The new opera Blue will make its Washington, D.C. debut in 2020 as part of Washington National Opera’s newly announced season. The piece, featuring music by Tony winner Jeanine Tesori and a libretto by Tazewell Thomas heads to the Kennedy Center following a premiere at the Glimmerglass Festival and Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Thompson also directs the staging, which will feature Kenneth Kellogg and Lester Lynch. Inspired by Black literature and contemporary events, the opera follows a black couple grappling with the death of their teenage son, killed by a white police officer. Performances will run March 15–28, 2020.

WNO, under the direction of Artistic Director Francesca Zambello (who also serves as artistic director of Glimmerglass), will begin its season highlighting the work of women and artists of color October 26 with Otello. Russell Thomas, George Gagnidze, and Leah Crocetto will sing in Verdi’s take on the Shakespeare tragedy, with performances running through November 16.

The season will continue with The Magic Flute (November 2–23), Don Giovanni (February 29–March 22, 2020), Samson and Delilah (March 1–21), and Zambello’s production of Porgy and Bess (May 9–23).

Also planned are a November recital by this year’s Marian Anderson Vocal Award winner, Soloman Howard, a May 2020 master class with Denyce Graves, and the return of the American Opera Initiative presentation of three commissioned 20-minute chamber operas.

For more information, visit Kennedy-Center.org.