Casting
While we understand that it may be difficult to hire transgender singers to perform As One due to the dearth of trained singers, WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THE OPERA COMMUNITY TO HASTEN THE TRAINING AND HIRING OF TRANS, NON-BINARY AND OTHERWISE GENDER NON-CONFORMING (GNC) SINGERS. The creators of As One have conceived and are funding an award that will be granted to a trans/nonbinary/GNC singer, to encourage wider adoption in the opera world of training and casting of gender expansive singers. The announcement of this award is forthcoming. We also strongly recommend the employment of transgender people in all aspects of any production: stage direction, conducting, instrumentalists, design, stage management, public relations and marketing, box office, ushers, etc. If a company engages transgender singers in the roles, no changes may be made to the music without obtaining written permission from the publishing agent. Composer Laura Kaminsky is available to adjust the score to fit the needs of gender expansive singers. She can be reached through her website: www.laurakaminsky.com.

Use of Film
The film Kimberly Reed created for As One was part of the original concept for the opera and is a crucial element to the storytelling: it not only helps clarify scene settings, it augments in a visual way the score’s expression of Hannah’s inner life. To ensure that the use of the film is easy and problem-free, As One’s publisher, Bill Holab, offers a licensing contract and a video tech rider describing how the film should be implemented; contact him for information at: http://www.billholabmusic.com 

Supertitles
Supertitles are strongly recommended. One very important reason is that the opera is about inclusiveness and the use of supertitles demonstrates consideration for people with hearing disabilities. Another reason is that the libretto contains many details about Hannah's journey which may be difficult to absorb on first listening without having a visual reference to the text. The addition of this simple production element allows the audience to enjoy the music and performances more, thereby making the opera a better and fuller experience. To obtain the supertitles (in PowerPoint), contact Mark Campbell at markcampbellnyc@gmail.com. 

Costumes
The costumes for both Hannah younger and Hannah older should be gender-neutral, casual and unassuming, and should never in any way imply drag or cross-dressing. Many people wrongly place too much emphasis on clothing in a transgender person’s journey. It may be part of the journey, but it is not the most important part of self-realization.

Supers/Added Cast Members
The decision to write the opera as a two-character work was core to its initial conception as a way to dramatically present the inner dialogue of a trans person with themself.. It permits the audience to focus more sharply on Hannah’s story. The narrative in the libretto also invites the audience to collaborate with the performers and use their imaginations as they follow Hannah’s journey. Adding supers often undermines the power of that collaboration and can create an overly literal production, reducing the opera’s poetry. 

Placement of String Quartet/Theatrical Role of Conductor
The ensemble and the conductor should be integrated into the production as much as possible without intruding on the central story. The opera was conceived originally with the musicians and conductor on the stage with the singers. Most productions have followed this concept and it has resulted in many inventive and dramatically powerful stagings. The conductor and the string players all participate in a few moments of the story; the directions in the score clarify how they are to step out of their primary roles as orchestra.

Announcement of Violence in the Performance of the Opera
The creators of As One believe it was crucial to address violence against transgender people in the opera and created a scene called "Out of nowhere." Some audience members have found the “Out of nowhere” sequence very disturbing, as it summons their own experiences. The creators recommend that producers include a "trigger warning" notice in the program and/or on signs near the entrance of the theatre with a message similar to this: “As One contains a scene of violence—song number #13, “Out of nowhere”—that may be disturbing to some people. The scene lasts approximately 8 minutes and is followed by a satisfying finale depicting the joy of trans self-realization.”

Community Resources Listed in Program Book
The creators recommend creating a resource page in the program book by including a list of LGBT organizations in the area, as well as links to national organizations (refer to the "Community" page on this website). Please also include the web address for the International Transgender Day of Remembrance: https://tdor.info/

Education and Outreach Opportunities
Companies that have made significant partnerships with local LGBT organizations have had considerable success in bringing new audiences to their company, and have created opportunities for important conversations. Pre- and/or post- performance engagement opportunities involving the creative team, the performers, and members of the LGBTQ community can deepen the As One experience, especially those that focus on issues facing transgender people. Other outreach efforts in advance of the opening can expand the connection to the community. One example is arranging a screening of Kimberly Reed’s documentary, Prodigal Sons. Another might include a reading of poetry and other spoken word content by local trans writers and actors. If the venue offers a public space suitable for exhibiting art, a showing of local trans artists' paintings, photographs, or other media can deepen the connection to the community.

Venue Bathrooms
If at all possible, it’s a good idea to provide gender-free bathrooms at any time, but especially during the performance of this opera.

Adding Local Names in "Out of nowhere"
The creators chose the list of names of transgender victims in "Out of nowhere" from The Transgender Day of Remembrance website (https://tdor.info/). Adding names to this list from the local community where As One plays is encouraged, as it helps audiences relate more directly to the story.