Teatro Grattacielo will present a special America 250 opera double bill in New York City on November 7 and 8, 2026, featuring the world premiere of Jefferson Lives! alongside a new production of Giacomo Puccini’s Suor Angelica. The performances will explore political freedom, personal sacrifice, and historical memory as the United States commemorates the 250th anniversary of American independence.
The productions will take place at The Sam at The Flea Theater, located at 20 Thomas Street in Manhattan, with performances scheduled for Saturday, November 7, at 4 p.m. and Sunday, November 8, at 3 p.m.
Tickets start at $60, with both operas presented during each performance.
Jefferson Lives! Makes World Premiere During America’s 250th Anniversary
Jefferson Lives! marks Teatro Grattacielo’s first commissioned opera and was developed in collaboration with Polyhymnia, an interdisciplinary organization focused on the arts, humanities, and intellectual exploration.
The new work features music by composer Joshua Daniel Nichols, a libretto by Stefanos Koroneos, and concept and source material by James Harrigan.
Created for the United States Semiquincentennial, the opera examines the American Revolution through the personal experiences, moral conflicts, and psychological struggles associated with the nation’s founding.
Rather than presenting revolutionary history as a sequence of established events, the production explores how political ideas develop into public action and how individuals confront the consequences of their convictions.
John Adams and Revolutionary History Shape the Narrative
The story incorporates the ghostly presence of John Adams, one of America’s Founding Fathers, alongside a contemporary character unexpectedly drawn into the past.
Through their experiences, the opera examines questions of independence, political resistance, responsibility, and the personal consequences of revolutionary change.
The production combines dialogue, monologue, music, and silence to connect historical events with contemporary interpretations of American identity.
Its approach emphasizes the uncertainty and moral pressures surrounding the Revolution, presenting the founding of the United States as a continuing subject of historical and cultural examination.
Puccini’s Suor Angelica Receives New Theatrical Interpretation
The second production, Suor Angelica, offers a reinterpretation of Giacomo Puccini’s opera, focusing on memory, institutional authority, personal suffering, and the experiences of women whose voices have historically been suppressed.
In this staging, Angelica is portrayed as the only living figure within a convent inhabited by ghosts.
The ghostly figures represent women who previously lived within the institution and surrendered aspects of their identities under expectations of obedience and submission.
Two Operas Explore Different Dimensions of Freedom
Although the productions are set in different historical and social environments, both examine the relationship between individual choice and institutional power.
Jefferson Lives! addresses freedom through political revolution and the struggle for national independence.
Suor Angelica, meanwhile, considers freedom through personal experience, spiritual conflict, and the restrictions imposed on women within a religious institution.
By presenting the works together, Teatro Grattacielo aims to connect broader questions of political liberty with the personal consequences of authority and social expectations.
Creative Team and Cast Announced for New York Performances
The creative team for the double bill includes several artists working across composition, theatrical production, and visual design.
The announced personnel include:
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Joshua Daniel Nichols: Composer
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Stefanos Koroneos: Librettist
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James Harrigan: Concept and source material
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Saverio Alfieri: Conductor
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Mai Camara: Production manager
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Camilla Tassi: Projection designer
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Amara McNeil: Lighting designer
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Angela Huff: Costume designer
The announced cast includes Peterson Townsend as The Sleeper and tenor Brian Jeffers.
Jefferson Lives! has an estimated running time of 50 minutes. The complete double bill, including Suor Angelica and one 20-minute intermission, is expected to last approximately two hours and 15 minutes.
Performance Dates, Tickets, and Accessibility Information
November 2026 Performance Schedule
Both performances will take place at The Sam at The Flea Theater in Lower Manhattan.
Saturday, November 7, 2026: 4 p.m.
Sunday, November 8, 2026: 3 p.m.
Venue: The Sam at The Flea Theater, 20 Thomas Street, New York, NY 10007.
Ticket prices: Starting at $60.
The venue and Teatro Grattacielo productions are wheelchair accessible. Audience members requiring additional accommodations are encouraged to contact the organizers before attending.
Teatro Grattacielo Continues Its Commitment to Contemporary Opera
Founded in 1994, Teatro Grattacielo has developed from a company specializing in Italian Verismo opera into an organization presenting contemporary compositions, lesser-known repertoire, and reinterpretations of established works.
The company also supports emerging performers and composers through staged productions, educational initiatives, and community programming across New York City.
Its collaboration with Polyhymnia on Jefferson Lives! reflects an effort to connect opera with American history, political thought, and contemporary cultural discussions.
The November double bill brings these themes together through two contrasting works, offering New York audiences an opportunity to examine the meaning of freedom from both historical and personal perspectives during America’s 250th anniversary year.
