The Fort Worth Opera is bringing on four visual artists to ramp up its mainstage displays.
For its 2023-2024 season, the Fort Worth Opera (FWO) aims to treat guests with captivating visual representations on top of its auditory experiences.
“For our remarkable 78th season, we embarked on a creative journey to celebrate diverse artistic voices reinforcing our mission. To breathe life into our mainstage productions, we handpicked four extraordinary artists, each uniquely talented and passionately aligned with our mission,” said Angela Turner Wilson, FWO’s general and artistic director, according to NBC 5 DFW.
The four artists will each develop mainstage visuals for one upcoming production.
La Médium
October 20-22 at Rose Marine Theater
The Spanish-language production of La Médium will take place at 1440 N Main St.
Fort Worth-based artist Sarah Green was selected to create artwork for this spooky tale of a fraudulent medium named Madame Flora, who ends up seeing ghosts.
Set in the early 20th century, Wilson described Green’s work for the production as whimsical yet dark, “with strategic vibrant hues that draw the eye,” per NBC 5.
dwb (Driving While Black)
February 16-17 at Van Cliburn Concert Hall
February 24 at Kimbell Art Museum
Next in the lineup is dwb, which has performances at two venues planned early next year.
The story revolves around a mother whose quest to raise her son while grappling with racism and inequality lies at the center of the production.
The North Carolina-based illustrator Francis Simeni was brought on board to bring visual impact to the narrative.
La Bohème
April 5, 7 at Bass Performance Hall
In this tale centered on a group of Bohemian artists in 19th-century Paris, La Bohème weaves a complex portrait of love, friendship, heartache, poverty, and living life to the fullest.
To set the scene, California-based illustrator Michael Voll aims to bring an extra dose of visual drama. As a seasoned designer for the performing arts, Wilson said he “brought a timeless opera charm to La Bohème‘s production design,” per NBC 5.
An Evening with Morris Robinson
June 18 at Fort Worth Opera
FWO will wrap up its season with a special performance from All-American college football player and 2022 Grammy Award-winning bass singer Morris Robinson.
Pianist Caren Levine will provide musical accompaniment for An Evening with Morris Robinson, which will feature a mix of classical and black spiritual works in honor of Juneteenth.
To create a visual effect to stand up to the production, Georgia-based artist Drew Padrutt will put his aesthetic sensibility to work.
