FALL PRODUCTION
Rehearsals begin approx. Aug 18th 
Performances Sept. 12th-15th

I will fly like a bird – Chicago premiere          50 mins, performed with chamber ensemble.
Music by John Plant; libretto by J.A. Wainwright       *may be paired with another short performance, TBA 

Based on the tragic true story of Robert Dziekanski, a Polish man who was fatally tasered in Vancouver airport in 2007 while attempting to immigrate to Canada to be reunified with his mother, who was already living there. The story, told entirely through the voices of Robert and his mother, traces their experience from the eve of Robert's departure from Poland, through the plane ride, the arrival in Canada and the tragic events at the airport, and concludes with an elegy sung by Robert's mother.

ROLES:
Robert – baritone
Mother – mezzo-soprano 

FAULTY SYSTEMS: Hope & Home
Rehearsals begin approx. Nov. 4th;
Event: Fri. Dec 6th at 8:00pm, Sat. Dec. 7th at 1:00pm

Apart/ment -Staged premiere 24 mins By Rebekah Driscoll

Four stories of events that led to the characters’ homelessness.
As we break down assumptions about homelessness, Apart/ment reminds listeners that all of us are neighbors.
Faulty Systems is a community event celebrating diversity and inclusion by examining perspectives that we might not otherwise be able to see. Artists, speakers, musicians, and activists come together to share how we can help better our world as individuals to promote a brighter future for all.

ROLES:
Four treble voices; mezzos, sopranos, and countertenors will be considered
*given the ensemble nature of this work, there may be a callback involved to assess blend of voices. This will be scheduled at a mutually convenient time if necessary.

SPRING DOUBLE BILL
 Rehearsals begin approx. February 17th
Performances March 26th-29th
Total event time: 75 mins with one intermission

Trifles – Chicago premiere      40 mins, performed with chamber ensemble
Music by John Bilotta; libretto based on the play by Susan Glaspell, adapted by John F. McGrew

In rural Iowa at the turn of the 20th century, a man is found strangled in his bed. His wife is the primary suspect, and the County Attorney and Sheriff come to the home to search for evidence, bringing two female friends of the accused woman with them. While the men search in vain for signs of breaking and entering, the women discover evidence that the woman’s husband had been abusing her. The play is considered one of the first works of American feminist drama, and explores themes of bonding through shared oppression, gendered violence, and the ways in which sexism damages the outlook of both women and men.

ROLES:
Lewis Hale – baritone
County Attorney Henderson – tenor
Sheriff Peters – bass-baritone
Mrs. Hale – mezzo-soprano
Mrs. Peters – soprano

Sojourner Truth – Chicago premiere   30 mins, performed with chamber ensemble
Music by Stanley Friedman; libretto adapted from writings by Sojourner Truth

Sojourner Truth boards a train that is taking her to Washington D.C. where she will meet with Abraham Lincoln.  While on her journey she thinks on events throughout her life, she thinks about her children being taken from her and sold into slavery, calling black union soldiers to arms to fight for freedom, and the emancipation of slavery.  While she is grateful for these changes she ends by commenting on how much further there is to go and commits to its betterment saying she will “Rock this Nation like a Cradle.”

ROLES:
Sojourner Truth – spinto or dramatic soprano; singers of color only