America's "King of Ragtime," Scott Joplin, died before he could complete this opera, but the seeds he planted have endured. WNO brings this powerful work to the stage in a newly commissioned adaptation by composer Damien Sneed and playwright Kyle Bass, under the direction of legendary mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves. One of the richest operas in the American repertoire, it blends ragtime, Black folk-songs, spirituals, ballet, and traditional operatic elements. Set in 1884, the story follows Treemonisha, an educated freedwoman on a former plantation, as she challenges superstition and defies "conjurers" to become her community's teacher and leader. For accessibility questions or group ticket orders, please email gwticket@gwu.edu. Box office opens when doors open unless otherwise noted.
