USPS Publication Number 16300
T h is C o m mu n i t y N ewsp a p er is a pu bl ica t ion of E sca m bia-S a n t a Rosa B a r Assoc ia t ion
Se r v i ng t he Fi r st Jud icial Ci rcu it
Section A, Page 1
Vol. 19, No. 40
Visit The Summation Weekly Online: www.summationweekly.com
October 2, 2019
1 Section, 8 Pages
As One
Pensacola Opera celebrates the transgender community
by molly Williams Pensacola opera Photo by Meg Burke Photography In partnership with Sunday’s Child and friend of the opera Diane Peterson, Pensacola Opera presents a unique multimedia double feature. Join us for a coming-of-age story of a transgender woman as she finds herself in As One, performed for one weekend only, Nov. 1 through 3. A journey of self-discovery, As One tells the story of Hannah as she realizes and uncovers her true self. With evocative music by Laura Kaminsky and a stirring libretto by Mark Campbell and Kimberly Reed, As One has quickly become the most performed contemporary opera in North America. This Florida premiere production will bring the audience onto the Pensacola Little Theatre mainstage for an intimate performance consisting of two singers (Robert Wesley Mason and Elise Quagliata, sharing the role of Hannah) and the Polymnia String Quartet, surrounded by an original film projected behind them to create the trans-
formative atmosphere. Each performance of As One will be preceded by a free showing of Kimberly Reed’s autobiographical documentary Prodigal Sons. In this film, Kimberly attends her twenty-year high school reunion ready to reintroduce herself to her small Montana hometown as a transgender woman. Exploring questions of sexual orientation, identity, severe trauma and love, the candid, sometimes bruising footage takes a tender but unflinching look at identity and the past, examining what it means to become someone new. In conjunction with our special production of As One, Pensacola Opera is also proud to partner with the Gulf Coast Transgender Alliance and Strive to host an art exhibit titled Identity in Focus. The event was inspired by Portland Opera’s photo series titled “As I am,” which brought in transgender members of the Portland community for a series of interviews and studio portraits. By partnering with the Gulf Coast Transgender Alliance here in Pensacola, the opera spoke with transgender members of the local community and created the gallery
we are titling “Identity in Focus.” The opera As One discusses the struggles and challenges that the main character goes through and the goal was to showcase the joy and life that is at the end of that journey of self-discovery. What we had noticed is that when you look for images of individuals who have transitioned, there is always a seriousness to it, a focus on the strength it takes to find yourself, but people are so much more than their journeys. They are dynamic, kind, hilarious, whimsical, fabulous and imaginative, all of which are words that the models chose to have displayed next to their photos. Not only that, but our models are our own neighbors that live and thrive in Pensacola. The opera brought in seven transgender individuals and provided them with
Pensacola Opera likes to host panel discussions outside of the operas to help provide context and give their patrons a better understanding of how the pieces that they are about to see apply to real life. For As One, the opera is hosting four panel discussions in total, three prior to the opening of As One and one after the weekend Nov. 5, to close out how the community should move forward. Wednesday, October 9 | 6:00 PM at the Pensacola Opera Center Being a Good Neighbor An introduction to the transgender community
Cody Martin, director of education at the Pensacola Opera, will be conducting As One.
free professional hair and makeup, done by Haley Mitchell, and a 30-minute photoshoot around Pensacola provided by Meg Burke Photography. These photos will be displayed at each of the free panel discussions at the Opera Center during the month of October before being moved to Pensacola Little Theatre during the performance on the mainstage. The exhibit will be set up so that it can be walked around and showcase our models laughing in the outfits that they said makes them feel the most comfortable in, some by themselves and others with their loved ones. Special thanks to sponsors of the Pensacola Opera for their generous support: Sunday’s Child and Diane Peterson; in memory of her son and husband, Sean and Brad Peterson.
Wednesday, October 16 | 6:00 PM at the Pensacola Opera Center Keeping Faith Religion and the transgender community (Stubblefield, Kai, moderators. Panelists: Joel Fleekop (TBE), Lisa Keelson (MCC), Michael Hoffman (Christ Church), Robert Quiring (1stPres), Ashley Wilkinson Meyer (Cokesbury)
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Wednesday, October 23 | 6:00 PM at the Pensacola Opera Center Taking Care Health and wellness for the transgender community (TBA Moderator. Panelists: Anne Hooton, Endocrinologist, Surgeon, TBA) Tuesday, November 5 | 6:00 PM at the Pensacola Opera Center United As One An opera and its impact on our community
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