White Snake Projects Presents
A SURVIVOR'S
ODYSSEY
The Journey of Penelope and Circe
September 24-28, 2021, Live in Cyberspace
A Survivor's Odyssey
Mary Prescott, composer | Cerise Lim Jacobs, librettist
Commissioned by White Snake Projects
Run Time: Approx. 50 minutes without intermission; Performed in English with subtitles
CONTENT WARNING: This piece contains depictions of sexual and intimate partner violence, and it also focuses on trauma. Please know that support is available at barcc.org/chat, and please practice any form of self-care that keeps you safe.
September 24-28, 2021
Live in Cyberspace
SYNOPSIS
The story of Penelope and Circe alternates between the myths of their relationships with Odysseus in The Odyssey and present day reality of living in pandemic times, exploring what this means for those who face sexual violence. Be transported from the modern Zoom world into fantastical Ancient Greece, with beautiful 3D environments created by the powerful gaming platform Unreal Engine.
In this final installment of White Snake Projects’ critically acclaimed Pandemic Trilogy of virtual operas, opera maker Cerise Lim Jacobs teams up with composer and interdisciplinary artist Mary Prescott and director Elena Araoz to help these characters reclaim their stories.
Trailer
The Inspiration
2020 has been dark; over 600,000 Americans have died from COVID-19.
But the darkness is not just about the virus. It’s also about the fissures in American society that have turned into gaping chasms as the pandemic forced longstanding economic disparities, racism, and violence against women (and some men) into crises. I’ve fought the isolation of pandemic times by working to shine a light on these issues through opera. That’s the only way I can remain grounded.
-Librettist CERISE LIM JACOBS
CAST
CREATIVES
SUPPORT
White Snake Projects’ 2021-2022 programming is supported in part by grants from the Amphion Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.
This project is made possible by a Live Arts Boston grant from the Boston Foundation.
Special Thanks to the Tennessee Tribune, Rosetta Miller-Perry, Publisher and CEO, for its support of artist Patrick Dailey.
