Opera for Everyone Debuts April 6 at GSU
Singer Adrian Dunn adds a contemporary twist to traditional opera to tell the tale of the challenges faced by many inner-city youth. Through gun violence, teen pregnancy, and fatherlessness, HOPERA ultimately illustrates that you really can make it —if you want to.
Media Contact: Sharon Morrissey
708.235.2812
Email: sbanaszak@govst.edu
University Park, IL — Adrian Dunn has a vision for today’s opera, and it’s not what you might think. Dunn has made a few updates to a traditional opera, and you won’t want to miss this creative genius. HOPERA: A Fallen Hero takes the stage to Governors State University Center for Performing Arts on April 6 at 8 p.m. with a cast of twelve musicians, singers and dancers.
Loosely based on the Libretto from Otello, Dunn makes the opera and the story accessible to today’s youth who may be affected by gun violence through the use of dance, a contemporary band versus an orchestra, and spoken word. He says of his musical play, “This project is a slice of America. This is opera on my own terms, outside the confines.”
An accomplished singer, composer and producer, Dunn magically blends hip hop, opera, gospel and dance to tell the tale of the challenges faced by many inner-city youth. Through gun violence, teen pregnancy, and fatherlessness, HOPERA ultimately illustrates that you really can make it— if you want to.
When asked about his inspiration for HOPERA, Dunn says, “When I performed traditional opera, I did not see myself in the audience, and if opera was going to have a life—if it was to live on—it had to change.”
Yet, traditional opera fans will still fall in love with Obadiah, the lead character inspired by Otello. His story can be seen in the lives of many today, and the music ultimately is the star. In the end, that is what opera is all about—the music. In fact, Dunn previewed a song from HOPERA while performing at Center for Performing Arts in January of 2018 at the “Lift Every Voice” opera, and the audience requested an encore.
Tickets are only $28. Group, student and senior discounts are available. For tickets, visit Centertickets.net, or call 708.235.2222. This production is generously funded by The Chicago Community Trust, the National Endowment for the Arts, and Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.
Box Office: 1 University Parkway, University Park, IL.
Box Office Hours: Monday- Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (open until 6 p.m. on Thursdays) & 2 hours prior to all performances. Parking is free. For best GPS directions always use the location search term “Governors State University” only.
About Adrian Dunn
Adrian Dunn is the founder and CEO of HoperaWorld Entertainment. He has sung in the CCM Spoleto Opera Festival in Spoleto Italy and was nominated for “Best Music Director” from the Black Theater Alliance Awards for his work with HOPERA- A hip hop opera in 2010. He opened for international hip hop recording artists The Roots at Indiana University Auditorium in 2005 and was a featured solo artist on the Higher Ground Live DVD recording in Finland (2007). He has prepared and provided background vocals for numerous pop, R&B and gospel artists in the United States and abroad, including Tony Momrelle (UK band Incognito), Rena Darling (EU), Max C (EU) and others. He has also sung with the Chicago Symphony Chorus, Grant Park Symphony Chorus, and appeared as a vocalist with the Rob Parton Jazz Orchestra. Adrian holds a Bachelor of Music and Masters of Music in vocal performance from Roosevelt University and additional studies at the Sibelius Academy of Music, Helsinki Finland.