The Shining: An Opera?

By RodneyHatfieldJr for Movies

Yes I was as surprised too. But before you make a definite decision, we also have a very entertaining Evil Dead musical. So let's hold off on the opinions until we get a sample of the show.


I will be the first to admit The Shining is epic from beginning to end. That’s including the book, movie, and my personal favorite the miniseries. Honestly, it’s no surprise that Opera Colorado is staging The Shining in their upcoming 2022 season.

According to their website, “The operatic adaptation of The Shining is written by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Paul Moravec and librettist Mark Campbell(I have no idea who they are). Hoping for a fresh start, the Torrance family takes up the care of Colorado’s infamous Overlook Hotel. Little do they know that the isolation and the hotel’s corrupting spirits will spark an inevitable descent into madness.

Honestly what better company to stage the play than Opera Colorado? Homestate of all things Shining. The cast for the all-new Colorado production includes Edward Parks, Kelly Kaduce, Kevin Deas, and Vale Rideout.

The Shining isn’t the first Stephen King book adapted for the stage. Carrie the Musical opened on Broadway in 1988 and is still considered to be one of the biggest flops in history. Other notable Stephen King works to get stage adaptations to include Dolores Clairborne, The Shawshank Redemption, Misery, and Rage. A show titled Ghost Stories adapted multiple King short stories and toured the US during the mid-90s.

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