Blue - Detroit Opera

Blue

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Thank you to all who enjoyed Blue at The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre. To see the rest of the 2021-22 Season, please click here!

Overview

Blue tells the story of a loving, tight-knit family in modern-day Harlem struggling against increasing odds as the father proudly dons the blue uniform of NYPD while his son grows more politically active and socially aware. Caught between them, the mother endures her own struggles as peacemaker. Even with her family’s beauty, talent, and success, she can never escape the painful knowledge that, every single day, their lives are at stake.

Blue features a richly evocative libretto by playwright Tazewell Thompson and masterful score by lauded theatrical composer Jeanine Tesori (Broadway’s Fun Home and Caroline, or Change). MOT’s production is directed by New York-based theater artist Kaneza Schaal, renowned for her visceral, grand style aimed at delivering the truth.

With music that balances celebratory moments with powerful arias, this unforgettable contemporary work asks us to create a world where the greatest concern for Black parents in America is if their children will grow up to be happy–not if their children will grow up at all.

 


Program


Blue FAQ

CLICK HERE FOR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

Groups 10+

Looking to bring a group of 10 or more? Contact Jon Rosemond at groupsales@motopera.org to save today!

 


 

PLEASE BE ADVISED:  

For the safety of all, facial coverings are required at performances, regardless of vaccination status.  

The safety of guests, artists, and staff is Michigan Opera Theatre’s greatest priority for performances and workplace conditions.  BLUE is proudly presented at the Aretha Franklin Amphitheater, an open-air facility that is conducive to airflow and ventilation, and tickets are sold in blocks to allow for distancing between groups. 

 


 

Opera Inspires Conversation

As MOT looks toward our September 2021 production of BLUE, we have curated a series of conversations with the opera’s cast and creative team, as well as community leaders, policymakers, members of law enforcement, and community advocates. Click the button below to learn more.

LEARN MORE ON “WHAT MAKES A SAFE COMMUNITY?”

Fast Facts

*NEW PRODUCTION*

Presented at: Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre
Blue was commissioned by The Glimmerglass Festival and premiered in July, 2019

Music by Jeanine Tesori
Libretto by Tazewell Thompson
Directed by Kaneza Schaal
Conducted by Daniela Candillari

Featuring Kenneth Kellogg as the Father and Gordon Hawkins as the Reverend

“a wrenching and remarkably original opera.”
-The Wall Street Journal

 


 

Additional Resources

Blue Program Notes by Lee Bynum

Artists

Kaneza Schaal

Director

Daniela Candillari

Conductor

Aaron Crouch

The Son

Kimwana Doner

Girlfriend #1/Nurse

Camron Gray

Policeman #1

Edward Graves

Policeman #2

Gordon Hawkins

The Reverend

Christopher Humbert Jr.

Policeman #3

Kenneth Kellogg

The Father

Olivia Johnson

Girlfriend #3

Nicole Joseph

Girlfriend #2

Krysty Swann

The Mother

Additional Resources

Program Book

Sponsors

Presented by:

with support from:

Knight Foundation Logo

 

and
Burton A. and Sandra D. Zipser Foundation

 

The company debut of Kaneza Schaal was partially supported by OPERA America’s Opera Grants for Women Stage Directors and Conductors, generously funded by the Marineau Family Foundation.

 

MOT’s production of Blue is presented in L-ISA Immersive Hyperreal Sound by L-Acoustics. This innovative audio technology will envelop the audience, bringing them intimately inside the experience, fostering a deeper connection with the performance.

Fast Facts

*NEW PRODUCTION*

Presented at: Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre
Blue was commissioned by The Glimmerglass Festival and premiered in July, 2019

Music by Jeanine Tesori
Libretto by Tazewell Thompson
Directed by Kaneza Schaal
Conducted by Daniela Candillari

Featuring Kenneth Kellogg as the Father and Gordon Hawkins as the Reverend

“a wrenching and remarkably original opera.”
-The Wall Street Journal

 


 

Additional Resources

Blue Program Notes by Lee Bynum

Sponsors

Presented by:

with support from:

Knight Foundation Logo

 

and
Burton A. and Sandra D. Zipser Foundation

 

The company debut of Kaneza Schaal was partially supported by OPERA America’s Opera Grants for Women Stage Directors and Conductors, generously funded by the Marineau Family Foundation.

 

MOT’s production of Blue is presented in L-ISA Immersive Hyperreal Sound by L-Acoustics. This innovative audio technology will envelop the audience, bringing them intimately inside the experience, fostering a deeper connection with the performance.

Additional Resources

Program Book