Birmingham actress Alie B. Gorrie, left, plays the role of Helen Keller, with Helen’s dialogue and thoughts expressed by an ensemble of singers. Caleb Clark, right, of Birmingham is John Macy, and Michelle Drever, center, is Anne Sullivan Macy.By Anne Ruisi
A neew opera commissioned by Opera Birmingham about the life of Alabama native Helen Keller will make its world premiere in January at RMT Arts Campus.
“Touch” will debut Jan. 19 and will be repeated Jan. 21. Music for the opera is by composer Carla Lucero and the libretto is by Lucero and Marianna Mott Newirth. A pre-show chat with Lucero and Newirth will be held an hour before each show and there will be a talk-back with the cast and creatives following each performance.
Opera Birmingham commissioned the work, which centers around the life of Helen Keller, the celebrated 20th century deaf and blind author and activist, and Anne Sullivan Macy, her confidante and friend, according to the production’s page on Opera Birmingham’s website, operabirmingham.org/touch.
The opera picks up after the events of the play “The Miracle Worker” end, when Keller was a grown woman, and explores the complicated relationship between Helen; Anne; Anne’s husband, John Macy; and Peter Fagan, Helen’s interpreter who became her romantic interest.
A world-renowned humanitarian, Keller fiercely advocated for women’s suffrage, civil rights and disability rights. She saw the need for a balanced world, heard the cry of the oppressed and spoke for them, the website said.
Helen’s passion was equally present in her personal life, the website said. “Touch” captures the humanity of her life, characteristics often overlooked in such an iconic figure.
The two-act chamber opera features three principal singing roles: Anne Sullivan Macy, John Macy and Peter Fagan.
Birmingham actress Alie B. Gorrie plays the role of Helen Keller, with Helen’s dialogue and thoughts expressed by an ensemble of singers. Caleb Clark of Birmingham is John Macy, and Michelle Drever is Anne Sullivan Macy.
One distinction of this production is the use of a choir that gives voice to Helen’s thoughts and communication as she interacts with someone, said Opera Birmingham General Director Keith A. Wolfe-Hughes.
For example, when Helen first meets John Macy, she tells him “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he said. “But then you hear the rest of the chorus who are giving her impressions of John Macy. We get to really hear her inner thoughts that are sometimes in conflict with what she’s saying to somebody else, which is, you know, exactly what people do.”
“Touch” also addresses themes of disability and agency. The opera represents Opera Birmingham’s commitment to telling diverse stories of the community and providing access to a wide range of artists and patrons.
This production has been developed to include low-vision and low-hearing artists in all facets of the opera. Opera Birmingham works to ensure accessibility for audience members, from American Sign Language interpreters at performances and Braille program notes to assisted listening devices and audio description services.
“We really did want to make this an accessible piece” in terms of production and the presentation, Wolfe-Hughes said.
To that end, hearing impaired and vision-impaired people are among the members of the cast and crew. Gorrie, for example, is visually impaired and a lighting designer and costume designer are hearing impaired, Wolfe-Hughes said.
“We’re really implementing a range of opportunities for anyone who wants to come to the opera to be able to enjoy it. The work we are doing to make our productions accessible is not just for “Touch.” It will become standard practice for all our productions, in honor of Helen and her work to educate people,” Wolfe-Hughes said.
“Touch” is about 90 minutes long and will be sung in English with projected English text and interpreted in American Sign Language. Tickets went on sale Sept. 5.
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