HOUSTON GRAND OPERA PRESENTS WORLD PREMIERE OF THE SNOWY DAY, BASED ON BELOVED BOOK BY
EZRA JACK KEATS, DECEMBER 9–19
Houston Grand Opera presents the highly anticipated world premiere of The Snowy Day at Houston’s Wortham Theater Center December 9–19. Created by composer Joel Thompson and librettist Andrea Davis Pinkney, The Snowy Day is based on the classic children’s book by Ezra Jack Keats. HGO.org
CREATED BY COMPOSER JOEL THOMPSON AND LIBRETTIST ANDREA DAVIS PINKNEY
OPERA MARKS HGO’S 72ND WORLD PREMIERE
Written in 1962 and awarded the Caldecott medal in 1963, The Snowy Day broke the color barrier in mainstream publishing by being embraced across ethnic and social lines. It has since become one of the most iconic children’s books of the last century, beloved by generation after generation and included in the Library of Congress’s list of books that have shaped America, honored by the United States Postal Service with a series of stamps, and ranked as the most checked-out book in the 125-year history of the New York Public Library. Both book and opera recount the adventures of young Peter after he wakes up to the first snow of winter—the first winter when his parents have promised to let him play in the snow by himself. He sets off to explore, getting into adventures and learning lessons along the way.
The Snowy Day marks HGO’s 72nd world premiere. The idea for an opera based on the book began to take shape after soprano Julia Bullock brought the idea to HGO Artistic and Music Director Patrick Summers six years ago. Deborah Pope, Executive Director of the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation, came on board, and she put bestselling author Pinkney’s name forward as a potential librettist during the preliminary stages of the opera’s creation. Pinkney, who in 2016 had authored A Poem for Peter, an homage to Keats and the legacy of his beloved protagonist, signed on to adapt the story for the stage. In the summer of 2017, Summers recruited Thompson for the project, knowing the brilliant young composer would be the perfect fit to breathe new life into the story of Peter.
“I’m grateful to be among such a brilliant team of creators,” says Pinkney. “The Snowy Day brings a vivid dimension to opera by expanding the canvas on Ezra Jack Keats’ classic, while, at the same time, honoring Keats’ artistic intention—to invite diverse audiences into a vibrant storytelling experience. Joel Thompson’s musical genius brings it all alive.”
“The goal of everything I’ve ever written bends toward what’s going to happen on stage with The Snowy Day, where a little Black boy can wander in the snow, learn about himself, learn about the world, be safe, be happy, and connect with others regardless of background, or ethnicity, or any other differences,” says Thompson. “I hope audience members can see themselves in Peter and his friends and reconnect to their inner child.”
The world premiere opera was originally slated to debut in December 2020, but was delayed due to COVID-19 and the subsequent cancellation of all in-person performances for HGO’s 2020-21 season. As part of the company’s alternative HGO Digital 2020-21 season, the company presented a documentary, The Making of The Snowy Day: An Opera for All, which details the extraordinary process of creating the new work during a global pandemic.
“After the last two years of delays, we are thrilled to finally present The Snowy Day on the Wortham stage. It has been an honor to work with this superb creative team and cast to bring this historic book to life,” says Summers. “Composers like Joel Thompson find universality, yet they are also totally unique. His music is already universal, very assured, and honest even at his young age, and music emanates from every aspect of his existence.”
“The Snowy Day was groundbreaking in so many ways, and we are very proud to continue the legacy of this treasured book,” says Khori Dastoor, HGO’s General Director and CEO. “We are dedicated to embracing our beautifully diverse community, and to celebrating the stories that unite us, while allowing all who live here to see themselves reflected back from the stage. Our mission centers on advancing opera as an art form and building the diverse audiences of tomorrow.”
For the family-friendly opera’s world premiere, HGO Studio artist and soprano Raven McMillon performs the role of Peter alongside a cast predominantly consisting of current and previous HGO Studio artists including Nicholas Newton, Elena Villalón, Blake Denson, Cory McGee and Ricardo Garcia. Critically acclaimed American soprano Karen Slack will sing the role of Mama, and Cuban-American tenor Andres Acosta will perform the role of Papi. December 15 and December 16 will feature alternate casts.
