The Place

Commissioned by Lyric Opera of the North
Music by Maria Thompson Corley 
Libretto by Sandra Oyinloye

The last couple of years has shed a great deal of light on the racial issues that plague our society. We found ourselves in a time where the past meets the present, and we are forced to see that the path before us is not as it should be. The Place highlights the togetherness of getting out of what often feels like a loop for many. ‘The Place’ is a story of overcoming. Nia, Enitan, and Olive find themselves in a paradoxical space and go through the journey of self-discovery. Navigating unpredictable time and social conditions, they will have to discover what it takes to survive such a space. The Place is a story that emphasizes the heroic act of existing while passing strength, encouragement, healing, and stories to the next generation.

 
Photo: Danielle Thralow

Photo: Danielle Thralow

Episode 1: Answering the CAll

Heroes

Premiered October 1, 2021

 

Cast

Olive: Marquita Lister 
Nia: Mikalia Bradberry 
Enitan: James Dargan

Ensemble

Cello: Betsy Husby
Saxophone: Greg Kehl Moore
Marimba, Vibraphone, Percussion: Henry Eichman

Creative Team

Music by Maria Thompson Corley
Libretto by Sandra Oyinloye
Director: Atlese Robinson
Videographer: Daniel Oyinloye / DanSan Creatives 
Costumer/Stylist: Ora Jewell-Busche 
Audio Engineer: Bill Munson
Orchestra Recording Engineer: Don Schraufnagel
Project Coordinator, LOON: Kailyn Spencer
Producers: Sarah Lawrence and Calland Metts
Film Crew: Jacques Jackson, Mela Nguyen, Levi Staine

Title Photo from Danielle Thralow

Sandra Oyinloye

She/Her

Sandra Gbeintor Oyinloye is the co-founder of DanSan Creatives. DanSan Creatives is an organization that fosters a positive, creative community. Committed to the empowerment of youths and all creatives, DanSan Creatives uses the arts and arts education to diversify narratives. Sandra is a mother, a poet, a speaker, and a creative. With a Bachelor of Sociology and a Master of Education from the University of Minnesota-Duluth, she is committed to using her platform to create opportunities for community conversations around social justice and social change. Sandra is a known spoken word writer and performer in twin ports from pieces like “Black Woman” to “Made Of Love” she has inspired many to consider their means to healing.

Maria Thompson COrley

She/Her

Though Maria Thompson Corley (DMA, piano, The Juilliard School) began composing and arranging as a child, she began thinking of herself as a composer in 2019, at the age of 53. Her works for choir and solo voice have been commissioned by Dr. Odell Hobbs (Florida A&M University); Randye Jones, soprano; Dr. Darryl Taylor, countertenor; Dr. Louise Toppin, soprano; Dr. Buddy James (California State East Bay University), Dr. Jillian Harrison-Jones (MUSE: Cincinnati's Women's Choir), Julia Carey (Juventas New Music Ensemble) and Daniel Rowland, tuba, among others. Her arrangement of "Mary had a Baby" was published by Walton; her song cycle, For Terry, is published by Classical Vocal Reprints. Three of her Four Foxy Fables appear in Modern Music for New Singers: 21st Century American Art Songs. She was one of just two composers to have multiple songs chosen for the same volume of the series. In addition, her arrangement of “Steal Away” is slated for publication by Fred Bock in a series edited by Rosephanye Dunn Powell.

In June, 2020, she had the honor of appearing on a panel with legendary baritone, Thomas Hampson. On July 4 of that year, her new art song, “Big Yellow Taxi” was featured on the Hampsong Foundation website. Her mini-opera The Sky Where You Are, with a libretto by Jenny O’Connell, premiered in October, 2020 as part of The Decameron Opera Coalition’s award-winning virtual series of series Tales from a Safe Distance, which has been added to the collection at the Library of Congress. An Associate Composer of the Canadian Music Centre, Dr. Corley was one of ten composers chosen for the 2020-21 American National Association of Teachers of Singing mentorship program. Her music has been performed, recorded and/or taught internationally.

Daniel Oyinloye

He/Him

Daniel Oyinloye is the co-founder of DanSan Creatives and a filmmaker. DanSan Creatives is a non-profit organization initiated with a passion for stories, youth, and healing that challenges us to be creative as civil innovators. As civil innovators, we participate in relationships that enhance collaborations, empower the artist, transform lives, and foster a home for love; all while restoring faith. Our mission is to work with communities to explore infrastructures around access for black families and to focus on healing through stories.



Mikalia Bradberry

She/Her

Mezzo-soprano Mikalia Bradberry is a recent graduate of the University of Minnesota with a Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance. Ms. Bradberry was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Niagara Falls natives and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Performance from Abilene Christian University. Bradberry prepared the roles of Carmen in Bizet’s Le Tragedie de Carmen and Madame de Croissey in Poulenc’s Les Dialogues des Carmélites for the University of Minnesota’s opera program for the '19-'20 season. She also prepared the role of Lucretia of Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia with An Opera Theatre in the spring of 2020 and recently performed the role of Nicole in their most recent work, In Media Res . Additionally, Ms. Bradberry is a DEI committee member for OOPS MN and is a teaching artist for An Opera Theatre in Minneapolis. Ms. Bradberry is the recent winner of St. Croix Valley Opera’s vocal competition of 2021. She is a former student of Dr. Julie Pruett, Adriana Zabala and is a current student of Victoria Vargas.

James DarGan

He/Him

James Dargan is a creative artist and authenticity addict from the Southeastern US; he has played the violin and sung since he was a child, and he is a composer, essayist, poet, and polyglot translator. After a brief stint as an English professor, James decided to sing, and subsequently studied and performed in the US, Europe, the UK, and Canada. James is now based in New York City. Artistic milestones include his first performance of Schubert's Winterreise; numerous performances (past and upcoming) of his social justice-themed recital series “Oh, Glory!”; his Manhattan solo debut as the baritone soloist for Musica Viva NY's April 8th 2018 concert, "Infinite Hope"; several NYC premieres of songs for which James was lyricist, composer, and performer; and the in-progress writing of his first two operas: “The Legend of John Henry”, and "Spirit In The Vine". James was the artist-in-residence at Phillips Academy in Andover, MA for the MLK Day weekend, 2019, the 2019-2020 Visiting Artist at Phillips, and recently completed an "Oh, Glory!" tour of Chicago in which he sang 6 recitals in 5 days. James is the Teaching Artist in Residence for Musica Viva NY, and a founding member of the Black musical consortium, Ring Shout. James is also on the Leadership Council of the Black Opera Alliance.

Bill MunsonHe/HimOriginally from Howard Lake, Minnesota, pianist Bill Munson received his B.M. in piano performance from the University of Minnesota in 1997. and went on to receive a M.M. in piano performance from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2005. Productions include The Medium (Metropolitan State College of Denver), HMS Pinafore and The Mikado (University of Colorado at Boulder), The Music Man (Masquers Theatre Company). Bill was rehearsal and performance pianist for Lyric Opera of the North’s 2020 production of Amahl and the Night Visitors. He has also collaborated with Singers in Accord and Macalester College Chorale. Bill served as the music director at Faith Lutheran Church in Forest Lake from 2007 - 2013. He currently resides in Duluth with his wife Lisa and his dogs Poochini and Hildie.

Bill Munson

He/Him

Originally from Howard Lake, Minnesota, pianist Bill Munson received his B.M. in piano performance from the University of Minnesota in 1997. and went on to receive a M.M. in piano performance from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2005. Productions include The Medium (Metropolitan State College of Denver), HMS Pinafore and The Mikado (University of Colorado at Boulder), The Music Man (Masquers Theatre Company). Bill was rehearsal and performance pianist for Lyric Opera of the North’s 2020 production of Amahl and the Night Visitors. He has also collaborated with Singers in Accord and Macalester College Chorale. Bill served as the music director at Faith Lutheran Church in Forest Lake from 2007 - 2013. He currently resides in Duluth with his wife Lisa and his dogs Poochini and Hildie.

