COLUMBIANA, Ohio – “The Duality Conflict,” a rock opera by The Stage of Dreams, will get its local premiere March 29 at Columbiana Arts Theatre.
It’s an ambitious project for the Valley-based metal band, which will bring the story to life with actors, lighting, special effects and costume changes.
Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. show are $20 and can be purchased in advance HERE.
The Stage of Dreams released “The Duality Conflict” in 2023 and performed it at a Freeport, Pa., theater that year.
The CAT performance will be only the second time it will be performed, and Daniel Butch, vocalist, is eager to present the supernatural show for local fans in all of its dark glory.
“The Duality Conflict” tells the story of a soldier whose wife is abducted while he is away.
“He goes AWOL to try to find her, and that leads him into another realm,” Butch explained. “When they find the person responsible, that’s where the trouble comes in. That’s where the duality conflict comes in, because there is a vampire who can exist in two places at one time.”
Platforms will be set up on the stage to help with the presentation. The band hired a theatrical director, Keith Stepanic, to help it stage the performance.
Butch handles the role of The Stagemaster, and a few others as well. He’ll change costumes to fit each character.
“The songs are from each character’s perspective,” he explained. “There’s an Executioner, the Hero, the Vampire, the Stagemaster …”
All of the songs were written collaboratively by the whole band, with Butch writing the lyrics.
The Stage of Dreams fits squarely in the metal genre, but it leans heavily into its melodies. Another unique aspect of the act is that it has two lead vocalists – Butch and Janelle Lawless – whose parts are interwoven.
“I also have an Iron Maiden tribute band, and we met her at one of those shows when she came up and sang,” Butch said.
Rounding out the band, which was founded about seven years ago, are Shaun McConnell, Jim Carsone, Chris Marriotti and Dion Pomponio.
The act competed in the Wacken Metal Battle, a national battle of the bands, in 2022. It won the regional round and traveled to Los Angeles to compete in the national round.
The Stage of Dreams’ previous release, “From the Shadows They Strike” (2022), and “The Duality Conflict” were both recorded at The Vault, a studio in Pittsburgh.
Pictured at top: The Stage of Dreams is, from left, Shaun McConnell, Janelle Lawless, Jim Carsone, Daniel Butch, Chris Marriotti and Dion Pomponio.