep them updated about events and provide the communications between the director and the supers and the company. But I will be available to step in as a super if they need me.”

Other Volunteer Opportunties

For people wanting to get involved in other ways, volunteers are always welcome to work behind the scenes and fulfill various functions. 

“We need people to help with office work, such as mailings, making phone calls, posting flyers about upcoming productions and events in Bergen County towns, etc.," Simone said. "But equally important, community members interested in helping backstage with costume changes, using and gathering stage props and other things should contact us.”

He pointed out that many opportunities exist for people with all kinds of interests, skills and talents to contribute. 

“Verismo Opera always needs help promoting our elaborate productions and events, greeting people at performances and keeping the audience from going backstage during performance," he said.

And, of course, fundraising is critical to any nonprofit organization’s work. 

“We always need volunteers to assist with fundraising activities and events, such as the company’s upcoming champagne receptions, obtaining advertisers and sponsors to support productions, and much more,” Simone said.

The operas will be fully staged and supers will perform in costume. The productions will feature a cast of lead singers and be accompanied by a full orchestra under principal conductor and music director Anthony Morss.

For information about appearing as a super or volunteering with Verismo Opera, call 201-224-2809. 

Tickets may be purchased online for the April 20 and 22 performances of Il Trovatore, by calling the bergenPAC box office at 201-227-1030 or in person at 30 North Van Brunt Street in Englewood from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays.