THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE
Commissioned by Long Beach 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, 2019
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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Composer
Anthony Davis
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Librettist
Richard Wesley
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Director
Andreas Mitisek
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Conductor
Leslie Dunner
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Antron McCray
Derrell Acon
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Ensemble / Raymond’s Father / Matias Reyes
Babatunde Akinboboye
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Yusef Salaam
Cedric Berry
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Ensemble / Antron’s Father
Ashley Faatoalia
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Raymond Santana
Orson Van Gay
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Korey Wise
Nathan Granner
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Ensemble / Yusef’s Mother / Others
Lindsay Patterson Abdou
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Kevin Richardson
Bernard Holcomb
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Ensemble / Antron’s Mother / Others
Joelle Lamarre
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District Attorney
Jessica Mamey
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The Masque
Zeffin Quinn Hollis
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Donald Trump
Thomas Segen
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Lighting Design
Dan Weingarten
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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Composer
Anthony Davis
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Librettist
Richard Wesley
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Director
J.Ed Araiza
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Conductor
Anthony Parnther
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Yusef Salaam
Cedric Berry
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Antron McCray
William Powell III
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Bernard Holcomb
Kevin Richardson
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Raymond Santana
Orson Van Gay
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Korey Wise
Ashley Faatoalia
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The Masque
Justin Ryan
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District Attorney
Lacey Jo Benter
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Donald Trump
Todd Strange
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Ensemble / Antron’s Mother / Others
Joelle Lamarre
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Abdou Ensemble / Yusef’s Mother / Others
Lindsay Patterson
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Ensemble Tenor
Corey Estelle
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Ensemble / Raymond’s Father / Matias Reyes
Josè Luis Maldonado
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Actor
Israel Lopez Reyes
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Actor
Joseph Henderson
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Creative Producer
Andrea Joy Pearson
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Lighting Designer
Pablo Santiago
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Costume Designer
Molly Irelan
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Assistant Director
Rogelio Douglas III
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Sound Designer
Danny Fiandaca
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)