(Credit: By Pasquale Salerno)

Portland Opera is set to showcase Philip Glass’ “In the Penal Colony” starting on July 26, 2019.

The production will run for eight performances in a new production by director Jerry Mouawad, who will also be set designer. Christine A. Richardson will be the costume designer while Kyle Delamarter will be sound designer. Carl Faber will design lighting.

The cast will include Martin Bakari, Ryan Thorn, Nathan H.G., and Sean Doran. Nicholas Fox conducts.

“The short story by Kafka is most disturbing and graphic–capital punishment and extreme torture that spits out a highly questionable redemption,” Mouawad stated in a press release. “Kafka seems to ask us poignant questions–is humankind in a tailspin, an endless cycle? Does darkness reign until light emerges, only long enough until we deem it necessary that darkness return again?”

Performances are set for July 26, 28, and 30, as well as August 1, 3, 6, 8, and 10 at the Gregory K. and Mary Chomenko Hinckley Studio Theatre at the Hampton Opera Centre.