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Show #1—This is Jane (excerpts) by Angela Elizabeth Slater and Kendra Preston Leonard

It all begins with a phone call. When a pregnant student seeks an illegal abortion in 1965, it leads to the creation of one of the most important activist groups of all time: the Jane Collective, Chicago’s revolutionary underground abortion service. This is Jane tells the story of the Collective through the lives of those who were part of it as patients, volunteers, staff, and practitioners, drawing on interviews, memoirs, and historical sources, and testifies to the continuing need for reproductive rights.

Show #2—Carmen Inside Out adapted by Kirstin Chávez, from original opera by Georges Bizet; monologues by Director Johnathon Pape and original flamenco dance sequences created by world-renowned Choreographer/Flamenco dancer Sol Koeraus La Argentinita

Carmen Inside Out is a one-woman tour de force based on Georges Bizet's original opera Carmen. Kirstin Chavez has been a definitive Carmen throughout the world over two decades, and now she wants to tell her OWN story of this incredible, iconic character. With the help of monologues, flamenco dance sequences, and a musical arrangement of the original score, Kirstin sets Carmen's colorful inner story on fire and infuses this operatic treasure with new life!

Show #3—The Velveteen Rabbit by Lisa Neher and Mandi Barrus; adapted from the beloved children's story by Margery Williams

Our chamber opera adaptation of The Velveteen Rabbit tells the story of a toy rabbit transformed by the enduring love of a child. Set across the changing seasons, their bond deepens through play and devotion until illness tests the meaning of what it is to be “Real.” With a magical score by Lisa Neher, The Velveteen Rabbit offers a timeless reflection on love and transformation that resonates with audiences of all ages. The perfect holiday tradition!

Show #4—The Alebrijes by Taryn Carvajal-Harding

Join us for this world premiere of composer Taryn Carvajal-Harding’s enchanting and heartfelt bilingual opera!

Alebrijes are brightly colored Mexican folk art sculptures of fantastical creatures, traditionally made from papier-mâché or wood. The art form originated in Mexico City in the 1930s, when Pedro Linares, a papier-mâché artist, began creating surreal, dreamlike creatures after experiencing vivid hallucinations during an illness. His designs, which combined elements of various animals, became widely recognized as alebrijes.

Alebrijes are now a significant part of Mexican folk art, blending indigenous traditions with modern artistic expression. They are often associated with Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead).

Alebrijes celebrates and explores family, tradition, and finding your own voice in a world full of danger.

Show #5—Premiere: New Music 2027 in partnership with NEXT Collective composers

This concert features world-premieres of new piano/vocal works by composers of the NEXT Collective, Utah’s premiere non-profit for supporting Utah-based composers.

Thank you for your continued support of New Works, New Settings, and New Voices

See you soon!

Opera Contempo is a non-profit charitable organization under I.R.S. Code Section 501(c)(3). Gifts to Opera Contempo are tax deductible to the extent provided by law. Federal Tax ID 84-4885650