A Juneteenth Presentation of the Opera TANGLED ROOTS at the Festival Playhouse
- May 7
- 2 min read
Kalamazoo, Michigan — The Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership, Face Off Theatre
Company and Authentic Opera Company announce the Juneteenth performance of Tangled
Roots, an opera in one act with music composed and arranged by Rufus Ferguson, Jordan
Hamilton and Carmen Bell. This marks the first time the work will be presented at The Festival
Playhouse.
Tangled Roots draws from Born in Slavery: Slave Narratives from the Federal Writers Project, 1936 to 1938, using firsthand accounts of former slaves to illuminate stories that shaped generations. The opera incorporates musical themes across the African American experience, from spirituals to contemporary hip hop, creating a sound world that moves fluidly through time.
“I hope that this performance gives a voice to these firsthand accounts,” says soprano and
co-composer Carmen Bell. “I do not want their stories to sit quietly on pages in the Library of
Congress, unnoticed and unknown. The opera is a way for us to breathe new life into their
experiences by letting their voices be heard when we need to remember them the most. Our
history runs deeper than slavery, but it is certainly a part of it. Our music is a cultural timeline of
our African American experience, moving from the spirituals to jazz to contemporary hip hop,
all of it infused in this opera.”
Reflecting on the work’s communal impact, producer Marissa Harrington notes that “Tangled
Roots lives in the spirit of what theatre can be, a space where story is felt, witnessed and carried
forward by the community in the room.”
“The opportunity to bring true history to life is a humbling experience." -- Performer Sidney Ellis
"Knowing some specific history about a character inspires me to make this role more
human and alive for the audience.” they continued.
The Production Features
Carmen Bell, Soprano
Travis Williams, Tenor
Bianca Washington
Sidney Ellis
Ed Genesis
Xavier Bolden
Event Details
Tangled Roots: An Opera in One Act
Juneteenth — Friday, June 19, 2026, 7:00 PM
The Festival Playhouse
1200 Academy St Kalamazoo, MI 49006
Presented in collaboration with Face Off Theatre Company, Authentic Opera Co. and the Arcus
Center for Social Justice Leadership.
