Strathmore and Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company proudly present Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower, a fully staged opera based on the novel of the same name, April 28 and 29 in Strathmore’s Music Center. Created by Toshi Reagon and Bernice Johnson Reagon, this compelling work gives life to Butler’s acclaimed science fiction novel.
Parable of the Sower is a human story that illuminates deep insights on gender, race, and the future of human civilization. The show tells the story of Lauren Olamina and her community, who fight to survive in dire circumstances. The unforgettable score draws inspiration from hundreds of years of African American music.
“It’s 200 years of Black music in the show, and it’s everything,” said Toshi Reagon. “It’s a story that takes place in 2024 but its roots go way before that…we had to move through time.”
The adaptation takes place in a not-so-distant America where violence, greed, and disregard for the planet’s resources collide with the 21st century’s climate crisis, driving society to the brink of extinction.
“Being able to play a part in bringing Toshi’s and Bernice’s opera adaptation of this extraordinary work to our region is important for Strathmore,” said Monica Jeffries Hazangeles, Strathmore’s President and CEO. “Offering conversations and productions inspired by this historically significant work aligns directly with our artistic mission of offering Strathmore as a venue for discovery and a canvas for expression.”
In the months leading up to the performances, as well as the weekend of the shows, there will be lectures, conversations with the artists, and resource guides to give guests a chance to dive into the many fascinating elements of Reagon’s and Butler’s work – the “Parable Path.”
“I’m thrilled to join forces and unite our audiences to witness this visceral and mesmerizing new operatic work that beautifully reveals Butler’s stunningly prophetic insights on the future of American civilization,” said Maria Manuela Goyanes, Woolly’s Artistic Director.
Click here for a complete list of pre-show events including an exploration of Butler’s overall legacy, as well as the books’ themes and their context in Black feminism, Afrofuturism, and social change.
For further information or tickets, call (301) 581-5100 or visit www.strathmore.org.
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