The world premiere of composer Heather Christian's Oratorio for Living Things officially opens at Ars Nova @ Greenwich House March 30 for a run through April 17. Previews for the Ars Nova commission began March 15.
Lee Sunday Evans directs the work, a fusion of music and theatre, surrounding the audience with 18 singers and instrumentalists to perform Christian's classical oratorio, infused with blues, gospel, jazz, and soul sounds. Check out photos of the in-the-round staging below.
"Oratorio for Living Things takes Heather’s artistry to another level, and in this critical moment when our world is at odds, I suspect her manifesto for what it means to be alive will reach deep into people’s souls and remind us of our own humanity," says Ars Nova Founding Artistic Director Jason Eagan.
The ensemble cast includes Johnny Butler, Kirstyn Cae Ballard, Jane Cardona, Sean Donovan, Carla Duren, Clérida Eltimé, Ashley Pérez Flanagan, Brian Flores, Odetta Hartman, Quentin Oliver Lee, Angel Lozada, Divya Maus, Barrie Lobo McLain, Ben Moss, John Murchison, Onyie Nwachukwu, Dito van Reigersberg, and Peter Wise.
The creative team features music direction by Ben Moss, scenic design by Kristen Robinson, costume design by Márion Talán de la Rosa, lighting design by Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew, and sound design by Nick Kourtides. Greg Taubman serves as Latin consultant and translator. The production stage manager is Joseph Fernandez, assistant stage manager is Kelsey Vivian, and casting is by Henry Russell Bergstein.
Oratorio for Living Things is produced in association with Rosalind Productions Inc.
Carla Duren in Oratorio for Living Things
Carla Duren and Onyie Nwachukwu in Oratorio for Living Things
Brian Flores and Ben Moss in Oratorio for Living Things
Company of Oratorio for Living Things
Barrie Lobo McLain, Sean Donovan, Ben Moss, Dito van Reigersberg, Quentin Oliver Lee, and Angel Lozada in Oratorio for Living Things
Quentin Oliver Lee , Dito van Reigersberg , Brian Flores, Sean Donovan, Barrie Lobo McLain, and Angel Lozada in Oratorio for Living Things
Onyie Nwachukwu , Quentin Oliver Lee, Ashley Pérez Flanagan, Sean Donovan, and Brian Flores in Oratorio for Living Things
Ditovan Reigersberg and Barrie Lobo McLain in Oratorio for Living Things
