Photo by Rachel Greenberg

POST A COMMENT
Wednesday, September 21, 2011, 8:00 pm
POST A COMMENT
Thursday, September 22, 2011, 8:00 pm
McCullough Theatre
$10.00/23.00/28.00

2011-2012 Fine Arts Season Performance

A NEW MUSIC THEATER PIECE ABOUT LIFE DURING THE CIVIL WAR

Ricky Ian Gordon, composer
Mark Campbell, lyrics and concept
Kevin Newbury, director
Rob Fisher, musical director
Ricky Ian Gordon & Bruce Coughlin, orchestrators
Robert Wierzel, lighting designer
Wendall Harrington, scenery and projection designer
Edward L. Ayers, creative advisor

This performance is made possible by a generous grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation with additional support from the Dean of the College of Fine Arts and the Executive Vice President and Provost of The University of Texas at Austin.

Co-commissioned by the Virginia Arts Festival, Virginia Opera, the Modlin Center for the Arts at the University of Richmond, and Texas Performing Arts at The University of Texas at Austin.

Presented in partnership with the Harry Ransom Center and the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History

This moving new music theater work was co-commissioned by Texas Performing Arts to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War. Renowned composer Ricky Ian Gordon (creator of the Obie Award-winning Orpheus and Euridice and the acclaimed opera Grapes of Wrath) has composed music for 20 songs with stories and words created by celebrated librettist/lyricist Mark Stephen Campbell ( Volpone, Later Same Evening, and Songs from an Unmade Bed). Drawn from diaries, letters, and personal accounts, this fictional song cycle explores war’s impact, from secession to defeat, on a community of Virginians—black and white, rich and poor, soldiers, nurses, widows, and survivors.

This exclusive multi-media event is enhanced by projections of Mathew Brady’s renowned Civil War photography, illustrations, documents, and other moving visuals. It features five principal singers performing more than 30 roles, backed by an orchestra of 17 musicians.

“The personal is political. The piece brings the sense of a lens closing in on a spectrum of individuals and their feelings around slavery and morality in a profound and poignant way. The cunning libretto by Mark Campbell beautifully shows what everyone has to lose.”
RICKY IAN GORDON, COMPOSER

REVIEWS, RESOURCES, AND MORE

County Lines -‘Rappahannock County’ sets the Civil War to song – review from Style Weekly
Theater review, ‘Rappahannock County’ avoids epic sweep to tell powerful human stories – Richmond Times-Dispatch

CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS

Download the brochure for Rappahannock County Campus and Community Engagement events – PDF 6MB

A River Between, the making of Rappahannock County
Film screening and discussion
· Running time: 45 minutes
· Tuesday, September 13, 6:30 – 8:00 pm
· McCullough Conference Room, 3.614

Post-Performance Talkback
With panelists Ricky Ian Gordon, composer, Mark Campbell, lyricist, and Professor Jacqueline Jones, Department of History
· Thursday, September 22, Immediately following the performance
· McCullough Theatre

Youth Performance
For students in grades 7–12
(Reservation required – email bsimms@texasperformingarts.org for more info)
· Friday, September 23, 10:30 am
· McCullough Theatre

Reflections on Rappahannock County and the time
Community discussion
· Tuesday, September 27, 6:30 – 8:00 pm
· Carver Museum and Cultural Center, 1165 Angelina Street

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