Presenting the 2013 Festival Season Share

Main Performance
World Premiere
CHAMPION

Audiences across the country are already anticipating the world premiere of this compelling new opera in jazz. With music by five-time Grammy Award-winning composer Terence Blanchard and libretto by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Michael Cristofer, Champion is inspired by the true story of Emile Griffith. An immigrant from the Virgin Islands, Emile claimed the title of World Welterweight Champion in a fatal 1962 fight which transformed him into a tragic hero and left the two-year old son of his opponent, Benny “The Kid” Paret, without a father.

Champion begins over 40 years later, on the morning Emile is to meet his opponent’s son, now a grown man, for the first time. Flooded by memories of his career, his checkered personal life, and a terrible attack that exposed his greatest personal secret, Emile embarks on the universal journey of any hero — finding himself in the face of his greatest tragedy.

Champion contains adult themes and strong language and is not recommended for young audiences.

Arthur Woodley
Arthur Woodley
Emile Griffith

Aubrey Allicock
Aubrey Allicock°
Young Emile Griffith

Denyce Graves
Denyce Graves*
Emelda Griffith

ConductorGeorge Manahan
Stage DirectorJames Robinson
Set DesignerAllen Moyer
Costume DesignerJames Schuette
Lighting DesignerChristopher Akerlind
Video DesignerGreg Emetaz
Sound DesignerRusty Wandall*
Wig & Makeup DesignerTom Watson
ChoreographerSeán Curran
Chorus MasterRobert Ainsley
English Diction SpecialistErie Mills
RepetiteurAdam Burnette
Assistant Stage DirectorRichard Gammon
Stage ManagerKimberley S. Prescott
Assistant Stage ManagerValerie J. Clatworthy
Intern Assistant Stage ManagerSarah Johnson*

Emile GriffithArthur Woodley
Young Emile GriffithAubrey Allicock°
Emelda GriffithDenyce Graves*
HowieRobert Orth
Kathy HagenMeredith Arwady*
Benny Paret/Paret Jr.Victor Ryan Robertson*
Luis Rodrigo GriffithBrian Arreola°
Sadie Griffith/Cousin BlancheChabrelle Williams*†
AnnouncerChristopher Hutchinson*†
Little EmileJordan Jones*
Young Man in a BarLorenzo Miguel Garcia†*

* = Debut; ° = former Gerdine Young Artist; † = current Gerdine Young Artist

“It’s hard to think of a better way to spend a night in early summer.”
—The St. Louis Post Dispatch

Opera Theatre promotes diversity and inclusiveness and affirms its ADA compliance.

Special Thanks to:

 NEA LogoRAC Logo50th-capture-vsc45pxMAC Logo

 

 

Opera Theatre of Saint Louis is a member of the national service organization for opera

operaexperience


Watch additional videos