Loving v. Virginia
World Premiere
VA Opera caps off the 50th Anniversary season with the highly anticipated world premiere of Loving v. Virginia. A young couple’s interracial marriage in 1958 sparks a case that leads to the Supreme Court and a victory for civil rights in the United States. This operatic retelling is based on the true story of Mildred and Richard Loving.
Music by Damien Geter, Libretto by Jessica Murphy Moo
Commissioned by:
In partnership with ICA at VCU
Co-produced by Virginia Opera and Minnesota Opera
Sung in English with English Surtitles
Conducted by Adam Turner
Directed by Denyce Graves
Set Design by Mikiko Suzuki MacAdams
Costume Design by Jessica Jahn
The orchestra for this production is provided by the Richmond Symphony.
Join us 45 minutes before each performance for a pre-show lecture.
Norfolk
Friday, April 25 @ 7:30 PM
Sunday, April 27 @ 2:30 PM
Fairfax
Saturday, May 3 @ 7:30 PM
Sunday, May 4 @ 2:00 PM
Richmond
Friday, May 9 @ 7:30 PM
Saturday, May 10 @ 7:30 PM
Sunday, May 11 @ 2:30 PM
Cast List
Flora Hawk, Mildred Jeter Loving
Jonathan Michie, Richard Loving
Troy Cook, Bernard Cohen
Christian Sanders, Philip Hirschkop
Benjamin Werley, Sheriff Brooks & Judge Leon M. Bazile
Adam Richardson, Raymond Green
Tesia Kwarteng, Annette Byrd
Phillip Bullock, Theoliver “Jake” Jeter
Melody Wilson, Musiel Byrd Jeter
Alissa Anderson, Lola Allen Loving
“Lullaby” from Loving v. Virginia
Watch the video below for a sneak peek of Loving v. Virginia.
Video Credit: Thornapple Films
Thank you to the following sponsors
Get Involved
The Commissioning Club was created to bring together fans of opera, symphonic music and a great Virginia story in order to create the Loving v. Virginia opera. The Club started in 2022 and is an experiential fundraising journey that takes you through every stage of the opera’s development through to opening night.
The Club has two homes in Richmond and Norfolk. To learn more, visit lovingvvirginiaopera.com/fundraising and check out images from our recent workshops below.
