Bobbie's Aria from the opera "And the Winner Is. ."

What follows is the libretto for Bobbie Wentworth's aria from the opera "And the Winner Is," composed by Daniel Steven Crafts with libretto by Thomas B. Woodward. We hope to have the video of this aria as well as Tony's aria and the closing duet by Bobbie and Tony posted in the near future. If you want more information about the opera, contact Tom Woodward, 13 Calle Loma, Santa Fe, NM 87507; 505-474-4229 or 505-231-9829 cell.

During their wait offstage for Bobbie Wentworth’s appearance before the cameras, Tony and Bobbie have been involved in serious flirting with one another; but when, on camera, Tony asks Bobbie when she first became interested in the Ms. American Pageant, Bobbie responds, “It was about five months after my sex change operation.” Chaos ensues. When things die down a bit Bobbie reveals that her real talent is not baton twirling, but hiding her disability:

BOBBIE’S ARIA

Tony, I was thinking.

Twirling a baton, playing a piano, singing "It's a Wonderful World,"

or even overflowing, amply overflowing a one piece bathing suit.

None of that really has anything to do with becoming something like,

something like an adequate example

(to audience)for girls like you.

So I thought to myself:

“Self, how would it be if this year's Ms. American

were the exact same person,

no kidding, the exact same person

as Ms. Disability of the U.S. of A?”

Think of it, Tony. Wouldn't that be

a real inspiration to the American people

who need inspiration

from the likes of you and me?

Oh, Tony, the indignity, the utter indignity of it all.

Ms. Alaska, North Dakota and Utah and Maine,

they and the others are all feeling the same.

What I just heard from backstage

is a slowly developing rage

and it's erupting, corrupting the stage.

Look, I dare you to look at Ms. Alaska.

She's as pissed off as pissed off can be.

She has just come to realize

that to compete for the pageant's prize,

she had to have a boob job

and newly capped teeth and then,

the anorexic dieting for months upon end!

Oh,Tony, Alaska came to me, nearly in tears

while dressed in that gown from her neighborhood Sears.

She said, "If I" - that's her speaking, and really not me -

"If I were to win this thing,

the plain girls from everywhere

are soon going to think that they must have boob jobs

and teeth capped as well

and fake being brain dead

to be a real woman and not suffer Hell.”

So, calm yourself, Tony, forget about your pay.

Come stand here beside me.

This may be a new day.

Your sponsors have vanished and your producer's away.

It's time for the future to finally hold sway.

Oh Tony, this could be a real inspiration.

Oh, Tony, my leg hurts so much when I try

when I try, when I try to stand up

and look presentable, surrounded by glitter and such.

But my heart sings . . sings so gladly

when I think of my family,

my mother, my sister, my homophobic aunt.

May we, maybe together . . .

Oh, give me your arm.

Sing, sing, sing for our country an inspiring new song.

May you in the audience and you in your home

stand up as you can in your dress, jeans, or sarong!

Sing, sing, sing with our voices an inspiring new song.

May you in the audience and you in your home

stand up as you can in your dress, jeans, or your thong.

Dare to sing, sing, sing a new song!

Closing Duet from the opera "And the Winner Is. ."

            As Bobbie’s disability becomes more and more obvious, the two sit down and Tony confesses that he has not always been honest with Bobbie. He reveals that his name has not always been “Tony.” “Antonia?” Bobbie responds. “Yes, Bobbie, Antonia.” The two then see the possibility of a life together.

CLOSING DUET

REFRAIN (BOBBIE & TONY)

I have a dream. The dream of a lifetime

and that dream of a lifetime is mine.

TONY

O Bobbie, I love you.

Our hearts will entwine.

BOBBIE

Thanks to our surgeons, you now can me mine.

TONY

No longer in hiding,

our lives as transgender;

BOBBIE

Who could ever have guessed

our hearts were so tender?

Tossing small minds’ expectations

into a Kitchen-Aid Blender.

REFRAIN

TONY

Can you forgive me my flirting,

my behavior so rude?

                        BOBBIE

My fuss about nicknames,

I'm shocked at how crude.

All that talk about "Oscar"

and the size of my bust. . .

TONY

All is forgiven!

It was mutual lust.

REFRAIN

BOBBIE

O Tony, I love you.

Our love will entwine.

TONY

And after that special dinner

and several glasses of wine. .

