Open Gate has created a large amount number of original works.
using a collaborative process. Most of these works take years of creating individually, workshopping together, performing excerpts, and perfecting in concert versions.
All of these works join the different arts fully. Sometimes the different piece seem to be described as Opera, or dance/drama, or play with music, or even Masque.
All work listed is by Will Salmon with creative collaboration from the performers
except where noted.
Dionysus in Hell a multimedia Theater piece based on the Aristophanes play, The Frogs. Performed February 23 and 24, 2018 at the Electric Lodge
Hecuba a multimedia opera featuring Nanik an Nyoman Wenten. Based on the Euripides play of the same name. Performed February 24 and 25, 2017 at the Electric Lodge
Rizpah an multimedia opera featuring Roxanne Steinberg as Rizpah. Premiered January 2016 at All Saints Church.
Dragonfly collaborative creation with Jie Ma, Alex Cline, Roxanne Steinberg, and Kio Griffith,
May 2015 LALA Studio
Merton Poems collaborative work by Dwight Trible, Alex Cline, Kio Griffith, and Will Salmon May 2015 at All Saints Church Pasadena
The Crossing multimedia Opera based on the Elysian Rites and Herakles, with Kira Vollman,
June 2014 American Legion, Pasadena
Philoctetes - A Opera based on the Sophocles play, using expanded voice, projected visuals, and a joining of composition and improvisation.
August 18,19th 2012 at the Glendale Moose Lodge
Blood of the Pomegranate - A mixed media work based on Hades and Persephone. A collaboration created by Carmina Escobar and Will Salmon,
February 25th, 2012 at the Glendale Moose Lodge
The Adventures of Prince Achmed- a movie score for the silent movie July 2011 at the Glendale Moose Lodge
I cried to dream again collaborative creation with Ima Tenko, Ryotaro Sudo, Mitsu Salmon, and Will Salmon, December 2010 at Urban Guild in Kyoto
Cabinet of Dr. Caligari - a movie score for the silent movie Sept. 2009 Eagle Rock 20th Century Women' Club
Flight a performance piece with a music ensemble by Mitsu Salmon. Jan. 2008 Diavolo Studio http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNhqxQdSEfE
Pinocchio a children's musical based on Collodi Aug 2005 Electric Lodge
Hecuba a dance drama based on Euripedes play, featuring the Javanese dancer Nanik Wenten as Hecuba.
- Oct. 2003 at the Ocean Side Church in Santa Monica
Saul and David a Biblical Masque based on the Bible text with Puppets, dance, and Actors. April 2001 at Pasadena Covenant Church
Orphic Ritual a Dance/Opera for percussion and singer/dancer based on the myth of Orpheus and Orphic Hymns April 1995 ; major revision August 2000
Orestia a three section Opera based on Aeschylus; for a large cast, including instrumentalists, actors, singers, and dancers who all work-shopped it’s creation October 1993 at Arroyo Hunchback Theater
Jacob based on the Biblical story - for Actor/musician/dancers. April 1992 at Alden Hall- Pasadena Congregational Church
Noman's Return a musical play based on the story of Odysseus told loosely from the suitors view Feb. 1991 at Alden Hall- later Pasadena Shakespeare
Awakening a full evening dance work by Betty Gonzales Nash based on her own family, the Mexican flag, and the story of the Minotaur. Jan 1991
Light Breaking a full evening dance work about birth 1990 Alden Hall
Heartbeaten a performance art solo directed by Scott Kelman. 1987 Boyd Street Theater
Petros a dance piece based on the Peter and his relationship to Christ. For dancer, percussion, and a brass trio. Jan 1986 Boyd Street Theater
Night Spirit a full length work for solo dancer and percussionist (Alex Cline) parallels the Shamans journey- with images pulled from cave paintings.
first performed in OGT july 1982 at Siebu Studio 200 revised Feb. 1989 and performed in Alden Hall.
Atsumori an opera based on a Noh play first performed with OGT July 1982 at Siebu Studio 200
We have also done productions of collections of shorter works including “Dream of the Other", "Shared Vision”, "Dionysus Review", “Fragments”, “Manzanito’s Cabaret”, “Archetypes and other Delights”, and “Night Scenes”.
using a collaborative process. Most of these works take years of creating individually, workshopping together, performing excerpts, and perfecting in concert versions.
