Obeah Opera (2012)
Produced by
b current and Theatre Archipelago
Playwright: Nicole Brooks
Creator: Nicole Brooks
Composer: Nicole Brooks
Librettist: Nicole Brooks
Venue
918 Bathurst Centre for Culture
Run
February 16th, 2012 – March 4th, 2012
Synopsis
Set in the late 17th century, Obeah Opera tells a story of life and work among women silenced by the most infamous ‘witch-hunt’ in history. Tituba and a handful of Caribbean women imported as slaves into the American colony of Salem are arrested and accused of practicing obeah! A healing art seen only as blasphemy and witchcraft through the eyes of the local Puritans.
We follow Tituba’s journey in the days before her capture, her incarceration, and her stand on trial in this uplifting Caribbean themed opera. Sung in complete a capella form, and performed by a cast of fifteen, Obeah Opera explodes myths surrounding the Salem Witch Trials, unravels the branding of obeah with evil and witchery, ties it back to its true spiritual nature rooted in West Africa, and finally gives voice to a group of women whose story has been missing from history books. (obeahopera.com)
Cast
| Saphire Demitro | Performer |
| Nicole Brooks | Candy |
| Macomere Fifi | Elder |
| Joni NehRita | Tituba |
| Saidah Baba Talibah | Mary |
| Kanika Ambrose | Chorus |
| Neema Bickersteth | Chorus |
| Shield Boyd | Chorus |
| Jessica Brown | Chorus |
| Qwyn Alexis Charter | Chorus |
| Najla Edwards | Chorus |
| Nickeshia Garrick | Chorus |
| Angelique Lazarus | Chorus |
| Lisa Michelle McKenzie | Chorus |
| Bemnet Tekleyohannes | Chorus |
Creative Team
| Nicole Brooks | Playwright |
| Nicole Brooks | Creator |
| Nicole Brooks | Composer |
| Nicole Brooks | Librettist |
| Tova Kardonne | Music Director |
| Jajube Mandiela | Assistant Director |
| Alison Wong | Assistant Director |
| Wilma Cromwell | Assistant Musical Director |
| Wilma Cromwell | Voice Coach |
| C.J. Astronomo | Lighting Designer |
| Julia Tribe | Set Designer |
| Julia Tribe | Costume Designer |
| Anthony Guerra | Choreographer |
| Annie Szamosi | Dramaturge |
| Christopher Pinheiro | Body Art & Rituals Consultant |
| Paula Schultz | Arts Education Consultant |
| Erika Iserhoff | Wardrobe Mistress |
| Christopher Pinheiro | Costume Design Assistant |
| Tova Kardonne | Music Score Scribe |
Production
| Sandi Becker | Stage Manager |
| Rhoma Spencer | Producer |
| Brian Chmielewski | Technical Director |
| Brian Chmielewski | Production Manager |
| Alison Wong | Apprentice Artistic Producer |
| Teneile Warren | Production Intern |
| Lorenzo Pagnotta | Production Assistant |
| Donna Ellis | Assistant Stage Manager |
| Tijana Spasic | Assistant Stage Manager |
| Aracely Reyes | Stagehand |
| Michael Chambers | Poster Concept and Photography |
| Frantz Brent Harris | Graphic Designer |
| Marsha Edwards | Additional Graphic Design & Program Layout |
| C.J. Astronomo | |
| Peter Eaton | Electrician |
| Lionel Henguva | Carpenter |
| Tuneeko | Carpenter |
| Kevin Adams | Front of House Manager |
| Aron Henry | Front of House Manager |
| Melanie King | Front of House Manager |
| Gareth Henry | Box Office Manager |
| Lorenzo Pagnotta | Box Office Manager |
| Josee Duranleau | Publicist |
| Nation Cheong | Photographer |
| Judith Lezama Charles | Post-show Reception Coordinator |
Staff
| Sean Lehane | For 918 Bathurst Centre for Culture |
