Club Owner (Kyler Oliver) and Dancer 1(Kelly Marsh) "Madison Lodge" by composer/librettist Tre'von Griffith. Photo © Phillip Hamer 2023
By David Moore, NAAAP-KC
Members of the NAAAP-KC Board traveled to St. Louis in March to experience three groundbreaking new operas from new voices. The Opera Theatre of St. Louis recently presented their "New Works Collective" to sold-out audiences at the Berges Theatre at COCA (Center of Creative Arts), showcasing three world-premiere operas by BIPOC creators. The production promised to showcase genre-bending operas by new and exciting voices in the industry, handpicked by members of the St. Louis community. The stories took audience members on a journey through a young girl's quest for self-empowerment to an Asian-American rock band's legal battle at the US Supreme Court and the vibrant world of queer, black joy during the Harlem Renaissance.
Annie Turnbo Malone (Ardeen Pierre), Dancer 1 (Ka Thomas), Dayo (Flora Hawk), and Dancer 2 (Kelly Marsh) in "Cook Shack" by composer Del'Shawn Taylor and librettist Samiya Bashir. Photo © Phillip Hamer 2023
The first opera was "Cook Shack," a transformational work of art with a libretto by Samiya Bashir and Del'Shawn Taylor's soulful melodies.The storyline revolves around a young girl named Dayo who faces insecurities and bullying. Dayo finds solace at the St. Louis Griot Museum of Black History, where she discovers an exhibition titled "Superheroes of Invention," featuring the awe-inspiring stories of black female inventors. From Annie Turnbo Malone, the first black woman millionaire, to Marie Van Brittan Brown, the innovative nurse who pioneered the first closed-circuit TV security system, to Dr. Patricia E. Bath, whose Laserphaco Probe revolutionized cataract surgery - Dayo is inspired to embrace her power and ignite her passion for achievement.
Lawyer (Ardeen Pierre), Simon Tam (Matthew Pearce), and Solicitor General (Keith Klein) in "Slanted: An American Rock Opera" by co-composers/co-librettists Simon Tam and Joe X. Jiang. Photo © Phillip Hamer 2023
The second opera, "Slanted: An American Rock Opera," was presented by Simon Tam and Joe X. Jiang, founding members of The Slants, an Asian-American rock band. The story revolves around their rollercoaster legal battle with the US Supreme Court case Matal v. Tam. The duo was accused of incorporating an anti-Asian slur in their band's name, leading to a dispute against hate speech regulations. The opera is a surreal artistic interpretation of their experience, highlighting the power of courage and creative expression. The audience was taken on a journey through The Slants' fight for free speech and their re-appropriation of the slurs that oppress them.
Dancer 1 (Kelly Marsh), Dancer 2 (Ka Thomas), X (Namarea Randolph-Yosea, Club Owner (Kyle Oliver) and ensemble chorus Ardeen Pierre and Flora Hawk in "Madison Lodge" by composer/librettist Tre'von Griffith. Photo © Phillip Hamer 2023
The third performance, "Madison Lodge," is a riveting tale by Tre'von Griffith that takes the audience back to the vibrant era of the Harlem Renaissance. The story follows X, a traveler from Alabama who arrives at their sister's house in Harlem. X is looking for freedom and truth, a hope they find in the Madison Lodge, a captivating drag club filled with excitement and energy as preparations are made for a masquerade ball. The energetic and rhythmical masterpiece is a standout work of the evening, leaving an indelible impression on the audience.
The "New Works Collective" is a testament to the power of creativity and innovation. The work presented showcases the importance of uplifting new and emerging voices in the opera community. Despite the current challenging times worldwide, the performances demonstrate that there is still hope for the future. The works transported the audience to a world of supreme possibility and creativity. The OTSL is undoubtedly on the right track, nurturing new talent and providing a platform to showcase their artistry, leaving all of us wanting more. It's exciting to think about the collective's future ventures and these emerging artists' other innovative creations.