HGO Digital
The Making of The Snowy Day: An Opera for All
The world premiere of composer Joel Thompson and librettist Andrea Davis Pinkney’s new opera, based on the beloved children’s book by Ezra Jack Keats, has been delayed, but audiences can enjoy a documentary on the creation of the work, which shares the heartwarming story of Peter, a young boy exploring New York City on a snowy day—who is also the first Black American protagonist of a mainstream children’s book.
Documentary Cast and Creative
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Composer |
Joel Thompson* | |
| Librettist | Andrea Davis Pinkney* | |
| Peter |
Raven McMillon† Brenda Harvey-Traylor Fellow |
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Amy / Ensemble |
Elena Villalón† Dian and Harlan Stai Fellow |
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Mama / Ensemble |
Karen Slack* | |
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Daddy / Tim / Ensemble |
Nicholas Newton† Nancy Haywood/Kathy Moore and Steve Homer/Jill and Allyn Risley Fellow |
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Papi / Jasper / Ensemble |
Andrés Acosta |
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Billy / Ensemble |
Cory McGee *† Beth Madison Fellow |
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Ensemble |
Ricardo Garcia † Michelle Beale and Dick Anderson/Dr. Ellen Gritz and Mickey Rosenau Fellow |
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Conductor |
Patrick Summers Margaret Alkek Williams Chair |
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Documentary Director and Producer |
Annalise Ophelian | |
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Producing Director, HGO |
Molly Dill | |
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Video Producer, HGO |
Daniel James | |
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Production Manager, HGO |
Kristen Burke |
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Special Guests |
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Perryn Leech, Managing Director, Houston Grand Opera Sarah and Ernest Butler Chair |
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Kiana Caleb, Production Underwriter |
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Deborah Pope, Executive Director, Ezra Jack Keats Foundation |
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* Houston Grand Opera Debut
† Houston Grand Opera Studio artist
‡ Former Houston Grand Opera Studio artist
Opera Cast and Creative
|
Composer |
Joel Thompson* | |
| Librettist | Andrea Davis Pinkney* | |
| Peter |
Raven McMillon† Brenda Harvey-Traylor Fellow |
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|
Amy / Ensemble |
Elena Villalón† Dian and Harlan Stai Fellow |
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Mama / Ensemble |
Karen Slack* | |
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Daddy / Tim / Ensemble |
Nicholas Newton† Nancy Haywood/Kathy Moore and Steve Homer/Jill and Allyn Risley Fellow |
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Papi / Jasper / Ensemble |
Andrés Acosta |
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Billy / Ensemble |
Cory McGee *† Beth Madison Fellow |
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Ensemble |
Ricardo Garcia † Michelle Beale and Dick Anderson/Dr. Ellen Gritz and Mickey Rosenau Fellow |
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Conductor |
Patrick Summers Margaret Alkek Williams Chair |
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Director |
Omer Ben Seadia |
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| Scenic Designer | Amy Rubin | |
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Costume Designer |
Jessica Jahn | |
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Lighting Designer |
Michael James Clark | |
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Choreographer / Movement Director |
Courtney D. Jones |
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Dramaturg |
Jeremy Johnson |
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Musical Preparation |
Kevin Miller, Peter Pasztor ‡, Bin Yu Sanford, Stephanie Larsen and Lynn Des Prez/Valerie and Miguel Miro-Quesada Fellow † |
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Assistant Director |
Katrina Bachus |
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Stage Manager |
Annie Wheeler |
* Houston Grand Opera debut
† Houston Grand Opera Studio artist
‡ Former Houston Grand Opera Studio artist
The entire staff of HGO contributed to the success of this production. For a full listing of the company’s staff, please visit HGO.org/about-us/people.
Performing artists, stage directors, and choreographers are represented by the American Guild of Musical Artists, the union for opera professionals in the United States.
Viewers around the world will be able to transport themselves to a front row seat and stream exclusive Houston Grand Opera Digital content worldwide through Marquee TV, an on-demand streaming platform dedicated to global arts and culture. Serving up a world-class catalogue of contemporary and classical masterpieces, including dance, opera, theatre, music and arts documentaries, Marquee TV has been designed for a growing digital audience of culture lovers and the arts-curious. This season's partnership arrangement between Houston Grand Opera and Marquee TV is the first of its kind with a US-based performing arts organization, granting Marquee TV access to stream Houston Grand Opera’s 2020–21 season exclusively. The subscription-based arts channel will host Houston Grand Opera’s brand-new content and allow users to access it for free through their website, app, Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, and other platforms.
Sponsors
Guarantors
HGO would like to thank the following supporters of next season's mainstage production of The Snowy Day:
Sara and Bill Morgan
The Powell Foundation
Robin Angly and Miles Smith
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2020–21 Season
Due to the evolving COVID-19 situation, the entire live, in-person mainstage 2020-21 season has been canceled. HGO patrons and subscribers who currently have tickets for the 2020–21 season will have their subscriptions moved to the following season automatically.