Nathaniel Stookey /Eisa Davis
Bulrusher
World Premiere
Bulrusher is a coming of age story about an African-American girl growing up in Northern California’s remote Anderson Valley in 1955. Found in a basket by the river, she is raised by the local schoolteacher and has never seen anyone that looks like her until a young Black woman from Alabama comes to town. Meeting someone like herself opens a political, sexual and identity awakening within her.
Bulrusher is based on Eisa Davis’ play of the same title, short-listed for the Pulitzer Prize in 2007.
Bulrusher is commissioned by: Bernice Lindstrom; Todd Yancey & David Denniston; Michèle & Larry Corash; Russ Irwin; Robert Ripps & Steven Spector.
Bulrusher is supported by The National Endowment for the Arts and The Carol Franc Buck Foundation.
MUSIC BY NATHANIEL STOOKEY
LIBRETTO BY EISA DAVIS
2024
IN ENGLISH & WITH ENGLISH SURTITLES
2 HOURS 30 MINUTES
WITH INTERMISSION
August 3, 11, and 15
Nathaniel Stookey
Composer/Co-Librettist
Eisa Davis
Playwright/ Co-Librettist
Emily Senturia
Conductor/Music Director
NJ Agwuna
Production Stage Director
Shawnette Sulker
Bulrusher
Kenneth Kellogg
Logger
Rebecca Cuddy
Madame
Briana Hunter
Vera
Matt Boehler
Schoolch
Chad Somers
Boy