Event

Rites of Being

Black House Collective and KCEMA present Rites of Being, an evening of new opera works, playing at the Paragraph Gallery May 16 and 17. The production, funded by an Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City Inspiration Grant, will feature chamber operas written by six young Kansas City composers on the theme of ritual, from the ancient to the everyday. Each composer's chamber opera deals with ritual from a unique perspective, featuring rituals from weddings to human sacrifice to morning coffee.

Artist Alison Heryer collaborates with the Black House Collective and KCEMA in set and costume design. Participating composers are Brad Van Wick, Russell Thorpe, John Chittum, Hunter Long, Eli Houghland, and Simon Fink, with production direction by Lisa Cordes. Sopranos Jessica Salley, Emily Charles, Stacy Stofferahn, Anna Louise Hoard and tenor Nathan Granner will lend their vocal talents to bring the production to life.