Hampton Roads, Richmond, Fairfax, VA (January 9, 2024) – Virginia Opera is proud to announce three distinguished speakers who will lead pre-performance lectures prior to the upcoming performances of Sanctuary Road, a Commonwealth of Virginia premiere. Dr. Cassandra Newby-Alexander, Dr. Spencer Crew, and Ana Edwards, each accomplished in their respective fields, will provide unique insights into the historical context of Sanctuary Road, an opera based on the writings of William Still, an African-American conductor on the Underground Railroad.
Dr. Cassandra Newby-Alexander, the Endowed Professor of Virginia Black History and Culture at Norfolk State University, will be the speaker prior to the Norfolk performances on January 26 and 28, 2024 at the Harrison Opera House. Dr. Newby-Alexander’s extensive work in 19th-century Virginia and the Underground Railroad, coupled with her numerous awards and grants totaling over $1.5 million, makes her a leading authority on African American history in the Civil War in Hampton Roads. Her engaging pre-performance lecture promises to enlighten audiences on the historical backdrop of Sanctuary Road.
Dr. Spencer R. Crew, Clarence J. Robinson Professor of History at George Mason University and Emeritus Director of the National Museum of African American History and the National Museum of American History, will be the speaker prior to the Fairfax performances on February 3 and 4, 2024 at the Center for the Arts at George Mason University. With over thirty years of experience in public history institutions, Dr. Crew has curated numerous exhibitions and published extensively in African American and Public History. His insightful lecture will provide a comprehensive understanding of the historical significance surrounding Sanctuary Road.
Ana Edwards, a public historian with a focus on the history and significance of “Gabriel’s Rebellion” and 18th-century Black life in Virginia, will be the speaker prior to the Richmond performances on February 9 and 11, 2024 at the Dominion Energy Center. As the founding chair of the Defenders’ Sacred Ground Historical Reclamation Project, Edwards has been instrumental in reclaiming Richmond’s first municipal African Burial Ground. Her lecture will shed light on the historical landscapes that informed the construction of the American nation, emphasizing the resonance of these histories today.
Each speaker brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise, ensuring that the pre-performance lectures will enhance the audience’s understanding of the powerful narrative presented in Sanctuary Road. Virginia Opera invites patrons to join these informative sessions, deepening their connection to this extraordinary production.
Virginia Opera’s Sanctuary Road is a poignant exploration of William Still’s heroic efforts in aiding nearly 800 slaves to freedom on the Underground Railroad. The opera premieres in the Commonwealth of Virginia, marking a significant cultural event. This compelling and historically resonant opera, composed by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Paul Moravec, with a libretto by Pulitzer Prize-winner Mark Campbell, brings to life the harrowing and inspiring tales of those who escaped slavery through the Underground Railroad. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience this compelling performance and engage with the thought-provoking pre-performance lectures by these esteemed speakers.
For ticket information and further details, please visit https://vaopera.org/sanctuary-road.
About Virginia Opera
Virginia Opera, the official opera company of the Commonwealth of Virginia, is one of the finest regional opera companies in the nation and is the only company to perform regularly in three separate main stage venues: the Harrison Opera House in Norfolk, the Carpenter Theatre at the Dominion Energy Center in Richmond, and Center for the Arts at George Mason University in Fairfax. Organized in 1974, Virginia Opera is respected nationwide for the identification and presentation of the finest young artists, for the musical and dramatic integrity of its productions, and for the ingenuity and variety of its education and outreach programs.
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