American Opera Projects

to recent AOP projects ONE DROP, THE TRANSIT OPERAS & THE WOODLAWN OPERAS.

See AOP artists in the world staged premiere of THE TEMPEST, with music by Joseph Summer & libretto by Eve Summer, at Shares at La MaMa. The opera adaption of one of Shakespeare's final works features Daniel Klein (ONE DROP), Jordan Rutter-Covatto (THE TRANSIT OPERAS, THE CLIMATE OPERA PROJECT), Eliam Ramos (THE WOODLAWN OPERAS), as well as AOP board member David Gordon.

Performances on July 16 & 18. Tickets available here: https://grattacielo.org/season/world-staged-premiere-the-tempest

Photo #1: Daniel Klein & Thomas Meglioranza in the November '24 workshop of ONE DROP in A.R.T./New York's South Oxford Space Great Room. Composed by Thomas Cabaniss , adapted from the 1931 play “Brass Ankle” by DuBose Heyward.

Photo #2: Jordan Rutter-Covatto in the May '26 performance of MAKE ROOM at the Paulson Center's African Grove Theatre, part of the AOP-NYU/Tisch Opera Lab: THE TRANSIT OPERAS. Composed by Felipe Segovia Sanhueza, libretto by Kennen Butler. Set design by Matt Conte, lighting by Jordan McAuliffe, costume design by Eryn Perkin.

Photo #3: Eliam Ramos in the May '25 performance of VISIONS IN DRAG at the African Grove Theatre, as part of THE WOODLAWN OPERAS. Composed by Ziyan Yang, libretto by Andi Lee Carter. Set design by Fernando Parra Bortí, lighting by RJ Craig, costumes by Xorlali Plange.

Photos #1-3 by Steven Pisano
Photo #4: AOP board member David Gordon

See soprano & creator of MUSIC AS THE MESSAGE Adrienne Danrich in LALOVAVI at Cincinnati Opera, which premiered yesterday, July 9. Composed by Kevin Day, libretto by Tifara Brown, LALOVAVI is an Afrofuturist adventure set 400 years in the future that follows Persephone, the youngest daughter of the ruler of Atlas, the city formerly known as Atlanta.

March 2026 MUSIC AS THE MESSAGE: STEPPING INTO PEACE was produced in partnership with AOP, the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, & the Sheldon Concert Hall and Galleries, in association with Opera Theatre of St. Louis.

Tickets for the July 11 performance: https://www.cincinnatiopera.org/lalovavi

to Gileann Tan in VISIONS IN DRAG from THE WOODLAWN OPERAS (AOP–NYU/Tisch Opera Lab 2025) at the African Grove Theatre, music by Ziyan Yang and libretto by Andi Lee Carter, costume design by Xorlali Plange, & Melissa Bonetti Luna in THE THIEVING CACTUS from THE CLIMATE OPERA PROJECT at BAM, music by Gavin Knittle and libretto by Ashton Tibbitt, costume design by Amanda Roberge.

Gileann & Melissa will be performing together in Kegs & Roses at Beckett Castle (ME) on June 27. Tickets and more information: https://www.hogfish.org/kegs-roses

Photos by Steven Pisano
Photo 1: Gileann Tan
Photo 2: Melissa Bonetti Luna & Esther Yi-An Tien