Prince Music Theater, Philadelphia (1412 Chestnut Street)
- Thursday, June 7, 2012 - 8pm
- Saturday, June 9, 2012 - 8pm
Academy of Vocal Arts, Philadelphia (1920 Spruce Street)
- Thursday, June 14, 2012 - 8pm
- Saturday, June 16, 2012 - 8pm
- Sunday, June 17, 2012 - 2pm
Music by Michael Ching / Libretto by Ellen Frankel
Inspired by a true story.
Based on the book "Not By The Sword" by Kathryn Watterson
Background & Synopsis
In the early 1990’s, Larry Trapp, Grand Dragon of the Nebraska Ku Klux Klan, conducted a hate campaign against minority groups in the predominantly white city of Lincoln. But when Cantor Michael and Julie Weisser reached out to this white supremacist, despite his anti-Semitic threats, Trapp turned his back on bigotry, converted to Judaism, and campaigned for tolerance until he died in the Weissers’ home from advanced diabetes at the age of 42... Read more
Michael Ching
Composer
Michael Ching has written a wide variety of theatrical projects, including full length operas, educational works, adaptations, arrangements, and incidental music. SLAYING THE DRAGON is composer Michael Ching’s third full length opera. His most recent work is A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, opera acappella, which was premiered by Opera Memphis, Playhouse on the Square, and Deltacappella in January 2011. The world’s first full length acappella opera, an original cast recording of DREAM will be released in the Spring of 2012... Read more
Ellen Frankel
Librettist
Dr. Ellen Frankel served for eighteen years as the Editor in Chief and CEO of The Jewish Publication Society, the oldest and only nondenominational, non-profit publisher of Jewish works in English, and was named its first Editor Emerita upon her retirement in 2009. She is the author of ten published books, including The Classic Tales, The Encyclopedia of Jewish Symbols, The Five Books of Miriam, and The JPS Illustrated Children’s Bible, which won the 2009 National Jewish Book Award. .. Read more
Kathryn Watterson
Author of "Not by the Sword")
Kathryn Watterson is the award-winning author of eight books, including Not by the Sword (1996 Christopher Award; basis of the opera, “Slaying the Dragon” and a play, “Befriending the Enemy, “); You Must Be Dreaming (NBC movie, "Betrayal of Trust"), and Women in Prison (ABC documentary, "Women in Prison," and a play, "The Concrete Womb."). She has won writing prizes from Columbia University; MademoiselleMagazine (Woman of the Year Award); the American Bar Association; the Philadelphia Bar Association Scales of Justice Award; the American Political Science Association, and has been listed three times by New York Times Notable Books. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the International Herald Tribune, as well as TriQuarterly, Fourth Genre, Northeast Corridor, and Santa Monica Review, among others. She teaches creative writing at the University of Pennsylvania and frequently lectures and conducts workshops across the country. She also drums and sings with PLP TheUnity (Peace, Love & Power), an improvisational performance arts ensemble which creates music utilizing African rhythms, spoken word and storytelling.She currently is completing a novel and a collection of short stories.
Cast & Design Team
- Christopher Lorge (Tenor) - Jerry Krieg, Grand Dragon KKK
- Jason Switzer (Baritone) - Rabbi Nathan Goodman
- Teresa Eickel (Soprano) - Vera Goodman, the Rabbi's wife.
- Roland Burks (Bass-Baritone) - Dr. Lincoln Masterson, a Baptist Preacher
- David Koh (Tenor) - Giet Long, Director of the Asian American Center
- Jennifer Braun/Sarah Beckham (Soprano) - Reverend Ava Gray
- Jody Kidwell (Mezzo-Soprano) - Esther, a Holocaust survivor
- Paul Corujo (Baritone) - Bud Connor, A Talk Show Host & Grand Magi of the KKK
- Robert Davidson (Baritone) - Viper, the Nighthawk of the KKK
- Daniel Foltz-Morrison (Tenor) - Beast, a young Skinhead
- Sarah Beckham / Jennifer Hoffmann / Alexandra Roth - Tammy
- Andrew M. Kurtz - Conductor
- Leland Kimball- Stage Director
- Peter Tupitza - Set Designer
- J. Dominic Chacon - Lighting Designer
- Amy Chmielewski - Costume Designer
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