THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE
REMEMBERING THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE OPERA
(2019 & 2022)
In 1980's New York, five African American and Latino teenagers were in the wrong place at the wrong time. They were unjustly convicted of a Central Park rape but exonerated through DNA evidence thirteen years later. Davis' opera is a passionate story about an issue that still rocks America today.
The Central Park Five is an opera that remains talked about today even more than 30 years after the initial events occurred.
A study by the National Registry of Exonerations found that black people convicted of murder or sexual assault are significantly more likely than their white counterparts to be later found innocent of the crimes. The study reviewed nearly 2,000 exonerations nationwide between 1989 and 2017. Innocent blacks also had to wait disproportionately longer for their names to be cleared than innocent whites.
I have devoted myself to the creation of works that bring to light issues of political and social significance. Particularly my operas have addressed pivotal events and figures in American history with a focus on the issues of race and justice.
-Anthony Davis, Composer
THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE (2019)
World premiere
2019 SEASON
JUNE 15, 22 & 23, 2022
WARNER GRAND THEATRE
SAN PEDRO, CA
In 1980's New York, five African American and Latino teenagers were in the wrong place at the wrong time. They were unjustly convicted of a Central Park assault but exonerated through DNA evidence thirteen years later. Davis' opera is a passionate story about an issue that still rocks America today.
The Central Park Five is an opera that remains talked about today even more than 30 years after.
Cast & Creative (2019)
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Anthony Davis
Composer
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Richard Wesley
Librettist
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Andreas Mitisek
Director
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Leslie Dunner
Conductor
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Derrell Acon
Antron McCray
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Babatunde Akinboboye
Ensemble / “Raymond’s Father” / “Matias Reyes”
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Cedric Berry
“Yusef Salaam”
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Ashley Faatoalia
Ensemble / “Antron’s Father”
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Orson Van Gay
Raymond Santana
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Nathan Granner
“Korey Wise”
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Lindsay Patterson Abdou
Ensemble / “Yusef’s Mother” / Others
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Bernard Holcomb
“Kevin Richardson”
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Joelle Lamarre
Ensemble / “Antron’s Mother” / Others’
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Jessica Mamey
“District Attorney”
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Zeffin Quinn Hollis
“The Masque”
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Thomas Segen
“Donald Trump”
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Dan Weingarten
Lighting Design
THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE (2022)
2022 SEASON
JUNE 18 & 19, 2022
JORDAN AUDITORIUM
LONG BEACH, CA
After the critical acclaim of the world premiere, LBO brought back this important, lauded work, featuring many of the original cast members along with some new additions, reinvigorating the story of the five innocent Black teenagers falsely accused and convicted of a crime. The performances took place at a high school theater, which is significant in that the real-life protagonists of the opera were between 14-16 years old at the time of their arrests and convictions.
Cast & Creative 2022
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Anthony Davis
Composer
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Richard Wesley
Librettist
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J.Ed Araiza
Director
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Anthony Parnther
Conductor
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Cedric Berry
“Yusef Salaam”
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William Powell III
Antron McCray
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Bernard Holcomb
“Kevin Richardson”
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Orson Van Gay
“Raymond Santana”
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Ashley Faatoalia
Ensemble / “Antron’s Father”
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Justin Ryan
“The Masque”
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Lacey Jo Benter
“District Attorney”
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Todd Strange
“Donald Trump”
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Joelle Lamarre
Ensemble / “Antron’s Mother” / Others
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Lindsay Patterson Abdou
Ensemble / “Yusef’s Mother” / Others
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Corey Estelle
Ensemble Tenor
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Josè Luis Maldonado
Ensemble / “Raymond’s Father” / “Matias Reyes”
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Israel Lopez Reyes
Actor
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Joseph Henderson
Actor
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Andrea Joy Pearson
Creative Producer
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Pablo Santiago
Lighting Designer
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Molly Irelan
Costume Designer
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Rogelio Douglas III
Assistant Director
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Danny Fiandaca
Sound Designer
The Central Park Five (2019) Rehearsal Excerpts
Video Excerpt | 4 min | 2022
Director: Andreas Mitisek
Composer: Anthony Davis
Librettist: Richard Wesley
Performed by: Derrell Acon (McCray), Cedric Berry (Salaam), Orson Van Gay (Santana), Nathan Granner (Wise), Bernard Holcomb (Richardson)