Opera to Feature Deaf Actress and American Sign Language Interpretation

Hartford Opera Theater will present The Tender Land with music by Aaron Copland, libretto by Horace Everett and directed by Kristy Chambrelli with music direction by Joseph Hodge.

In keeping with its mission of making opera accessible to everyone, the company has partnered with the American School for the Deaf to cast a deaf actress, Nakita Mallach, in the role of Beth Moss. The opera will be fully interpreted in American Sign Language.

Performances are Friday, June 2 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, June 4 at 3 pm at the Aetna Theatre at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, 600 Main St., Hartford. There will be an ASL interpreted performance on June 2 and a touch-tour and audio description for the June 4 performance.

The Tender Land tells the story of a young girl, who finds herself on the cusp of adulthood and must choose whether to remain in her small town or experience what the world has to offer. Themes of love, communication, and what it means to belong are explored in the piece. All of the characters are struggling to be heard.

The cast features Lisa Williamson as Laurie, Janelle Robinson as Ma Moss, Robert Barefield as Pa Moss, Darius Gillard as Martin, Michael McAvoy as Top and Mallach as Beth. The production team includes: Chambrelli (Director), Hodge (Conductor), Elena Blue (Sign Director), Ashley Atencio (Scenic Designer), Damian Dominguez (Costume Designer), Paige Nee (Lighting Designer), Caitlin Leigh Flemming (Asst.Director/Stage Manager), Lisabeth Miller (Executive Producer), Charity Clark and Michelle Murray Fiertek (Co-Producers).

There will be a pre-show lecture beginning at pm. Tickets are available at hartfordoperatheater.com and at the door: $25 preferred seating/$15 general admission/$10 seniors and students.

Hartford Opera Theater, Inc. is dedicated to enriching the lives of all members of the Greater Hartford community by offering quality, innovative, and affordable opera. Our organization commits itself to keeping the genre of opera relevant for patrons and artists through the presentation of productions that are both culturally topical and true to opera as an art form. We foster a safe environment in which emerging and established artists can feel free to collaborate and create. In addition, HOT promotes arts education and appreciation by providing free outreach programs to members of our community. At HOT, we believe that all people deserve to experience the beauty and total art that is opera. Hartford Opera Theater - Opera for Everyone.