Factotum | GSArts

FACTOTUM
The Groom & Glow lounge
May 1 & 2, 2026, wells theater

Factotum: The Groom & Glow Lounge is a vibrant, genre-blending soul opera created by internationally acclaimed artists and The Governor’s School for the Arts alumni Will Liverman and DJ King Rico. Inspired by Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, the production reimagines the classic comedy inside a contemporary Black barbershop and beauty salon, blending opera, hip-hop, gospel, funk, neo-soul, and R&B into a bold new theatrical experience.

Reimagined specifically for GSA students after the premier staging at the Lyric Opera in 2023, this unique adaptation places young artists at the center of a professional creative process. Liverman and Rico have been working directly with GSA Vocal Music students through out the 2025-2026 school year, seeing them through auditions, rehearsals, and an extended residency. Both will present the work in person opening night, providing rare, high-level mentorship while bringing a groundbreaking new opera home to Norfolk.

Factotum at GSA:

Brings home two internationally-known GSA alumni as co-creators, Will Liverman and DJ King Rico
Reimagines the beloved classic by Rossini, The Barber of Seville
Features a diverse cast of GSA Vocal Music students in leading roles
Includes an in-person residency for GSA students to train and rehearse with Liverman and Rico
Blends opera, hip-hop, gospel, funk, neo-soul, and R&B for a new operation experience
Allows students to perform a contemporary work written by living composers who once trained at GSA
Culminates in two public performances at the historic Wells Theatre in Norfolk

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Baritone Will Liverman, called “one of the most versatile singing artists performing today” (Bachtrack), is an internationally acclaimed opera performer and recipient of the Marian Anderson Vocal Award, Richard Tucker Career Grant, and Sphinx Medal of Excellence. He has appeared with the Metropolitan Opera, LA Opera, and leading companies nationwide, and is a Juilliard-trained artist known for championing new and innovative works. A proud Governor’s School for the Arts alumnus, Liverman returns to mentor students and co-create this special GSA production of Factotum.

DJ King Rico is an award-winning producer, DJ, and multi-genre artist recognized for his innovative work blending contemporary music styles. A collaborator with brands including Serato, Pioneer, and Numark, he is Co-Creator and Co-Composer of The Factotum, which premiered at Lyric Opera of Chicago in 2023 and earned him the 2024 Splice Grand Prize. A GSA alumnus and Shenandoah Conservatory graduate, Rico returns to Norfolk to work directly with students in developing this unique student-centered production.