1. Production Overview – p. 5
2. Synopsis – p. 7
3. Behind the Story – p. 8
4. Text / Libretto – pp. 9-19
5. Cast – p. 20
6. Orchestra & Chorus – p. 21
7. Dancers and Stage Crew – p. 22
8. Acknowledgements – p. 23
NOTE: Out of respect for your fellow audience members, we ask that you silence all devices and view this digital program with a low brightness setting on your display.
Chamber Opera in Two Acts
Music and Libretto by Drew Sperry
Presented as part of the JCA Student Collaboration Projects
January 25, 2025 – 7:30pm January 26, 2025 – 2:30pm
Tori Thomas, Conductor
Astrid Ariana, Choreographer
Samie New, Production Manager
Drew Sperry, Director
Setting:Louis’PrisonCell,Paris,December1792;Beforethetrial
AfterhiscaptureinVarennes,KingLouisXVI nowknownasLouis Capetfollowinghisdethroning awaitshistrialbeforetheNational Council.HehearstheaccusingvoicesoftheFrenchpeopleinhishead butrefusestoacknowledgetheircriesastruth.Followinga recountingofhiscapture,hecomestorealizethatwithoutthecrown, hisidentityhasbeenreducedtonothing.Louisbeginstoquestionhis innocencebeforeheisinterruptedbyhisGuard.Thetwoquarrel beforeLouisistakenfromhiscelltohistrial.
Setting:Louis’PrisonCell,Paris,January1793;Followingthetrial
Louishasbeenreturnedtohiscellwhereheagainhearsthevoicesof theFrenchpeople.Theyrecountthechargesbroughtagainsthimand finallypronouncehimguiltywithasentencingtodeath.Louiswrites hislastwillandtestament,lamentinghisfate.TheGuardappears onceagain,onlythistimetotakehimtohispublicexecution.Louis proclaimshisinnocenceonelasttimebeforebeingremovedfromhis cell.Wehearthetenchimesoftheclockatthe Place de la Révolution andtheFrenchpeoplechant“longlivethenation”and“longlivethe republic”inthedistance,signalingLouis’demise.
Inthesummerof1791inresponsetothegrowingtensionsbetween themonarchyandtheFrenchpeopleduringtheFrenchRevolution, KingLouisXVIandhisfamilyplannedtofleetheirhomeinParisto seekasylumintheAustrianNetherlands.Indisguiseandaidedby severaloftheirloyalservants,thefamilyboardedacarriageand begantheirjourneybynight.
Alongtheirescaperoute,thefamilyencounteredmanychallenges, includingabrokenwheelandvillagersharassingtheescapees, thinkingtheyweretheretocollecttaxes.Bythetimetheroyalfamily hadarrivedinthetownofSainte-Menehould,thealarmhadbeen raisedinParisthatthefamilyhadfled,andsoldiersweresentto retrievethem.ThoselivinginthevillagessurroundingPariswere quicklymadeawareofthefamily’sdisappearanceandweretoldtobe onhighalert.ItwasthereinSainte-Menehouldthatapostmaster recognizedLouis,rodeaheadtothenextvillage(Varennes),and interceptedtheroyalfamily’scarriage.Inundertwenty-fourhours, theroyalfamilyhadbothescapedandbeenrecaptured.
OncebackinParis,Louis(nowknowninformallyasLouisCapet)and hisfamilywereheldintheTemplePrisonatthePalaceofVersailles. Severalweekslater,Louisstoodtrial,waspronouncedguiltyalmost unanimouslybytheNationalCouncil,andwassentencedtodeath.
At10amonJanuary21,1793,Louiswasexecutedbyguillotineinthe PlacedelaConcordeinParisforhiscrimesagainsttheFrenchpeople.
Out of respect for your fellow audience members, please refrain from viewing the text/libretto during the performance. Please keep alldevices off during the show!
Prologue
Chorus
Louis! The French nation accuses you!
Louis! The French people accuse you!
Answer!
Answer for your attacks on the sovereignty of the nation!
Louis
I, Louis the Sixteenth, king of France, Am innocent of all that I am accused!
Chorus
Louis, your nation accuses you.
Louis I’m innocent!
Act I
1. Scene
Louis
Too long it’s been within these four stone walls. Imprisoned in my own home by those who were once my subjects.
Separated from my family and detained, Even after all I tried to do to ennoble their liberties.
