Dancer, Andros Zins-Browne, and soprano /artistic director, Aliana de la Guardia performing in the first presentation of ELLIS at the Old South Meeting House, (Boston, MA). Experimenting with movement vocabulary throughout the Prologue that will return with each character to abstractly connect stories within the opera. (Photo by Timothy Gurczak, October 3, 2021)

Soprano/artistic director, Aliana de la Guardia (Maria’s Mother) and soprano Bizhou Chang (Maria) performing in the first presentation of ELLIS at the Old South Meeting House, (Boston, MA). Performed on the second floor/mezzanine floor of the meeting house, this is a familial scene where Maria’s mother explains her arranged marriage to a young Italian man in America and it’s benefits.. (Photo by Timothy Gurczak, October 3, 2021)

Soprano /artistic director, Aliana de la Guardia (Raysel) and baritone Brian Church (Guard) performing in the first presentation of ELLIS at the Old South Meeting House, (Boston, MA). Performed on the second floor/mezzanine of the meeting house, Guard and Raysel fall in love, but she is troubled and leaves for America. (Photo by Timothy Gurczak, October 3, 2021)

Tenor, Taka Komagata (Manny) performing in the first presentation of ELLIS at the Old South Meeting House, (Boston, MA). Performed in the main hall and ground level of the meeting house, Manny travels to America on the boat and sees the Statue of Liberty. (Photo by Timothy Gurczak, October 3, 2021)

Dancer, Andros Zins-Browne (Raysel’s Father) performing in the first presentation of ELLIS at the Old South Meeting House, (Boston, MA). Performed in the main hall and ground level of the meeting house, this transient character creates through lines and connections between scenes and traveliers. (Photo by Timothy Gurczak, October 3, 2021)

Soprano/artistic director, Aliana de la Guardia (Raysel) and dancer, Andros Zins-Browne (Raysel’s Father) performing in the first presentation of ELLIS at the Old South Meeting House, (Boston, MA). Performed on the main level/ground floor of the meeting house, Raysel arrives at Ellis Island and unexpectedly meets her father there. (Photo by Timothy Gurczak, October 3, 2021)

Soprano/artistic director, Aliana de la Guardia (Raysel) and dancer, Andros Zins-Browne (Raysel’s Father) performing in the first presentation of ELLIS at the Old South Meeting House, (Boston, MA). Performed on the main level/ground floor of the meeting house, Raysel arrives at Ellis Island and unexpectedly meets her father there. (Photo by Timothy Gurczak, October 3, 2021)

Soprano and Artistic Director Aliana de la Guardia performing in the first workshop at The Gloucester Stage (Gloucester, MA). Here we are experimenting colorful additions to costume to cut through grayscale and sepia toned projection. This shot is of an experimental animation that begins as a “spotlight” and becomes a memory of the Statue of Liberty. (Photo by Jeffrey Means, April 11, 2021)

Soprano and Artistic Director Aliana de la Guardia performing in the first workshop at The Gloucester Stage (Gloucester, MA). Here we are experimenting colorful additions to costume to cut through grayscale and sepia toned projection. This shot is of an experimental animation that begins as a “spotlight” and becomes a memory of the Statue of Liberty. (Photo by Jeffrey Means, April 11, 2021)

Soprano and Artistic Director Aliana de la Guardia performing in the first workshop at The Gloucester Stage (Gloucester, MA) experimenting with colorful props break through grey scale and sepia toned projections. (Photo by Jeffrey Means, April 11, 2021)

Soprano and Artistic Director Aliana de la Guardia performing in the first workshop at The Gloucester Stage (Gloucester, MA) experimenting with colorful props. Luggage will be a significant element, out of which we will pull artifacts the immigrants bring with them that remind them of home, and maybe even and unusual element or two. (Photo by Jeffrey Means, April 11, 2021)

Soprano and Artistic Director Aliana de la Guardia performing in the first workshop at The Gloucester Stage (Gloucester, MA). Here we are experimenting animations that include photos of immigrants past and of many cultures who have traveled through Ellis Island. De la Guardia moves down stage and joins them waiting in line. (Photo by Jeffrey Means, April 11, 2021)

Percussionist and Co-Founding Artist Mike Williams performing in the first workshop at The Gloucester Stage (Gloucester, MA). Instrumentalists are always visible in Guerilla Opera productions and frequently in costume with actions to perform on stage. Here we are experimenting with stage movement as well as sepia tones video and animations behind the instrumentalist. (Photo by Jeffrey Means, April 11, 2021)

Soprano and Artistic Director Aliana de la Guardia performing in the first workshop at The Gloucester Stage (Gloucester, MA) experimenting with shadow theater behind sepia toned video design. (Photo by Jeffrey Means, April 11, 2021)