The Cook-Off Composer: Shawn E. Okpebholo Libretto by Mark Campbell What could be more brash, mercenary, or tone-deaf (pun intended) than an American cooking competition? But the gaudy veneer of Mark Campbell’s captivating and endlessly witty libretto, a manifestation of composer Shawn Okpebholo’s original vision, dissipates rapidly as three contestants—sanctimonious Ivy Sweet, humble Kendra Smith, and nervous Álvaro Mendez—reveal their personal stories and aspirations, evolving into a broader commentary on race and history, self-worth, economic hardship, and achieving the “American Dream.” As though mimicking the rapid edits of TV, Okpebholo’s exquisitely orchestrated score pivots rapidly between chaotic “game show” music for the ostentatious host, Kenny Kincaid; lyrical, quasi-French impressionism for the sophisticated (and ever-tipsy) judge, Beryl Bennett; pointillistic coloratura for the cutesy Ivy; depth and soulfulness for the introspective Kendra; and musical stuttering and awkward silence for Álvaro that transforms to a Latin groove whenever he finds his nerve. Like a favorite TV…