The Dunbar Opera Project

“Paul Laurence Dunbar 2020”

Alliance for New Music-Theatre is proud to be partnering with Dunbar High School and members of the Dunbar Society in a year-long commitment to Paul Laurence Dunbar and to local composer Steven M. Allen to further The Dunbar Opera Project.

 

Paul Laurence Dunbar’s work represents a triumph of the human spirit over racism, poverty, and adversity. Together we are committed to the project as a form of celebration, community outreach, and forum to promote social justice.

American Composer Steven M. Allen has uniquely captured the life of Paul Laurence Dunbar in an ongoing array of operatic works based on the life and loves of the poet.

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In April & May 2020, two performances of a new iteration of Paul Laurence Dunbar’s story-in-opera will be offered at Dunbar High School. Other performances, workshops for schools, evenings of poetry readings, and a children’s chorus are also being planned as part of New Music-Theatre’s year-long celebration throughout the city.

The megawatt singer-actor Greg Watkins, Alliance for New Music-Theatre company member, who originated the role of Paul Laurence Dunbar in the original opera, will return in the central role.