American Opera Projects and the Tisch Opera Lab will celebrate the 10th anniversary of “The Woodlawn Operas” on May 16-20, 2025.

The live performance of three 30-minute operas will get its first showcase on May 16 and 17 at the African Grove Theatre in NYU’s Paulson Center, starting at 7:30 p.m. Then on May 20, the program heads to the Bronx for a May 20 performance at the Woolworth Chapel in Woodlawn Cemetery.

This year’s works include Kat Cartusciello and Jessica Field’s “Styx & Stones,” Andy Li and Sravya Saraswatula’s “What Do You See?,” and Ziyan Yang and Andi Lee Carter’s “Visions in Drag.

“Styx & Stones” explores the daily routine of Charon as he ferries newly deceased souls across the River Styx. But everything changes when Penelope and Donna come along. Only one can pay Charon the fare to cross, so they attempt to win him over with their love.

“What do You See?” explores the restless spirits in the sculptures of Anna Hyatt Huntington and Alexander Archipenko.

Finally, “Visions in Drag” tells the story of Bert Savory, Queen of Vaudeville, who is about to get fatally zapped by a bolt of lightning. But before his death, Bert receives a vision of three queens who show him the future of drag.

Performers include Lindell O. Carter, Kelly Glyptis, Yoojin Lee, Ilene Pabon, Eliam Ramos, and Gileann Tan, and will be supported on piano by Music Director Chérie Roe.

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