BOBBIE

Well-bodied and lame,

full-bodiced and plain.

We're not who we were -

and at last with no shame.

TONY

Oh, Bobbie!

BOBBIE

Oh, Tony! You are my hero.

TONY

You are my heroine.

BOBBIE

Your struggles so human.

TONY

Your courage divine. . .

I'm dying to hold you

and call you my own.

BOBBIE

So what's keeping you, Tony?

Don't mind the frills on my gown!

REFRAIN

Crisis Intervention Network - Program to Reduce Gang Violence

Please note: The following information is meant to share with you the details of The Crisis Intervention Network, a highly successful comprehensive gang program that dramatically decreased gang fatalities in Philadelphia for over a decade. If you want the magazine article, "Crisis Strategy Works: 12 Years Prove It," or a copy of the advertisement that led to this program, email Tom Woodward)

As noted in the magazine article, “Crisis Strategy Works: 12 Years Prove It,” deaths from gang violence dropped 66% in the first year of this program and then averaged slightly over 2% in the following eleven years of the program. 

 Ron Bloomberg

The Crisis Intervention Network was also adopted by city of Los Angeles on a limited basis in the 1990s. However, the pilot program proved to be too successful, because when fatalities dropped significantly within a twelve month period, the City of Los Angeles in its wisdom withdrew further funding -- and since root causes of gang violence (joblessness, lack of parental discipline, etc.) had not been dealt with, there were few lasting effects from the pilot program..

My own involvement with the problem of gang violence began when I created the ad, “Hail, hail, the gang’s been here. What the heck do we care?” and received a massive response from the ad. After working with community people for seven years, Bennie Swans, Larry Rawls, and I created the Crisis Intervention Network. The results of our success and a breakdown of the components of the network are enclosed along with a copy of the initial advertisement and an article that describes the initial and on-going success in greatly reducing the incidence of gang violence.

If after reviewing these materials, you want to explore more about the program, please contact me or Tom Woodward, my Associate:.
       Ron Bloomberg - Ronbloom2@aol.com - Tom Woodward - TBWSalinas@aol.com

REDUCING GANG VIOLENCE:  

THE CRISIS INTEVENTION NETWORK

This program of Crises Teams was successful in reducing gang violence significantly in Philadelphia. After one year of the crises teams hitting the streets, gang fatalities amazingly were cut by over 60%. That figure quickly fell to just over 2% and remained so for over a decade.

CRISIS TEAMS:   The heart of The Crisis Intervention Network is a number of six member gang worker teams, living in the area they work, equipped with cars and cell phones, and on call 24/7. These teams are given three months of skilled mediation training before hitting the streets. The key component of these Crises Teams is accountability built in from top to bottom. The tasks of the Crises Teams are:

MEDIATION: This is the primary component of the program. The teams are not involved in apprehension: once a violent act has been committed, that is strictly police business;

FORMING AND MAINTAINING GANG COUNCILS:  Treaties are established and rigorously scheduled meetings are held to iron out disputes that arise. Crises Teams are given the responsibility to see that gang leaders show up for these meetings and that treaties do not fall apart;

COMMUNICATION:  Police gang units, schools, community leaders, neighborhood groups,  parents’ councils, churches and synagogues, and recreation centers all have roles to play in the prevention of gang violence. They all should be on the same page: it is the job of the Crises Teams to see that they are;

ANTICIPATING VIOLENCE, the key to preventing violence. Once a gang member gets in his car to shoot a rival gang member, it is too late. Keeping the flow of information going so Crises Team members can quickly mediate something that went down at school or in the streets is imperative;

WORKING WITH THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT:  This is a huge factor in whether violence escalates or diminishes. At any given time a number of gang members are released from prison and then return to their neighborhoods. These “older heads” can have enormous clout as to which direction a gang will take. The Probation Department has some sway over these individuals and in many cases the Crises Teams working with parole officers can help turn those being released from prison into a positive factor.

The selection of the Crisis Team members has to be vigorous. Applicants must have respect in the community in which they work. They must have street smart intelligence, organizational skills, and be dedicated to keeping kids alive.

Innovation is a further key to the success of the program. Creative approaches are needed in dealing with an irrational problem. Certainly a wider view of the world should be given to gang members and there is a great deal of talent in the city that is rarely called  upon to help in these situations – universities, the entertainment and business communities, and professional sports teams can be called upon to contribute ideas, strategies and resources.