SPARKS, NV – The Sparks Metropolitan Theatre Company announced it has begun socially-distanced rehearsals for an operatic adaptation of Comedy Central’s hit series, Reno 911.
The spoof show which ran from 1999 to 2006, lampooned incompetent police officers and the Reno area in general. It was wildly popular among viewers nationally but was received less enthusiastically by those in the Reno area.
Reno 911, Reimagined!
Titled Reno 911: The Opera!, the show is expected to have a three week run at the Ironhorse Mall, inside the recently shuttered C&C House of Cupcakes. Long-time Company Director and Dutch transplant, Horst Vanderhoven, says it will be the company’s first operatic offering in its 17-year history.
“We are very excited to tackle this challenging project,” says Vanderhoven. “I Watched all the Reno 911 shows and movies multiple times while I was heavily medicated from cosmetic surgery truly inspired me. I envisioned the officers of Reno 911 interacting with criminals and each other in a dramatic, yet comedic operatic setting.”
One local resident, James T. Karnowski, expressed strong opposition to the planned operatic musical. “The good people of Reno took enough of a beat down with Reno 911,” fumed Karnowski. “I work in the enforcement field as a part-time guard at the Reno Events and Livestock Center. This operatic mockery of my brothers and sisters in uniform is disturbing and unnecessary.”
When told of Karnowski’s criticism, Vanderhoven was unfazed, dismissing Karnowski as a disgruntled actor. “James is bitter because he wanted the lead role in our 2008 production, The Charlie Brown Murder Mysteries,” explained Vanderhoven. “Frankly his acting was so weak I couldn’t even give him a secondary role as Pig Pen.”
Opening Soon
Auditions for Reno 911: The Opera! drew dozens of seasoned and aspiring thespians. Some folks traveled from as far away from Fernley and Verdi.
Vanderhoven, also a former director of the Zoorst Opera House and Bicycle Museum in Ultrecht, Holland, is upbeat on the project. “We had no classically-trained opera singers audition. A you can Imagine, this proved troublesome at first. However, I deciced to have the cast take virtual opera lessons,” said Vanderhoven. “I’m confident it will all fall in place.
Vanderhoven notes the company has overcome challenges like this before, including its 2012 production, Yo Mama Mia, about the son of an Abba cover-band singer, trying to break into the world of Urban Roast Battles.
Tickets are expected to go on sale for Reno 911: The Opera!, July 1. For more information, visit the company’s website.
Marc Yaffee is a nationally-touring stand-up comedian (laughwithmarc.com). You can currently see his latest comedy special, Mid-Laugh Crisis, for free at drybarcomedy.com/Marc.
