An American Dream

March 15. 2019 - March 17. 2019

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March 15. 2019 - March 17. 2019

- Overview
- Videos
- Audio
- Articles
- Synopsis
- Artists
- Events

Lyric Premiere & New Production An American Dream

Treasured possessions become symbols of home in this contemporary opera inspired by true stories from American history.

Set during World War II, this opera explores the lives of two women: a Japanese American forced to leave her home, and a German-Jewish immigrant preoccupied by those she left behind. In its Seattle Opera world premiere, it was called “a heart-wrenching opera… eloquent and moving” by The Seattle Times. Join us for the Lyric premiere of a contemporary American chamber opera.

A free, pre-opera talk will begin one hour before curtain, and the audience is invited to a post-performance discussion. Attendees will also have the opportunity to view images on loan from the Alphawood Foundation from the 2017 exhibition Then They Came for Me: Incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. Images will be on display in the lobby spaces for performances.

Language: Sung in English with projected English text
Location: Harris Theater, 205 E Randolph Street, Chicago

An American Dream videos

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Director Matthew Ozawa on Jack Perla's An American Dream

Hear from director Matthew Ozawa as he talks about the story and why you need to see An American Dream.

Conductor Daniela Candillari on the music in An American Dream

Hear from conductor Daniela Candillari as she talks about the musical motifs to listen for in Jack Perla's An American Dream.

Director Matthew Ozawa's Connection to An American Dream

Hear from director Matthew Ozawa as he talks about his personal connection to the stories in An American Dream.

An American Dream

Music by Jack Perla
Libretto by Jessica Murphy Moo

Music for An American Dream is generously provided by Seattle Opera.

Boxes

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Every Home Hides a Secret

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Don't you Recognize me

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An American Dream articles

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An American Dream: A Small Scale Opera with a Big Message

When Lyric Unlimited presents An American Dream audiences will experience our continued dedication to programming contemporary small scale operas with strong social messages and content relevant to today's audiences.

History, Family, and Possessions Explored in An American Dream

The powerful new opera examines a dark part of human nature and America's past.

AMERICA

Winter, 1942

A farmhouse on a Puget Sound island. American veteran Jim Crowley and Eva, his new wife, have come to buy a home. A German Jew, Eva desperately wants her parents to leave Germany, where their lives are in danger. She hopes her family will find peace and sanctuary in this place so far from the war. Meanwhile, inside the home, a Japanese American family, the Kobayashis, has heard that the FBI has been searching homes and taking away people of Japanese descent. The family burns their precious Japanese belongings and photographs of their family members in the hopes of avoiding arrest. Eva waits outside as Jim, knowing he has the upper hand, tries to get the father, Makoto Kobayashi, to sell the land for a fraction of what it is worth. The FBI arrives at the home and tells Makoto he is under arrest; the FBI found some old dynamite in the shed out back, and they say this contraband makes him a threat. Makoto has no choice but to sell the land to Jim. As the FBI agents take Makoto away, he promises to return for his teenage daughter, Setsuko.

Spring, 1942

Setsuko and her mother, Hiroko, have packed up the house. Setsuko holds her suitcase, ready to leave, when a postman delivers a letter. Setsuko sees that it is from Germany, for a woman named Eva. Angry that she is being forced to leave her home, the girl steals the letter.

A few weeks later

Jim and Eva move into their new home; they designate a room for Eva’s parents. Jim tries to keep Eva’s hopes up. Eva notices that small items have been left behind in the home: a piece of a record and a photograph. When she finds a beautiful Hinamatsuri doll hidden beneath a floorboard, Eva asks Jim about the previous owners. Jim tells her that they were “Japs,” sent to the “camps.” He tells her to throw away the doll, that it doesn’t belong in a room for her parents. Eva defies Jim’s wishes and hides the doll, promising to find its owner and return it at the war’s end.

May 1945

Jim and Eva hear an announcement on the radio of Germany’s surrender. Eva writes to Setsuko, telling Setsuko she has something that belongs to her.

