A Survivor’s Odyssey: The Journey of Penelope and Circe
Explore the journey of Homer's women as they reclaim their stories in this LIVE virtual opera.
Credits
Commissioned and Produced by White Snake Projects
Cerise Lim Jacobs, Creator and Librettist
Special Thanks to the Tennessee Tribune, Rosetta Miller-Perry, Publisher and CEO, for its support of artist Patrick Dailey.
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.
Key Art is titled "Prison Fish" by artist Carole Alden, learn more about Prison Fish.
Photo by Sarah Rogers
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.
Go to the Program BookAbout
A Survivor’s Odyssey: The Journey of Penelope and Circe
Women, myself included, have been imprisoned by the male gaze; a gaze that has created stories that we are weak, emotional, childlike, born-victims, submissive, hysterical, witches, manipulative, angelic or whorish. You know the myths, you live these myths — myths that become self-fulfilling prophecies.
This has to stop.
Read the Synopsis.
***** 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.
barcc.org/chat
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.
News
Just Announced: A Survivor’s Odyssey Premieres September 24, 2021
Following the resounding success of the virtual opera Death by Life, treating the subjects of long-term incarceration and systemic racism, Cerise Jacobs and her activist opera company White Snake Projects announce their third live virtual world premiere opera since the beginning of the pandemic. A Survivor’s Odyssey: The Journey… Read More
“We Are Survivors”
Something about live music has always been especially emotive to me. Listening to performers often leaves me speechless, introspective, marveling at each musician continuously perfecting their craft. It’s no surprise that I find myself at any concert I can possibly attend. So when as a part of my internship, I helped organize the Sing Out Strong: Immigrant Voices community concert series, I learned to appreciate the work that goes into concerts with a new perspective. Read More
SYNOPSIS: A Survivor’s Odyssey: The Journey of Penelope and Circe
[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.] World premiere virtual opera – September 24, 26 & 28. Read More