Opera Philadelphia presents the world premiere of Michael R. Jackson's Complications in Sue at Philadelphia's Academy of Music February 4. Jackson, a Tony and Pulitzer winner for his musical A Strange Loop, has written the libretto for the opera, which follows a woman named Sue over ten decades of her existence. Each decade is set to music by a different composer, with the list including Andy Akiho, Alistair Coleman, Nathalie Joachim, Missy Mazzoli, Nico Muhly, Rene Orth, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Kamala Sankaram, Dan Schlosberg, and Errollyn Wallen.

Justin Vivian Bond stars as Sue, with Kiera Duffy, Rehanna Thelwell, Nicky Spence, and Nicholas Newton playing various roles across the opera's span of a century. Caren Levine conducts.

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See Production Photos of Complications in Sue at Opera Philadelphia

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The world premiere production is co-directed by Raja Feather Kelly and Zack Winokur, and features sets by Krit Robinson, costumes by Victoria Bek, costumes for Justin Vivian Bond by JW Anderson, lighting by Yuki Link, sound by Chris Sannino, and hair and make-up by Amanda Miller.

Complications in Sue is the first of two world premieres slated for Opera Philadelphia's 2025-26 season, with the second, Gregory Spears' Sleepers Awake, set to run April 22-26. This season, the first one curated by General Director Anthony Roth Costanzo, marks a sharp turn toward new and contemporary works, as well as a continuation of the "Pick Your Price" initiative, through which all tickets for all performances are available for just $11, or a higher price of the customer's choosing. Costanzo's contract was recently extended through the 2028-29 season.

Complications in Sue plays at the Academy of Music through February 8. For more information, visit OperaPhila.org.