Lyric Theatre @ Illinois
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p r i s m

In the Spring of 2018, Lyric Theatre at Illinois, in collaboration with Beth Morrison Projects, presented a staged reading of Prism, a new opera composed by Ellen Reid with a libretto by Roxie Perkins. Grad student Sadie Cheslak (Lumee) and undergraduate vocal performance and composition major Elizabeth Gartman (Bibi) worked with coaches throughout the semester and LTI students prepared the extensive chorus material. The week of the performance, Ellen Reid, Roxie Perkins, and Beth Morrison were in residence to work with students on developing the piece.

p r i s m tells the story of an ill girl, Bibi, and her doting mother, Lumee, who live in a pristine sanctuary. Locked away from the world, Bibi and Lumee try to protect each other from the dangerous illness that lurks outside their door and has already infected Bibi's legs- leaving her unable to walk. Every day Lumee attempts to feed Bibi medicine to heal her, yet each time Bibi is about to swallow her dose the Outside erupts into a fury- scaring Bibi from taking her medicine. One night, desperate to please her strict mother, Bibi attempts to swallow all of her missed doses, when she is interrupted by an intoxicating blue light that pierces the sanctuary through the crack under their door. Seduced by the Outside's kaleidoscopic beckoning, Bibi begins to rebel against her mother's orders- fracturing their relationship and fragile life inside the sanctuary. Blinded by colors and memories new and familiar, Bibi must choose between abandoning her mother to discover the truth of her illness Outside, or accept her mother's stories in order to hold on to the only life she's ever known. p r i s m explores the elasticity of memory after trauma, and the lengths to which one will go to "feel better"- no matter the price.  
-bethmorrisonprojects.org

For more information on p r i s m's further development and other Beth Morrison Projects, please follow this link.


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  • Home
  • About Us
    • Faculty
    • Alumni
  • Under the Stars
  • Seasons
    • 2021-2022 Season >
      • Lyric Under the Stars
      • Fun Home
      • Carnival!
      • The Marvelous Wonderettes
      • The Marriage of Figaro
      • Audition Requirements
      • Purchase Tickets
    • 2020-2021 Season
    • 2019-2020 Season
    • 2018 - 2019 Season
  • Students
    • Student Spotlights
    • Calendar
    • Krannert Resident Producer Kiosk
  • Admissions
    • Undergrad Degree Programs >
      • Performance Degrees
      • Creative Degrees
    • Graduate Degree Programs >
      • Voice Performance & Literature
      • Vocal Coaching & Accompanying
  • Contact Us