Margaret Garner Chicago Debut!
Featuring Denyce Graves
 
The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, in association with Michigan Opera Theatre, proudly presents Margaret Garner, a new American opera in two acts based on one of the most significant fugitive slave stories in pre-Civil War America.  
 
The production marks the Chicago debut of this controversial and acclaimed work, and the return of grand opera to the Auditorium Theatre.   Although originally built as an opera house, the Auditorium has not hosted an opera in many years.
 
Librettist Toni Morrison weaves the epic story of Margaret Garner’s decision in 1856 to flee with her children to Ohio in an attempt to escape their lives as slaves at Kentucky’s Maplewood Farm.  Upon facing recapture, Garner made the chilling decision to attempt to kill herself and her two children, rather than see them return to the bonds of slavery.  
 
Margaret Garner’s trial became the longest fugitive slave case of this era.  An intense national debate – over whether Garner should be tried for “destruction of property” or murder – directly and blatantly addressed critical questions at the core of the causes of the Civil War.    
 
WHO:                                     
Featuring Denyce Graves, renowned mezzo-soprano
Libretto by Toni Morrison, Nobel Prize-winning author
Music by Richard Danielpour, Grammy Award-winning composer
Directed by Kenny Leon
Conducted by Stefan Lano
 
Chicago Sinfonietta, an orchestra supporting inclusiveness and innovation in high quality classical music, will provide music.
 
WHEN:                      
Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008 at 5:00 p.m.*: Opening night gala
Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008 at 2:00 p.m.*
Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 9, 2008 at 2:00 p.m.
      * featuring Denyce Graves (performer schedule subject to change)
 
Friday, Oct. 31, 2008 at 11:00 a.m.: Dress rehearsal open to student groups, grades 8-12 and college/university ($10 per student)
 
TICKETS:                 
Single ticket on sale date TBD
Groups of 10+ (including student groups for dress rehearsal) call 312.431.2357
10% group discount for groups of 10+

Where:
Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University
50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago, IL 60605
phone: (312) 922-2110
fax: (312) 431-2360
info@auditoriumtheatre.org