Toledo Opera, The African American Police League, and the Toledo Police Museum present a reception on Thursday, August 18 at 7:00 p.m. at the Toledo Police Museum, 2201 Kenwood Blvd, Toledo, Ohio 43606 (located in Ottawa Park), in promotion of Toledo Opera’s upcoming production of Blue, which chronicles the story of a modern-day black family whose father is a police officer. This event is made possible by the MacArthur Safety and Justice Challenge Grant.
The event will also highlight two very important projects sponsored by the League, the Oral History Project and Recruitment and Mentoring Programs.
Alyssa Greenberg, Director of Community Engagement at Toledo Opera, shared “It has been an honor to collaborate with the African American Police League to activate the art form of opera to amplify the stories of Black law enforcement here in Toledo. We have commissioned composer Sophia J. Bass to set to music the poem Tainted Badge 602, written by retired Toledo Police Department lieutenant Robert Hellom. The music will be performed by Toledo Opera soprano Jhané Perdue accompanied by Toledo Opera Co-Artistic Director Kevin Bylsma – a world premiere at this meaningful event!”
“The African American Police League is so excited about the impact our projects and this partnership will have on our community” says Anita Madison, President, African American Police League and Retired Toledo Police Sergeant. “Our goal is to bring awareness to our organization and our efforts to recruit more black officers in our community.”
Order of Events
More about Blue: An African American couple in Harlem anticipates the birth of their firstborn, a son, with both hope and fear. As the baby grows into a young man, the mother worries for his future, and the father tries to prepare his son for the realities of 21st century America, while wrestling with his own identity as a police officer, a "Black man in blue." When their deepest fears come true, the family is forced to navigate a devastating reality seeking answers and support from their church and community. Toledo Opera presents the Tony Award®–winning composer Jeanine Tesori and NAACP Theatre Award–winning librettist Tazewell Thompson’s new opera inspired by contemporary events and Black literature. Influenced by gospel music and using vivid flashbacks, Blue places timely issues at the forefront of modern opera and invites audiences to the emotional epicenter of their impact. Chelsea Tipton, II returns to Toledo to conduct the opera and librettist Tazewell Thompson serves as the stage director.
This event is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is required as space is limited. Please register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/preserving-the-african-american-legacy-in-law-enforcement-tickets-384837688887?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&fbclid=IwAR2TpuxO4-CgHzDQUr-EN9SZvhpcr070xhmijCg3g-_esjbSUa9lePVOmv4. For media access, please contact Rachael Cammarn at rcammarn@toledoopera.org.
Blue is made possible by Owens Corning, The National Endowment for the Arts, and Ohio Humanities, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. For more information about Blue, please visit www.toledoopera.org/upcoming-performances/season-event/blue/. For more information on Toledo Opera, visit https://toledoopera.org.
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