
Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha
Luminato Festival Toronto and TO Live Present
Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha
~ a musical reimagining ~
Produced by Volcano in association with The Canadian Opera Company, Soulpepper, and Moveable Beast
By Scott Joplin, Book & Libretto Adapted by: Leah-Simone Bowen, Co-Librettist: Cheryl Davis
Co-Arrangers: Jessie Montgomery & Jannina Norpoth
Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha
Originally written by Scott Joplin (c. 1911), Treemonisha is one of the few pieces set soon after the abolition of slavery, written by a survivor of that era.
Fusing European classical music with the sounds of ragtime, folk, and gospel to create a thrilling and distinct sound, and introducing a young woman protagonist chosen by her community to lead, Joplin’s nearly-lost opera was far ahead of its time.
Working from the surviving vocal score and featuring the first all-Black orchestral ensemble in Canadian opera history, the new arrangements and orchestrations by Jessie Montgomery (Sphinx Medal of Excellence and ASCAP Leonard Bernstein award winner) and Jannina Norpoth (Grammy nominee) merge musical vocabularies, reflecting the major themes of the reimagined version: split identity – African and American – and the role of one’s ancestors in coming to terms with the realities of a new land.
Led by a predominantly Black female creative team from across North America, Joplin’s ground-breaking opera has been reimagined with a new story and libretto by playwright and broadcaster Leah-Simone Bowen (The Secret Life of Canada), working with Emmy-nominated co-librettist Cheryl L. Davis. Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha is conducted by the first Black woman conductor in Canadian opera history, Panamanian-American Kalena Bovell, and directed by award-winning, internationally acclaimed Canadian stage director Weyni Mengesha.
This reimagined version tells a revolutionary story of a young Black woman who, in discovering the truth of her past, and overcoming enormous personal loss, discovers her power to unify a divided people, and lead her community towards a new future.
Photo of Neema Bickersteth as Treemonisha by Dahlia Katz. Artwork by Lost in the Island.
Dates
June 6, 2023 (Preview)
June 7, 2023 (Preview)
June 8, 2023 (Preview)
June 10, 2023*
June 11, 2023
June 14, 2023
June 15, 2023
June 16, 2023
June 17, 2023
*Black Carpet Celebration. This event will celebrate the Black community’s contributions to the arts along with Black culture in general. Everyone is welcome
Location
Tickets
Cast and Creative Team
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Neema Bickersteth
Treemonisha
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Andrea Baker
Monisha
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Kristin Renee Young
Lucy
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Nicholas Davis
Ned
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SATE
Nana
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Ashley Faatoalia
Remus
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Cedric Berry
Zodzerick
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Marvin Lowe
Pastor Alltalk
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Jaz ‘Fairy J’ Simone
Ensemble, Alto
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Queen Hezumuryango
Ensemble, Mezzo-Soprano
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Robert Ball
Ensemble, Baritone
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Jim Williams
Ensemble, Low-Baritone
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Ineza Mugisha
Ensemble, Soprano
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Scott Joplin
Composer
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Leah-Simone Bowen
Story and Libretto
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Jessie Montgomery
Co-Arranger/Orchestrator
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Jannina Norpoth
Co-arranger/Orchestrator
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Weyni Mengesha
Stage Director
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Kalena Bovell
Conductor
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Esie Mensah
Choreographer
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Camellia Koo
Set Designer
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Rachel Forbes
Additional Set Design
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Kimberly Purtell
Lighting Designer
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Rich Coburn
Associate Conductor
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Michael Mohammed
Assistant Stage Director
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Jawole Willa Jo Zollar
Choreographic Consultant
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Rose-Mary Harbans
Choreography Rehearsal Director
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Deanna Downes
Dramaturg
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Tanya Charles Iveniuk
Violin 1
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Andrew Forde
Violin 2
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Imani Duhe
Trumpet
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Tunde Jegede
Kora
Treemonisha has been co-commissioned by Apollo Theater (Harlem); BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music); the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity; Luminato Festival Toronto; Minnesota Opera; National Arts Centre, Ottawa, through the National Creation Fund; Southbank Centre, London; Stanford Live with the assistance of the Hewlett Foundation; TO Live; and Washington Performing Arts.