Union Avenue Opera Announces Inaugural ‘One-Act Festival’
By Afton MarkayUnion Avenue Opera prepares for its inaugural “One-Act Festival: Exploring Identity and Injustice Through Opera.”
The new fall initiative will bring two contemporary operas to the stage, “dwb” (“driving while black”) by Susan Kander and Roberta Gumbel, and “As One” by Laura Kaminsky, Mark Campbell, and Kimberly Reed. This year’s theme, “Exploring Identity and Injustice Through Opera,” invites audiences into two deeply personal and socially resonant stories told through music.
Soprano Marsha Thompson gives voice to an African American mother’s fear and anxiety as her son approaches driving age in America in “dwb” (“driving while black”). Ivan Griffin directs. In “As One,” baritone Evan Bravos and mezzo-soprano Emma Dickens share the role of Hannah, portraying a transgender woman’s journey toward self-discovery and acceptance. The production is directed by Joan Lipkin, with music direction by the company’s Artistic Director Scott Schoonover.
Each performance will be followed by a talk-back session with the artists and special guests, offering audiences an opportunity to reflect on the work and its relevance to contemporary life Performances are scheduled for Oct. 10 – 12.
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