Blasting opera into a realm of immediacy and newness.
WHAT IS OPERA?
MUSIC | DRAMA | ACTION
Any work where the music acts as the catalyst for the drama and action of a story. With this definition, we go to unexpected realms!
WHAT WE DO
CONFRONT | EXAMINE | QUESTION | MODEL
Confront the status quo through cutting-edge works of opera theater
Examine antiquated and stereotypical traditions of the art form of opera
Question perspective through culturally focused and contemporary stories
Model creative authenticity
WHY WE DO IT
INNOVATION | RELEVANCE | EVOLUTION | COMMUNITY
Innovation
New and original artistic expressions within the opera genre, pushing the boundaries of traditional opera to explore unconventional themes, styles, and techniques.
Relevance
Contemporary issues and themes to ensure that opera remains a relevant and resonant art form, attracting new audiences and engaging with current cultural conversations.
Evolution
Foster experimentation and the emergence of fresh creative voices, and breathe new life into the genre.
Social Commentary
A platform for social and political commentary, raising awareness of pressing issues, and fostering critical discourse through the mediums of music and theater.
Engagement
Attract diverse audiences, broadening the reach of this art form.
DIVERSITY | EQUITY | INCLUSION | ACCESSIBILITY
Guerrilla Opera is a BIPOC and women-led ensemble, deeply committed to the values of collaboration, authenticity, and narratives that resonate with the diverse voices of contemporary society.
Being “punk” includes:
Challenging the status quo,
Questioning “authority” (the “systems”), and
Advocating for individual rights and equality.
This spirit is the energy from which Guerilla Opera was founded - to uplift the voice of the unheard through rebellious works of opera theater.
Since 2018, we have collaborated on educational programs and increased accessibility for audiences who are blind and visually impaired with partners at the National Braille Press and the Perkin Braille and Talking Book Library.
In our current production-in-development (2023), “Ululations and Gurgles of the Invisible”, we collaborate with the Urban Jazz Dance Compan, a company whose work is rooted in multiple intersections of social justice.
The artists we engage, performing artists, teaching artists, designers, production technicians, composers, and librettists, reflect over 70% women, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA+ individuals.