Brookline Resident Finds her Blue Horizon in Homemade Fusion: A Musical Opening June 10

The Opposite of People (TOP) presents the Boston Premiere of Homemade Fusion opening June 10-12 at UFORGE Gallery in Jamaica Plain and touring to the StoveFactory Gallery in Charlestown June 16-18.

From the imaginations of Michael Kooman (music) and Christopher Dimond (lyrics), comes a series of musical snapshots that tell distinct stories - being true to oneself, misinterpreting signals, how we connect with others. At once dangerously cynical, desperately romantic, and alarmingly humorous - it is a tale of love, loss, and candy bars.

A production conceived to adapt to the venue and audience - TOP is partnering with two local art galleries to bring an intimate and interactive evening of theater. Audiences are invited to join in the fun early or stay late, mingle with the cast, and enjoy an open bar.

Homemade Fusion features eleven local performers from the Boston area including Brookline’s Vanessa Calantropo. Calantropo sings "Blue Horizon" a ballad about starting over from a failed relationship. She's been a fan of Koomin & Dimond and wanted an opportunity to sing their music.

Homemade Fusion is a cycle musical without a direct, linear plotline. "The style of the show is very open to interpretation, and the songs stand alone and the characters can become very versatile," she says of the show. "Our director, Meghan [Edge] is really encouraging us to delve deeper into the music and words, to create a character that can be glimpsed in the span of one song."

No stranger to the theatre, Calantropo has an impressive resume of New England productions including two of her favorite roles.

"One role that surprised me was Gussie Carnegie in Stephen Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along," she says, "When I was cast in The F.U.D.G.E Theater's final production of this show I knew nothing about the part. But from the moment I read the script, I knew I was going to have a ball playing this character. She was so over the top, and so self involved; she was wickedly fun to play."

Her other favorite role is Cathy from The Last Five Years, "I think it’s every musical theater girl's dream to play this role, and I was lucky enough to have this be my farewell performance with my longtime theater on Nantucket."

Calantropo works in a pediatric dental office by day, "I know way more about children's teeth than I should," she jokes. She unwinds from work and performing with yoga or visits her family in Maine.

The production is directed by Meghan Edge and music directed by David Wright.

The Opposite of People (TOP) is a newly established theater company that is dedicated to bringing accessible, unconventional theater and little known shows to the Boston-area community.

Tickets are $12-18 and are available for all performances through Event Brite: http://tinyurl.com/hfmusical.