Two years after an initially scheduled opening (and subsequent pandemic cancellation), composer Heather Christian's Oratorio of Living Things will make its long-awaited world premiere. The Ars Nova commission will run March 15–April 17 at Ars Nova @ Greenwich House, with an opening night set for March 30.
Lee Sunday Evans will direct 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.
"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. "We can’t wait to finally share this powerful, collective experience!”
The ensemble cast includes Kirstyn Cae Ballard, Fraser A. Campbell, Sean Donovan, Carla Duren, Clérida Eltime, Ashley Pérez Flanagan, Brian Flores, Odetta Hartman, Quentin Oliver Lee, Angel Lozada, Barrie Lobo McLain, Ben Moss, John Murchison, Onyie Nwachukwu, Mona Seyed-Bolorforosh, 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, Jr., 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.
