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)
About OTSL’s COVID Safety Protocol
To ensure the health and safety of our company members and guests, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccines and masking for all guests. All OTSL staff, artists, and company members are required to be fully vaccinated.
OTSL continues to monitor the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and applicable government mandates, and to be guided by our medical advisors. All policies may be adjusted in response to changing conditions. Thank you for your help ensuring the safety of our guests, staff, and artists!
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.
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