Anna Nicole Smith: The Opera
LONDON - The British co-creator of “Jerry Springer:
The Opera” said he is working on a new opera inspired
by the life of late U.S. sex symbol Anna Nicole Smith.
Smith was a former stripper, model, actress and
spokesperson who married a wealthy older man, then
battled his family for his fortune for years after
he died.
Smith’s 20-year-old son died suddenly of a lethal
combination of prescription drugs while visiting
her in the hospital after she gave birth to her
daughter.
Smith herself died of an accidental drug overdose
several months later, after which two of her
ex-boyfriends claimed paternity and fought for
custody of her infant daughter.
The Telegraph said composer Richard Thomas is
writing the libretto for a contemporary show based
on her life, which is to be acted out on the main
stage of the Royal Opera House in 2010, accompanied
by a 90-piece orchestra.
Thomas said Smith’s life story is “a classic
American tale about celebrity,” which is
“intrinsically operatic.”
The composer told The Independent newspaper, “She
was quite a smart lady with the tragic flaw that
she could not seem to get through life without a
vat of prescription painkillers.”