Betsy Husby

She/Her

Betsy Husby earned her DMA from SUNY at Stony Brook, L.I., N.Y. where she  studied with Bernard Greenhouse (former student of Pablo Casals, and cellist of  the internationally renowned Beaux Arts Trio) and Timothy Eddy (cellist of the  Orion String Quartet and faculty at Juilliard School of Music). Highlights of her  career have included performing in the 1986 Tchaikovsky Competition in  Moscow, a live Minnesota Public Radio Broadcast of the technically demanding  Prokofieff Sinfonie Concertante with the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra,  and tours sponsored by Minnesota State Arts Board grants in the United States,  France, Japan, and Russia. Dr. Husby began her extensive solo, chamber music,  and orchestral experience in New York where she was winner of the DMA  concerto competition, a member of the Poulenc Chamber Players on Long  Island, and principal cello of the Stony Brook graduate orchestra. Twice, Husby  was selected as semi-finalist among the top 30 musicians in Minnesota for the  McKnight Performing Artists Fellowship Awards. 

Dr. Husby is principal cello (and often featured artist) with the Duluth Superior  Symphony Orchestra, Lake Superior Chamber Orchestra, and Loon Opera  Orchestra. She has performed on Minnesota Public radio with the Highland  String Quartet.



Marquita Lister

She/Her

Marquita Lister has earned worldwide critical praise with an impressive repertoire that includes the masterworks of Verdi, Strauss, Puccini and Gershwin. Ms. Lister has sung with major opera companies such as the San Francisco Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Montreal Opera, Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, Grosses Festspielhaus in Salzburg, La Scala, Semperoper Dresden, Staatstheater Stuttgart, Arena di Verona, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Opera Bastille Paris, Michigan Opera Theater, to name a few. She has performed with world renowned artists, including Placido Domngo, Justino Diaz, Frederica Von Stade, Simon Estes, Sherrill Milnes and Marcello Giordani. She portrayed Bess in New York City Opera's Emmy nominated production of Porgy and Bess, and received the "Artist of the Year Award," from the Pittsburgh Opera. She has appeared in television broadcast productions of An Evening with the Pops; Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops (PBS), A Christmas Celebration: Dallas Symphony Orchestra (KXAS- TV), and Live from Lincoln Center (PBS). In studio, Ms. Lister recorded George Gershwin's Blue Monday and Excerpts from Porgy and Bess for Telarc Records with Erich KunzeI and the Cincinnati Pops (Grammy nominated), Where the Sunsets Bleed: The Chamber Music of Edward Knight on Albany Records, and the critically acclaimed Porgy and Bess recording on Decca Records. Ms. Lister recorded composer Michael Ching’s contribution to the Opera America Songbook commissioned for the opening celebrations of the National Opera Center in New York. For further information, please log onto www.marquitalister.com

Atlese Robinson

Atlese Robinson is a writer, performer, director, producer, and the founding artistic director of Ambiance Theatre Company. Hailing from Saint Paul, MN by way of Chicago, IL. Atlese’s work is rooted in elevating the beauty, complexity, and spirit of Black theatre and performance. Atlese is a Springboard 20/20 2020-21 Artist Fellow, 2020 Naked Stages Fellow, and a Playwrights’ Center 2021 Many Voices Mentee.

Ora Jewell-Busche

She/Her

Ora Jewell-Busche is a Minnesota based wig, make-up and costume designer working in opera, theater, and film. She has worked extensively with companies ranging from The Lyric Opera of Chicago, Lookingglass Theater, Chicago Shakespeare, The Steppenwolf, The Goodman Theater, Pacific Symphony, Shattered Globe, Sans Culottes, Lyric Opera of the North and many more. Recent projects include: Magic Flute, Aida, Turandot, Carmen, La Traviata (Pacific Symphony), Eugene Onegin, La Fille du Regiment, The Tales of Hoffman, A Streetcar Named Desire, Il Trovatore (Hawaii Opera Theater). Film and television credits include Were the World Mine, Chicago Overcoat, Prison Break and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Ora received a BFA in Costume Design from DePaul University, and apprenticed under Melissa Veal (originally of the Stratford Festival of Canada) as a wigmaker. As well as maintaining a busy design schedule, Ora also teaches Theatrical Make-up at Make-up First School in Chicago.

Origin Story

The DOC’s Matt Boresi talks with the team about the creation of “The Place” - composer Maria Thompson Corley, librettist Sandra Oyinloye, director Atlese Robinson, and soprano Marquita Lister.