Pittsburgh Opera will explore themes of race, violence and reconciliation in “Blue,” a contemporary opera inspired by current events and Black literature.
“Blue” will be presented in five performances Saturday through May 1 in the August Wilson African American Cultural Center, at 980 Liberty Ave. in downtown Pittsburgh.
The story centers on a young Black couple raising a son who becomes a student artist and activist, frequently at odds with law enforcement because of his involvement in nonviolent political protests. The situation is complicated by the fact that the father is himself a police officer.
When the son dies at the hands of another police officer during a protest, the parents must rely on their close-knit community for support.
“Pittsburgh Opera has long sought out ‘hot button’ topics for our new works presentations as a way to bring renewed focus and new understanding to issues that might otherwise be labeled as ‘too sensitive’ for the stage,” said the opera’s general director Christopher Hahn. “That’s why the theater has played such an enduring role in the intelligent treatments of complex issues.
“The opera is really most strongly focused on the challenges of parenting in a pressured environment. Members of the Black community will recognize all-too-familiar themes and those who are not will experience a real exposure to the realities of day-to-day parenting in the Black community,” he said.
Created by Tony Award-winning composer Jeanine Tesori and NAACP Theatre Award-winning librettist Tazewell Thompson, “Blue” was commissioned by The Glimmerglass Festival in Cooperstown, N.Y., and premiered in July 2019. It is sung in English.
The Pittsburgh Opera production features Kenneth Kellogg as The Father, Briana Elyse Hunter as The Mother and Aaron Crouch as The Son.
Thompson directs, with Cindy C. Oxberry as associate director. Glenn Lewis conducts.
“What opera does best is delve into complex and sensitive issues in a nuanced way that allows the audience to enter into the inner dialogue of characters and their conflicts,” Hahn said. “This powerful piece explores anguish, anger and loss, but ultimately ends with a scene of warmth, reconciliation and love.”
Performances are set for 8 p.m. Saturday, 7 p.m. April 26, 10 a.m. April 28, 7:30 p.m. April 29 and 3 p.m. May 1. The April 28 performance is a special student and community matinee.
Tickets start at $15; half-price tickets are available to children and teens.
For information and reservations, call 412-281-0912 or visit pittsburghopera.org.