All of these works join the different arts fully. Sometimes the different piece seem to be described as Opera, or dance/drama, or play with music, or even Masque.
All work listed is by Will Salmon with creative collaboration from the performers
except where noted.
Dionysus in Hell a multimedia Theater piece based on the Aristophanes play, The Frogs. Performed February 23 and 24, 2018 at the Electric Lodge
Hecuba a multimedia opera featuring Nanik an Nyoman Wenten. Based on the Euripides play of the same name. Performed February 24 and 25, 2017 at the Electric Lodge
Rizpah an multimedia opera featuring Roxanne Steinberg as Rizpah. Premiered January 2016 at All Saints Church.
Dragonfly collaborative creation with Jie Ma, Alex Cline, Roxanne Steinberg, and Kio Griffith,
May 2015 LALA Studio
Merton Poems collaborative work by Dwight Trible, Alex Cline, Kio Griffith, and Will Salmon May 2015 at All Saints Church Pasadena
The Crossing multimedia Opera based on the Elysian Rites and Herakles, with Kira Vollman,
June 2014 American Legion, Pasadena
Philoctetes - A Opera based on the Sophocles play, using expanded voice, projected visuals, and a joining of composition and improvisation.
August 18,19th 2012 at the Glendale Moose Lodge
Blood of the Pomegranate - A mixed media work based on Hades and Persephone. A collaboration created by Carmina Escobar and Will Salmon,
February 25th, 2012 at the Glendale Moose Lodge
The Adventures of Prince Achmed- a movie score for the silent movie July 2011 at the Glendale Moose Lodge
I cried to dream again collaborative creation with Ima Tenko, Ryotaro Sudo, Mitsu Salmon, and Will Salmon, December 2010 at Urban Guild in Kyoto
Cabinet of Dr. Caligari - a movie score for the silent movie Sept. 2009 Eagle Rock 20th Century Women' Club
Flight a performance piece with a music ensemble by Mitsu Salmon. Jan. 2008 Diavolo Studio http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNhqxQdSEfE
Pinocchio a children's musical based on Collodi Aug 2005 Electric Lodge
Hecuba a dance drama based on Euripedes play, featuring the Javanese dancer Nanik Wenten as Hecuba.
- Oct. 2003 at the Ocean Side Church in Santa Monica
Saul and David a Biblical Masque based on the Bible text with Puppets, dance, and Actors. April 2001 at Pasadena Covenant Church
Orphic Ritual a Dance/Opera for percussion and singer/dancer based on the myth of Orpheus and Orphic Hymns April 1995 ; major revision August 2000
Orestia a three section Opera based on Aeschylus; for a large cast, including instrumentalists, actors, singers, and dancers who all work-shopped it’s creation October 1993 at Arroyo Hunchback Theater
Jacob based on the Biblical story - for Actor/musician/dancers. April 1992 at Alden Hall- Pasadena Congregational Church
Noman's Return a musical play based on the story of Odysseus told loosely from the suitors view Feb. 1991 at Alden Hall- later Pasadena Shakespeare
Awakening a full evening dance work by Betty Gonzales Nash based on her own family, the Mexican flag, and the story of the Minotaur. Jan 1991
Light Breaking a full evening dance work about birth 1990 Alden Hall
Heartbeaten a performance art solo directed by Scott Kelman. 1987 Boyd Street Theater
Petros a dance piece based on the Peter and his relationship to Christ. For dancer, percussion, and a brass trio. Jan 1986 Boyd Street Theater
Night Spirit a full length work for solo dancer and percussionist (Alex Cline) parallels the Shamans journey- with images pulled from cave paintings.
first performed in OGT july 1982 at Siebu Studio 200 revised Feb. 1989 and performed in Alden Hall.
Atsumori an opera based on a Noh play first performed with OGT July 1982 at Siebu Studio 200
We have also done productions of collections of shorter works including “Dream of the Other", "Shared Vision”, "Dionysus Review", “Fragments”, “Manzanito’s Cabaret”, “Archetypes and other Delights”, and “Night Scenes”.