What cruelty!
Their cruelties weigh heavy on my soul.
Insults against myself, Insults against my family.
There seemed no better option than to flee. And flee we did.
With less than twenty-four hours of freedom to our names, We were discovered; forced back to Paris by guns promising death.
Too long it’s been since then! Separated from my family. Separated from my identity!
Now I am no longer their king, Only Louis Capet, A foreigner within my own home.
2. Aria Louis
To them I am no longer Louis the Sixteenth.
To them I am only Louis Capet, An unfamiliar identity.
It was I who called the troops to protect the city of Paris. It was I who convened the council that now condemns me. But none of this seems to matter now.
My home was invaded, My chests broken. The secrets of the nation have been exposed.
Yet they still seek to try me as an enemy. Yet they only speak my name with venom.
Maybe this is the price I pay for my cowardice. For my negligence. Blood has been spilt after all!
In this cruel hour, I must hold tight to what I have left: The hope that justice will seek my innocence, And what remains of my shattered identity.
To them I am no longer Louis the Sixteenth. To them I’m only Louis Capet.
My ancestors alone bore that name, But none of this seems to matter now. For I was never called so.
3. Duet Guard Louis!
I am charged to declare to you: Louis I’ve been expecting you these three hours.
Guard
The convention awaits you.
Louis
Please have mercy on my poor soul.
Guard
It is not my decision!
Louis
I’m innocent!
Guard
It is not my place to decide.
Louis
Please have mercy!
Guard
No more can be done. Your actions have sealed your fate!
Louis
I am innocent of these crimes!
Guard
You must stand before the Council.
Louis
They must see the absurdity in all of this!
Guard
Please do not make this more difficult.
Louis
After all I’ve done for the good of France!
Guard
By decree of the National Convention…
Louis
After all I’ve done for the people! For democracy!
Guard
Please do not make this more difficult! You shall be brought before the National Convention.
Louis
This is absurd! After all I’ve done for the people!
Guard
Do not make this difficult!
Louis I have only done good!
Guard
You must stand before the Council.
Louis
My time is better spent in solitude, For I know of my innocence!
Guard
Your actions have sealed your fate!
You shall be brought before the National Convention! You don’t have a choice!
Louis This is absurd!
After all I’ve done for the people!
I tell you I’m innocent!
Guard
Your innocence is not yours to determine!
If you are innocent, then let justice guide the course of your fate. If you are innocent, then you have nothing to fear!
Louis
I don’t doubt my innocence like those around me. I am not troubled.
I trust that God will make the nation see their errors.
I trust that the people of France will heed reason. Supported by the testimony of my life, I declare!
I declare before the Council. I declare before God!
I declare my innocence!
Act II
4. Chorus
Chorus
Louis! The French nation accuses you!
Louis! The French people accuse you!
Louis I still claim my innocence.
Chorus
The French people accuse you of plotting to destroy their liberties…
Louis I had no such intention.
Chorus
You made an attack on their sovereignty by suspending their representatives in their place of meeting.
Louis
There then existed no law.
Chorus
You swore to maintain the Constitution, yet you attempted to flee!
Louis I don’t remember what passed at that time!
Chorus
You spent sums of money to overthrow the Constitution!
Louis
I have no recollection of this.
Chorus
You swore to serve the people!
Louis
After all I’ve done for the good of France.
Chorus
You ordered an army to march against the citizens of Paris, Shedding their blood!
Louis
It was never my intention… I have only ever acted in the interest of France! It was never my intention for blood to be spilt!
Chorus
Louis! The French nation accuses you!
Louis
I had a right to defend myself!
Chorus
Louis! The French people accuse you!
Louis
I have always acted in the interests of France.
Chorus
You shall answer for your crimes. You, Louis Capet, have been pronounced guilty of high treason, punishable by death. Guilty, with the punishment of death. You shall answer for your crimes.
Louis The council has spoken. And they wish to see me dead.
I, Louis the Sixteenth, Louis Capet. I declare this, I declare before God, This to be my last will and determination.
5. Interlude
Over the course of the Interlude, Louis writes his will.
6. Aria
Louis
I pity with all my heart, Those who think me guilty, Those who wish to see me gone.
Yet I still love them as my people, In spite of my injuries, I still love them as my people.
I pray to God to forgive my sins, I beg pardon of those who I have injured, For I don’t recall offending anyone,
At least not knowingly. I pity them.