Later that month

While still incarcerated, Setsuko receives the letter. When her mother, who is gravely ill, inquires about the letter, Setsuko lies and explains that the letter is from her father, telling them to keep hope because the war is nearly done.

August, 1945

When Eva reads Setsuko’s response, Jim tells Eva that Setsuko is not allowed in their home. President Truman announces the dropping of the atomic bomb.

September, 1945

There is a knock on the door. It is Setsuko, who confronts Jim, reminding him that he coerced her family to sell their home for next to nothing. Eva asks Jim if this is true.

Jim tries to explain his actions to Eva. She leaves the room to retrieve the doll she has promised to return to Setsuko. While she is gone, Jim confronts Setsuko, and Setsuko admits to another reason for coming. She is here to return Eva’s letter. Eva returns to the room, and Setsuko gives her the letter. From the stolen letter, Eva learns of her parents’ fate, and she collapses. Setsuko must finish reading the letter for her. Jim tries to comfort Eva as Setsuko faces her future.

Program book

Go inside this production of An American Dream with engaging articles, notes from the director, a complete plot synopsis, artist bios, and more.

View Digital Program Book

Meet The Artists

Catherine Martin

Eva Crowley

Catherine Martin's Lyric credits include Eva Crowley/An American Dream (2018|19) and Waltraute/Die Walküre (2017|18).

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Christopher Magiera

Jim Crowley

Christopher Magiera made his Lyric debut as Jim Crowley in An American Dream (2018|19)

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So Young Park

Setsuko Kobayashi

So Young Park made her Lyric debut as Setsuko Kobayashi in An American Dream (2018|19)

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Nina Yoshida Nelsen

Hiroko Kobayashi

Nina Yoshida Nelsen made her Lyric debut as Hiroko Kobayashi in An American Dream (2018/19)

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Ao Li

Makoto Kobayashi

Ao Li made her Lyric debut as Makoto Kobayashi in An American Dream (2018/19)

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Daniela Candillari

Conductor

Conductor Daniela Candillari led An American Dream (2018|19) and Fellow Travelers (2017|18).

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Matthew Ozawa

Director

American director Matthew Ozawa directed five operas since 2015|16, most recently The Three Queens (2019|20)

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Lee Fiskness

Lighting designer

Lighting Designer Lee Fiskness's Lyric credits include An American Dream (2018|19)

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Izumi Inaba

Costume designer

Costume designer Izumi Inaba's Lyric credits include An American Dream (2018|19) and The Property (2014|15).

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Andrew Boyce

Scenic designer

Scenic designer Andrew Boyce's Lyric credits include An American Dream (2018|19)

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* Lyric Opera debut
** Ryan Opera Center alumna
*** Current Member, Ryan Opera Center

Public events

In conjunction with the upcoming performances of An American Dream, Lyric Unlimited is proud to partner with University of Chicago's School of Social Service Administration and the Japanese American Service Committee to bring you free, public events created to offer you the opportunity to join conversations around topics brought up in An American Dream.

Monday, March 4, 2019

Un/Settled: A Panel Discussion

6:30-8pm
FREE
University of Chicago's School of Social Service Administration
969 E. 60th St., Chicago, IL 60637

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Saturday, March 9, 2019

Reminders of Home: An Interactive Storytelling Workshop

1-3pm
FREE
Lyric Opera of Chicago, 40 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL, in Room 550
Enter at stagedoor, near the corner of Washington and Wacker Drive

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At the performance

In addition to the opera and these free events, ticket holders can also enjoy a free pre-show talk about the opera and a post-show discussion at both performances. Attendees will also have the opportunity to view images on loan from the Alphawood Foundation from the 2017 exhibition Then They Came for Me: Incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. Images will be on display in the lobby spaces for performances.

Photo: Todd Rosenberg

An American Dream

Lyric Premiere & New Production An American Dream

An American Dream videos

Director Matthew Ozawa on Jack Perla's An American Dream

Conductor Daniela Candillari on the music in An American Dream

Director Matthew Ozawa's Connection to An American Dream