Too Many Sopranos

Four sopranos are brought to heaven's gates, but are stopped by St. Peter. Room has opened up in the heavenly choir for only one soprano. Each auditions in her own way with an aria that exemplifies the traditions and excesses of its time. The sopranos are told that if there were more tenors and basses that were in the heavenly choir, there would be no problem in letting them in. So, the sopranos go to hell to retrieve the men who have been condemned to eternal torment. Through a few operatic "tests" like trying to remain awake for an hour (a task made harder by a stage director boring them to sleep), all the sopranos successfully gain entrance to heaven with the men in tow.

• Western Gazette (Canada) review by Mary Ann Boateng Too Many Sopranos hits all the right notes: Opera stereotypes exposed in Edwin Penhorwood production (March 25, 2009), accessed 5 February 2010
• Portland Press Herald review by Christopher Hyde, Portland Press Herald (June 22, 2008) 'Too Many Sopranos' hits the high notes on Port Opera page, accessed 5 February 2010

• Indiana University page on Too Many Sopranos and Edwin Penhorwood, accessed 5 February 2010
• TIS music catalog page with video clips of Too Many Sopranos, accessed 5 February 2010