Location: St. Maurice Church – 605 St. Maurice Ave.

Dates: August 27 at 7:00 pm (VIP After Party to follow)

Press Coverage: Article on nola.com by Doug MacCash HERE

  

9th Ward Improv Opera from Creative Alliance of New Orleans on Vimeo.

See Also: 9th Ward Improv Opera Promo from Creative Alliance of New Orleans on Vimeo.

On August 27th and 28th, CANO will be presenting new performances of the “9th Ward Improv Opera,” a mixed-media presentation that expresses the struggle of 9th Ward citizens to rebuild and return home after Hurricane Katrina’s floods decimated their once close-knit community. The story is brought to life through spoken word, musical, dance, and visual arts that include creative content developed and presented by citizens of the Lower 9th Ward and New Orleans-based performers. Co-producing  the Opera are Jeanne Nathan and Chuck Perkins, with dance direction by Monique Moss, and musical direction by Kidd Jordan. Performers include vocalist Angelika Joseph, and musicians Geoff Clapp,  Khari Lee, Troy Sawyer, and Barry Stevenson. Key community participants include Kim Ford, Vanessa Gueringer, John Koeferl, and Calvin Alexander.

The Opera, first presented as a public rehearsal in January, will be presented at 7:00 pm on Thursday, August 27th at the St. Maurice Church in the Lower 9th Ward (605 St. Maurice Avenue). General admission is $12 per person. A special second performance with expanded community participation is also scheduled for Friday, August 28th at the Andrew P. Sanchez Community Center (1616 Caffin Avenue) in the Lower 9th Ward at 7:00 pm, as part of the Lower 9 Resilience Festival.

“We are delighted to make the St. Maurice Church available to CANO again for the 9th Ward Improv Opera. It is a beautiful venue for such a production, offering an historic background where people from the area came to practice their faith for generations,” said Chris Jones, owner and manager of the property.

“It is a wonderful opportunity for survivors to tell our own story and listen to the truths of our neighbors, some for the first time, in combination with the narration, music, and dance of the 9th Ward Improv Opera. This production is fulfilling in a way that words alone cannot explain. I really look forward to the upcoming presentations. I know we will hear of the courage and strength that our neighbors face as we continue to become whole again,” said Kim Ford, community advocate and Executive Director of the Lower 9 Resilience Festival.

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