Opera Orlando is set to remount its first commissioned opera, “The Secret River,” at the Grove Stage at Mead Botanical Garden in Orlando as part of the company’s 10th anniversary celebrations.

The work, which features music by Stella Sung and a libretto by Mark Campbell, will be conducted by Karl Van Richards, directed by Ayòfẹ́mi Jeriah Demps, and choreographed by Maxine Montilus.

Soprano Sabrina Langlois leads the cast as Calpurnia, joined by soprano Renée Richardson as Cassandra, mezzo-soprano Kimberly Hernández as Mother Albirtha, soprano Amy Cofield as Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, and baritone Lloyd Reshard as Augustus. Also featured are the Opera Orlando Youth Company, dancers from Inez Patricia School of Dance, and puppetry originally created by MicheLee Puppets.

The production is dedicated to the memories of puppeteer Tracey Conner and stage director Dennis Whitehead-Darling.

Performances are set for Friday, March 6 and Saturday, March 7, 2026 at 7:30 p.m..

Ahead of the main stage run, Opera Orlando is set to showcase two community events. with Studio Artist Alexandra Kzeski and soprano Samone Hicks performing selections from the opera at the Orange County Library’s Eatonville Branch. This first event already took place February 20 at 11 a.m. The second one, set for March 6 at 12 p.m., is a “lunch and learn” at the Orange County Regional History Center with Sung, University of Florida professor Kenneth Kidd, and singers from Opera Orlando.