Thompson Street Opera Company announces their closing production of the 2024-2025 season. Following the success of their fall double bill, TSOC returns to the Bramble Arts Loft with the staged premiere of Groundwater, by award-winning young composer Flannery Cunningham. This expansive multi-media work is an exploration of the human relationship with water– a life-giving resource, a vessel for human memory, and a casualty of the progress of civilization. Interweaving voice, clarinet, viola, cello, and piano with live electronics and video, TSOC’s production of Groundwater will also use dance to heighten the emotional storytelling of Cunningham’s powerful, folk-inflected, lyrical music.Led by pianist and conductor Nicholas Pothier and company Artistic Director Claire DiVizio, Groundwater features genre-defying vocalist Carolyn Sundlof Boudreauand dancer-choreographer Emma Draves alongside instrumentalists Julia Ansolabehere, Nina Karakos, and Meghan Lyda. Acting as cover and performing on Thursday June 26th will be local favorite Ariel Emma, last seen onstage with TSOC as Enyo in 2024’s We’ve Got Our Eye on You.
This is the first work TSOC has undertaken with live electronics, made possible in part by a generous grant from The Saints of Chicago, which supported the purchase of equipment necessary for the project. Taking charge of this critical element is Spit It Out! Audio, headed by Justin Calvazos and Madelein Bowman.
Groundwater will be performed June 20th, 21st, 26th, 27th, and 28th at 8:00pmand June 22nd and 29th at 3:00pm in the Berry Black Box Theater at the Bramble Arts Loft. The performance runs approximately one hour with no intermission.
On Saturday June 21st, the company will be hosting a special industry night; all are invited to stay after the show for snacks, drinks, and social time with members of the storefront opera and theater community! The Bramble lobby has a charming bar and seating area; one drink token plus free finger food will be provided with the purchase of any ticket.
Tickets are available at www.thompsonstreetopera.org/events for $15-30; contact the company for industry discount codes. The Bramble is physically accessible including an elevator, an ADA-certified bathroom, and flexible, general admission seating.