I recommend my children to my wife, To educate them in the principles of moral honesty. And to remember me dearly when I’m gone.
Above all, I forgive those who have acted as my enemies. I pray that God pardons them of the injuries they have inflicted upon me. Their cruelties weigh heavy on my soul.
7. Duet and Final Chorus Guard
The time is here. You will soon answer for your crimes.
Louis I beg you… Guard
Please don’t burden me further!
Louis
I again declare before God, I, Louis the Sixteenth, former king of France am innocent. Am innocent of all of that I am accused!
Guard
The council has spoken. Your fate has been decided!
Louis
Have mercy on my weary soul. Citizens, I forgive my enemies, and I die innocent. Have mercy on my weary soul.
I hope that my death will satisfy the people, If this is their idea of democracy! I hope that my blood will cement the good fortune of the French.
Chorus
Vive la nation. Vive la Republic.
BaritoneNathanMatthewsisasenior choralmusiceducationmajorfrom MountZion,Illinois.Hecurrentlystudies voicewithKirstenGunlogsonandsings withtheButlerUniversityChorale, ChamberSingers,andButlerOpera Theater.Hehaspreviouslyperformed withButlerOperaTheaterastheVicarin Albert Herring,Priest2in The Magic Flute,andwillportraythetitleroleinthis semester’sproductionof Gianni Schicchi.
JonathanShinnisapassionateperformer andteacherfromAvon,IN.Finishingupa degreeinMusicEducationandVocal
PerformancefromButlerUniversity,he studieswithDr.DanaZenobiandhas performedinproductionslike Albert Herring (TheMayor)and The Magic Flute (Monostatos).Jonathanisthrilledtobe playingLouis’Guardandwouldliketo thankDrewforcreatingsuchavaluable newpieceofart.Enjoytheshow!
Orchestra
AbigailBrown, Flute
KalebDurfee, Clarinet
SeanLawlor, Percussion
EllaSailer, Timpani
EthanHamel, Violin
AlexBeauchamp, Viola
RyanWombles, Violoncello
Chorus
IsabelleCalkins, Soprano
AbiEutsler, Alto
JonathanShinn, Tenor
ThomasSantore, Bass
ToriThomas, Conductor
Dancers
KennedyKinsler
FinnLotton-Barker
KieraDelargy
FaithDelamarter
AsherEkhardt
TylerLeach
MayaChung
CarolineWoessner
AstridAriana, Choreographer
Stage Crew
SamieNew, Stage Manager
KalebKiester, Assistant Stage Manager
SamanthaPurciful, Costume Designer
AllyShaw, Lighting Designer
Special thanks to:
NatalieSchacht, Production Photographer
MauroManzano, Production Videographer
RyanWombles, Marketing Designer
“Onbehalfofmyselfandeveryoneonthecreativeteamforthis ambitiousproject,wewouldliketothankalloftheadministrators andButlerUniversityfacultythathavehelpedtomakethispremiere productionareality.Thankyoutothe2024-2025JCACollaborative Grantcommitteeforsupportingourvision;thankyoutoourfaculty advisors,ProfessorWendyMeadenandDr.TraeBlanco,forallof yourhelpthroughouttheprocessofputtingthisproductiontogether; thankyoutoallofthestudentmusiciansanddancersfordevoting yourtime,energy,andsuperiorartistrytothisproject;andthankyou toeveryoneintheaudienceforbeingheretoexperiencethe incredibleartistrythatButlerUniversity’sJordanCollegeoftheArts iscapableof.Wehopeyouenjoytheshow!”
-DrewSperry, Composer
WegatherhereatButlerUniversityonthetraditionalhomelandsof Indigenouspeopleswhowereforciblyremovedfromthisplace. ThesepeoplesincludetheMyaamiaki(Miami),Bodewadmi (Potawatomi),Lenape(Delaware),Saawanwa(Shawnee),Kiikaapoi (Kickapoo),andPeouaroua (Peoria)peoples.Wehonorwith gratitudethelanditselfandtheIndigenouspeoplespastandpresent whohavestewardeditthroughoutthegenerations.This acknowledgementcallsustocommittohearingandengaging Indigenousvoicesandperspectivesandtobeingbetterstewardsof thelandweinhabit.
© 2025 Drew Sperry, All Rights Reserved.