Seattle Opera looks for new, young "Ring" audience members for "reality-style video project"

"Confessions of a First Time Operagoer"

No, the Seattle Opera doesn't want you to sing. It wants you — an opera neophyte between the ages of 18 and 30 — to take part in a "reality-style video project" in which you describe what it's like to scale the mountain range that is Richard Wagner's "Ring" cycle for the first time. The conditions are as follows:

You must never have seen the "Ring" before. In fact, the fewer operas you've seen, the better.

You must feel comfortable on-camera and be eager to "experience and learn about" Wagner's opera marathon.

Blog, Twitter and Facebook postings of your immersion in the world of Wagner are "essential."

You'll need to attend the four "Ring" operas, Aug. 9, 10, 12 and 14, and spend seven days on "supplementary activities" that include backstage tours and chats with "Ring" fans.

"Confessions of a First Time Operagoer" will be a 10-minute documentary co-created by Seattle Opera and Reel Grrls, a technology/media training program for young girls. The Reel Grrls film crew will handle editing of the final product. One- to 2-minute video auditions will be accepted through May 22; live auditions, for those without access to a video camera, will be held at 5 p.m. May 15. A winner will be announced June 6. See www.seattleopera.org/news/ for more information.

Michael Upchurch, Seattle Times arts writer