TSOC Celebrates Pride Month with Trans Folk Opera, “Michigan Trees: A Guide to the Trees of Michigan and the Great Lakes Region”
Queer founded and queer led Thompson Street Opera Company closes their 11th Season with a poignant celebration of trans identities in an exciting new folk opera.
Michigan Trees: A Guide to the Trees of Michigan and the Great Lakes Region, composed by Grey Grant, is a new folk opera and an exploration of identity. This 80-minute work follows a transfemme person on a journey to self-actualization. The action centers on Orna, who in the opening scene is split into two beings-- one who represents how she feels the world sees her, and one who embodies how she sees herself. She embarks on a trek through rural Michigan in an attempt to become fully herself and along the way has formative encounters with both the plant life around her and a figure called The Mother of Trees, who acts as a guide to both the outside world and the universe inside Orna herself.
At the helm of this production is company Executive & Artistic Director Claire DiVizio, a genderqueer transmasc artist unafraid to bring their own experience to the production. Holding the baton is guest conductor Eli Chen, making his debut with the company. Appearing as one half of the protagonist, Orna, is singer and educator Dr. Elektra Voyante, bringing both their exceptional vocal range and their experience as a trans artist from the American South to the role. Making their Chicago debut as Orna’s other half is Canadian soprano and queer activist Ariadne Lih. Acting as the mystical voice that accompanies Orna on her journey, the “Mother of Trees,” are soprano Parker Carls (making her company debut), and mezzo-soprano Paige Dirkes-Jacks and tenor Brian Pember, who were both seen in TSOC’s fall production of The Boy Who Wanted to Be a Robot.
Making theatrical magic onstage and off are company costume designer Sarah Thompson Johansen, Jeff-Award-winning lighting designer Cat Davis, stage manager Layna Wang, and company production manager Erik Tylkowski.
Michigan Trees: A Guide to the trees of Michigan and the Great Lakes region plays June 16th-18th, & 22nd-23rd at 8:00pm and June 24th at 3:00pm at PrideArts (4139 N Broadway). Tickets are available at www.thompsonstreetopera.org/events-2 for $15-30; contact the company for discount codes.