OCTAVIA E. BUTLER’S PARABLE OF THE SOWER
APRIL 28 & 29, 2022
BY TOSHI REAGON AND BERNICE JOHNSON REAGON
DIRECTED BY ERIC TING
BASED ON THE NOVELS PARABLE OF THE SOWER AND PARABLE OF THE TALENTS BY OCTAVIA E. BUTLER
CO-PRESENTED BY STRATHMORE
Performed at Strathmore Music Center
Tickets are available for sale through Strathmore’s website:
A fully-staged opera recreating Octavia Butler’s sci-fi, Afrofuturist masterpiece live on stage.
Parable of the Sower is a triumphant, mesmerizing work of rare power and beauty that illuminates deep insights on gender, race, and the future of human civilization. This fully staged opera brings together over 30 original anthems drawn from 200 years of Black music to recreate Butler’s sci-fi, Afrofuturist masterpiece live on stage. With music and lyrics composed by Toshi Reagon and Bernice Johnson Reagon, this compelling work gives life to Butler’s acclaimed science fiction novel of the same name.
“From the moment I first heard the stunning score Toshi and Bernice created for this epic adaptation of Octavia E. Butler’s renowned novel, I just knew we needed to find a way to share it with our audiences in the DMV. Since then, the need to elevate this powerful post-apocalyptic story filled with hope and human connection has only become more urgent to me. With a powerhouse ensemble of singers and musicians, there could be no better home, or better partner, for this piece than Strathmore. I’m thrilled to join forces and unite our audiences to witness this visceral and mesmerizing new operatic work that beautifully reveals Butler’s stunningly prophetic insights on the future of American civilization.”
– Maria Manuela Goyanes, Artistic Director