Announcing Our 2021-2022 Season!
As the arts community cautiously reemerges into the world, WE ARE BACK with a redesigned logo, website, and brand look, created to highlight our desire to reflect the present moment and stand up boldly for our values. This launch was made possible thanks to the hard work of marketing consultant Hilary Brown, graphic designer Meghan MacDuff, and the TSOC Marketing Committee. In conjunction with the new look, we are unveiling our 2021-2022 season, which features three new operas and a gala celebrating the company’s 10th season.
The season opens with the Death of Ivan Ilych, a co-premiere with Opera Orlando postponed from our 2020-2021 season. This adaptation of the famous Tolstoy novella exploring how the certainty of death clarifies the meaning of one’s life is set to lyrical, haunting music by composer John Young, with libretto by Alan Olejniczak. With staging by Opera Orlando Artistic Director Grant Preisser and musical direction by conductor Gregory Tufts, this evocative period piece features Chicago favorites Peter Wesoloski in the title role and Mary Lutz Govertsen as his wife, Praskovya. Appearing in supporting roles are Ross Matsuda (last seen with TSOC as stage director of 2019’s I will fly like a bird), Brian Pember, and Dorian McCall. An exceptional orchestra featuring Duo Switala (violinists Alejandra and Robert Alvarado Switala) provides the musical backbone for this work.
Death of Ivan Ilych plays September 9-12 in Studio Three of the Athenaeum Theatre.
In April of 2022, we will present a double bill of two new one-acts which each explore the complexities of the human mind. The Kamikaze Mind by Nicole Murphy uses text from the book by Richard James Allen, which creates a deeply moving, dreamlike narrative following the disintegrating consciousness of an astronaut as he passes into a black hole. Following an intermission, Joshua Brown’s Would You Eat Me? offers quite a different exploration of the human mind. This absurdist comedy follows a young woman emerging from a depressive episode and deciding to make one of her celebrity chef mother’s recipes. The YouTube video she uses as a guide begins to talk back to her as she works, and the completely disastrous bread that she attempted to make turns out to be sentient as well. This unlikely trio offers the message that a valiant effort is worth it even if it doesn’t turn out right, and there’s always tomorrow to try again.
The season concludes in June with a gala event: part performance, part party, part fundraiser, celebrating the conclusion of our tenth full season of new works. A “greatest hits” selection of seasons past and exceptional food will make this event a night to remember.
The dates for the second two events are still under discussion, but are expected to be released soon. Please join our mailing list to keep up to date!