Ellis, 2021
(premiere)
Based on true stories from Ellis Island, experience the clash of cultural identities, the artifacts immigrants bring to this country, and the acceptance or intolerance of cultures through time, through emotional stories of migration. A multicultural cast embodies true stories from our nation’s past, while larger-than-life video projections transport audiences through time. Experiences an actual journey to communally explore how we are all wanderers in our lives searching for a sense of identity and place in the face of the unfamiliar. Ellis premiered at the Old South Meeting House in Boston, MA in October of 2021.
Selected Press
-Ian Weise, “Stars Carry Our Waiting Into a Story”, Boston Musical Intelligencer
-Dana Gerber, “‘Ellis’ tells immigrant’s story”, The Boston Globe
-A.Z. Madonna, “Immigrant opera ‘ELLIS’ sends audiences on a profound journey”, The Boston Globe
Cast
Aliana de la Guardia // Raysel/Maria’s Mother
Bizhou Chang // Maria/Manny’s Aunt
Taka Komagata // Manny
Brian Church // The Guard/Lou, Manny’s Brother
Andros Zins-Browne // (dancer) Raysel’s Father
Production
Laine Rettmer // Stage Director/Video Artist
Gabriele Vanoni // Composer
Ewa Chrusciel // Librettist
Nicholas O’Leary // Associate Director/Dramaturg
Nuozhou Wang // Associate Director/Video Effects
Pamela Hersch // Projection Mapping
Maxx Finn // Lighting Design
Rebecca Shannon Butler // Costume Design