John Krupa Interview by Jen Bush

Westchester, get ready to rock!  Choices: A Rock Opera is bringing the 80’s back in full force to The Emelin Theater.  Choices is about Ace, the lead singer of a rock band called Choices.  His intense drive and focus have brought the band great success but has left Ace emotionally underdeveloped and lacking any life experience beyond the stage.  Enter a mysterious and intriguing woman leaving Ace to make some difficult “choices”.

It was totally rad that we got to speak with John Krupa who is the Writer, Director, Executive Producer and Manager of Choices.  While most four-year-olds are tapping out tunes on xylophones and badly I might add, John was learning piano and music theory.  John is an award-winning actor who has performed in theatrical productions from the tender age of nine.  He traded theaters for arenas and toured with several notable Rock and Roll acts.  He also performed as a session musician while continuing to write and perform his original material.  Currently John owns his own company in the music industry and performs with several local cover bands.  Choices: A Rock Opera is not his first rock opera, and it certainly won’t be his last.

John Krupa drew inspiration for this piece from his own life.  “Choices: A Rock Opera is based on my own life experiences.  It’s a universal story of the choices we all have to make about our direction in life and the consequences (whether expected or unexpected) that come with those choices.  Life is linear, whether we want it to be or not.  We keep moving forward.  No matter what, we must live with the consequences of the choices we make, and if those choices don’t work out the way we had hoped, we must adapt and not regret.”

I think the lyrics, “We are strong, no one can tell us we’re wrong” pertain to how John feels about the 80’s.  “That period represents my childhood and represents the purity and invincibility of youth to me.”  

John thinks there is something for everyone in this show and he’s hoping it resonates with the audience.  “I hope that every person in the audience will find something to attach to, whether the storyline, the songs, the performances, the sound, the lighting, the choreography – there’s something here for everyone.”

John learned the value of collaboration while working on this production.  “I’ve learned about the camaraderie and teamwork that goes into putting on a production like this from scratch.  Though it’s a very hard process, the fun is in the team approach, and I am honored to be part of this great team.”

John has high hopes for this gem of a musical.  If they were smart, people who can propel this production forward “might as well jump” at the opportunity!  “This is only the beginning for Choices – there’s much more to come!”

Choose wisely and get your tickets to Choices: A Rock Opera

CHOICES, A Rock Opera

THREE PERFORMANCES

Friday, November 24, 2023 @ 8^pm
Saturday, November 25, 2023 @ 8^pm
Sunday, November 26, 2023 @ 2^pm

https://choicesarockopera.com/

^{Emelin Theatre}

^{153 Library Lane}

^{Mamaroneck, NY 10543}