The opera’s team includes set designer Amy Rubin, costume designer Jessica Jahn, lighting designer Michael James Clark, choreographer Courtney Jones and HGO Dramaturg Jeremy Johnson. Director and frequent HGO collaborator Omer Ben Seadia brings the wonder and magic of a young boy’s wintry world to life. HGO Artistic and Music Director Patrick Summers conducts.
The Snowy Day jumps off the page and onto the stage in large part due to HGO’s incredible production funders, including: Mr. and Mrs. William V. Morgan, The Robert and Janice McNair Foundation, The Humphreys Foundation, The Cullen Foundation, Mrs. Robin Angly & Mr. Miles Smith, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Bank of America, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Ziegler, Mr. and Mrs. Anthony G. Petrello, Ms. Kiana K. Caleb and Mr. Troy L. Sullivan, The Powell Foundation, H-E-B, Ms. Marsha L. Montemayor, Shell Oil Company Foundation, Texas Commission on the Arts, and Mr. and Mrs. Gabriel Loperena.
Performances of The Snowy Day run December 9–19, 2021, at Wortham Theater Center, 501 Texas Ave. Tickets range from $20 to $210. For more information and to buy tickets, visit HGO.org or call the box office at 713-228-6737.
ABOUT JOEL THOMPSON
Joel Thompson is an Emmy Award-winning composer, pianist, conductor and educator from Atlanta. His best-known work, Seven Last Words of the Unarmed for men’s chorus, strings and piano, premiered in November 2015 by the University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club under the direction of Dr. Eugene Rogers.
ABOUT ANDREA DAVIS PINKNEY
Andrea Davis Pinkney is a New York Times bestselling, award-winning author and publishing executive. She has served on the creative teams for several theatrical and audio
productions based on works for young people, including those drawn from her acclaimed books, Martin Rising: Requiem for a King, The Red Pencil and Rhythm Ride: A Trip through the Motown Sound.
ABOUT THE EZRA JACK KEATS FOUNDATION
The Ezra Jack Keats Foundation has actively fostered children’s creativity and love of reading since 1985. With the EJK Award, now entering its 36th year, the Foundation has encouraged over 100 exceptional early-career authors and illustrators to create children’s books that reflect our diverse culture. The Foundation also awards 70 EJK Mini-Grants annually, across 50 states, to public schools and libraries, for arts and literacy programs; and since 1985, administers the EJK Bookmaking Competition, for grades 3-12, in New York City, the nation's largest school system. The EJK Foundation is proud to protect and promote the work of Ezra Jack Keats (1916-1983.)
ABOUT HOUSTON GRAND OPERA
Houston Grand Opera (HGO) is one of the largest, most innovative and most highly acclaimed opera companies in the United States. HGO was the only American finalist for Opera Company of the Year in the 2019 International Opera Awards, and the only American company to be nominated twice. In fulfilling its mission to advance the operatic art, to serve the Houston community and to be a global leader in the future of opera, HGO has led the field in commissioning new works (70 world premieres to date) and in training and nurturing promising young artists and administrators. The company contributes to the cultural enrichment of Houston and the nation through a diverse and innovative program of performances, community events and education projects that reaches the widest possible public. HGO’s pioneering community engagement initiative, HGOco, has served as a model for other arts organizations.
The NEXUS Initiative is HGO’s multiyear ticket underwriting program that allows Houstonians of all ages and backgrounds to enjoy opera without the barrier of price. Since 2007, NEXUS has enabled more than 250,000 Houstonians to experience superlative opera through discounted single tickets and subscriptions, subsidized student performances, and free productions.
HGO has toured extensively and has won a Tony, two Grammy awards and three Emmy awards. It is the only opera company to win all three honors.
For more information, please contact Chris Schimpf or Carla Sacks at Sacks & Co., 212.741.1000.
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