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Treemonisha

Sometimes out of the deepest tragedy springs the greatest hope. Embark on a life-affirming journey of love and creativity in Scott Joplin’s opera Treemonisha, re-imagined with two new acts by composer Damien Sneed and librettist Karen Chilton. As Joplin celebrates his wedding to his new bride, Freddie Alexander, he is inspired to write a masterpiece — with Freddie as his muse. His heroine will be called Treemonisha, and she will lead her community into a bright and bountiful future of education, opportunity, and prosperity.  

 

Although Treemonisha was published in 1911, Joplin never lived to see a fully realized stage production. However, the legacy of his artistry only continued to grow through his final years and following his death. In 1976, Joplin posthumously received the Pulitzer Prize for his contributions to American music. This new edition of Treemonisha celebrates the strength, beauty, and wisdom of Black women and brings back to light a forgotten figure of history — Freddie Alexander Joplin.  

Event information

Venue
Loretto-Hilton Center
130 Edgar Road,
St. Louis, MO 63119

Language
Performed in English with projected English supertitles

Accompanied by members of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra

Running Time

2 hours and 30 minutes (including one 25-minute intermission)

Video & Photos

Creative Team

Damien Sneed

Composer of Expanded Edition

Karen Chilton

Librettist of Expanded Edition

George Manahan

Conductor

Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj

Stage Director

Marsha Ginsberg

Set Designer

Dede Ayite

Costume Designer

Marcus Doshi

Lighting Designer

Krystal Balleza

Wig Designer

Will Vicari

Makeup Designer

Maleek Washington

Choreographer

Andrew Whitfield

Chorus Master

Erie Mills

English Diction Specialist

Darwin Aquino

Assistant & Cover Conductor

Eric Sedgwick

Repetiteur

Cast

Justin Austin

Scott Joplin / Remus

Brandie Inez Sutton

Freddie Alexander / Treemonisha

Tichina Vaughn

Monisha

Phillip Bullock

Zodzetrick

Norman Garrett

Ned

Amani Cole-Felder

Lovie Alexander / Lucy

Jeremiah Tyson

Andy

Shavon Lloyd

Simon

Markel Reed

Parson Alltalk

Yazid Gray

Luddud

Namarea Randolph-Yosea

Cephus

Camron Gray

A Foreman

Leadership support for Treemonisha comes from Noémi K. Neidorff and the Whitaker Foundation.  

Made possible in part by the Fred M. Saigh Endowment at Opera Theatre and the Sally S. Levy Family Fund for New Works.  

Major production support comes from Tim & Robin Wentworth. The production received funding from OPERA America’s Opera Fund. The commission is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. Â