HELL-THE OPERA

An opera-theatre piece by composer Michael Webster and poet Eileen Myles, Hell premiered at Performance Space 122 in March 2006. Grounded in contemporary politics, this multimedia work takes Dante’s Inferno as a point of departure to explore free speech and the role of poetry in post-9/11 America. By returning poetry to a place of central importance in performance, Hell reminds audiences of the necessity of this unique art form in a democracy. At times beautiful, funny, and horrifying, this rich work reflects on war as a tragic alternative to communication in a highly relevant and timely avant-garde opera.

Produced by Beth Morrison Projects.

World premiere at Performance Space 122 (PS122) in 2006.

Creative Team

COMPOSER — MICHAEL WEBSTER
TEXT — EILEEN MYLES
DIRECTOR — DAVID CHAMBERS
CONDUCTOR — JONATHAN YATES
VIDEO & STAGE DESIGN — PETER FLAHERTY
COSTUME DESIGN — ALIXANDRA GAGE ENGLUND
LIGHTING DESIGN — MARCUS DOSHI
FEATURING — MATTHEW CHELLIS, PATRICK COOK, DANIELLE FREEMAN, DANIEL GUNDLACH, MEGAN LOOMIS, DAVID ADAM MOORE, JULIANA SNAPPER, MICHAEL TURAY AND AMELIA WATKINS