Reserve Your FREE Tickets for the 2022 Workers’ Opera Now!

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The Workers’ Opera is a unique one-of-a-kind original theater piece that is created by workers, for workers. This collection of performances consisted of music, theatre sketches, storytelling and humor. Each piece highlights the economic and social justice issues that impact working class people.

This year’s Workers’ Opera is directed by Mariah Richardson, a St. Louis native. She is the author of 12 plays, including last year’s Shakespeare in the Streets production The Ville: A Vengeance!, and is teaching and directing at Webster Conservatory this fall. She is a show writer and the voice of Lady Magnitude for a new animated series, Drawn In, set to premier on Nine PBS this fall. 

Along with Mariah, our creative team includes a distinguished group of local artists including, 

  • Delaney Piggins, Writing Facilitator
  • Michael Thahn Tran, Assistant Director
  • Matthew Pace, Musical Director 
  • Kim Love, Videographer

Our cast includes nine local workers turned actors who, along with our creative team, are crafting together this year’s opera performances.  The performers come from a variety of working class jobs, and several are union members. Several of the actors are appearing on stage for the very first time. 

Cast members include:

  • John Antonich
  • Monica Bohlen
  • Theotis Bohlen
  • Sonja Gholston-Byrd
  • Lee Hladky
  • Donald McClendon
  • Georgia Moore-Brown
  • Michael J Paplanus
  • Shelton Solafleur

This year’s opera is made possible by the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis, the Arts and Education Council’s Arts and Healing Initiative, and the Puffin Foundation. 

Get your tickets here!