UCLA Health’s Department of Health Services and Society will present the world premiere of “The Center Cannot Hold, Part 3: Beyond Recovery” on June 27–29 at UCLA Semel Auditorium in Los Angeles.

The opera, with a libretto developed in collaboration with Elyn R. Saks, is the concluding chapter in a trilogy of operas composed by UCLA psychiatrist Kenneth Wells and is based on her memoir of the same name. Saks, an Orrin B. Evans Distinguished Professor of Law, Psychology, and Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences at USC Gould School of Law and founder of the Saks Institute for Mental Health Law, Policy, and Ethics, is one of the nation’s most prominent advocates living openly with schizophrenia. The work follows her through her marriage, her path to becoming a trained psychoanalyst, a cancer diagnosis, and her emergence as an international mental health advocate. The production features a full cast of professional singers, chorus, and chamber orchestra, and runs approximately three hours with intermission.

Wells, a Professor of Psychiatry and Health Services Research at UCLA, composed the first opera in the trilogy 12 years ago. Each performance will be followed by a post-show discussion.

A series of oil on linen paintings inspired by Saks’ life, created by artist Gregg Chadwick, will be incorporated into the production.

Performances are free and open to the public, with registration required. The production will also be available via free YouTube livestream.

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