Pittsburgh opera presents the long walk

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November 17, 2017

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Pittsburgh Opera presents The Long Walk: A memoir of war and its aftermath

Pittsburgh Opera brings a gripping, contemporary American opera to the CAPA School Theater in Jeremy Howard Beck’s The Long Walk. With a libretto by Stephanie Fleischmann, The Long Walk is based on the book The Long Walk: A Story of War and the Life that Follows by Brian Castner.

The opera is a deeply personal exploration of a soldier’s return from Iraq where he served as an officer in an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit and his battle with what he calls “the Crazy” as he tries to reintegrate into his family life.

‘The long walk’ is the term for when a bomb disposal expert puts on their bomb suit and walks, alone, towards an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) which they must disarm. As Castner explains in an interview, “It is an extremely lonely experience; no one can help you.” However, ‘the long walk’ also refers to the struggle to re-integrate back into one’s own life upon returning to the United States, a struggle which Castner shares with brutal honesty.

For additional background, view American Lyric Theater’s YouTube video featuring interviews with Beck, Fleischmann, and Castner.

Commissioned by American Lyric Theater in 2012, the opera was developed under the auspices of the Composer Librettist Development Program, and premiered at Opera Saratoga in 2015. The Times Union called it “a daring operatic depiction of war’s aftermath”; another reviewer said it “hits on all that makes us human.”

Pittsburgh Opera is proud to be the first performing arts organization to bring The Long Walk to Pittsburgh. Tickets are available online.

Commission Underwriting and Developmental Support for The Long Walk has been provided by OPERA America/The Opera Fund, The MAP Fund, The New York State Council on the Arts, and The ASCAP Foundation. Commissioned by American Lyric Theater, Lawrence Edelson, Producing Artistic Director. World Premiere: Opera Saratoga, July 10, 2015.

Performance Dates/Times/Location/Length

Tickets and Group Discounts

Media Events

Related Events

Related Events for The Long Walk

Film Series screening: The Hurt Locker
Thursday, January 4, 2018 7:00 PM
Location: Melwood Screening Room, Pittsburgh Filmmakers , 477 Melwood Avenue

The Pittsburgh Opera Film Series is in partnership with Pittsburgh Filmmakers. Pittsburgh Opera subscribers receive priority access to our popular Film Series events, which are open to the public and held on selected dates during the season. Pittsburgh Opera and Pittsburgh Filmmakers collaborate to choose films that pair with the current season's operas.

Our film pairing for The Long Walk is The Hurt Locker. Staff Sgt. William James (Jeremy Renner), Sgt. J.T. Sanborn (Anthony Mackie) and Specialist Owen Eldridge (Brian Geraghty) are members of a bomb-disposal unit in Baghdad. As their tour of duty enters its final weeks, the men face a set of increasingly hazardous situations, any of which could end their lives in an explosive instant.

The event is free but space is limited. RSVP by Wednesday, January 3rd at 4:00 PM to Sue Solito, 412-281-0912. See http://www.pittsburghopera.org/calendar/detail/film-series-the-hurt-locker for details.

Mt. Lebanon Library event
Friday, January 5, 2018 7:00 - 8:00 PM
Location: Mt. Lebanon Public Library, 16 Castle Shannon Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15228

You're invited to a special evening celebrating the upcoming Pittsburgh premiere of The Long Walk.

Join us at the Mt. Lebanon Public Library for a musical preview and lively discussion about the opera's story and what it takes to bring it to life on stage. Speakers will include stage director Frances Rabalais, Pittsburgh Opera Director of Administration & Artistic Operations Bill Powers, and representatives from Pittsburgh Opera's cast and music staff.

The event is free and open to the public. Additional information to follow. See http://www.pittsburghopera.org/calendar/detail/the-long-walk-mt.-lebanon-library-event for details.

January Brown Bag concert
Saturday, January 6, Noon - 1:00 PM
George R. White Opera Studio, Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters, 2425 Liberty Avenue

Pittsburgh Opera’s free January Brown Bag concert is our first of 2018. The program includes some of our Resident Artists' favorite selections. The concert is free and open to everyone. Bring a friend and bring a lunch! Meet the Resident Artists afterward at an informal reception.

Doors open at 11:30 AM. Handicapped parking is available by reservation. For more information: 412-281-0912 or http://www.pittsburghopera.org/calendar/detail/january-brown-bag-concert2

Opera Up Close: The Long Walk
Thursday, January 11, 2018 7:00 - 8:00 PM
Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum, 4141 Fifth Avenue

You're invited to a special evening celebrating the upcoming Pittsburgh premiere of The Long Walk. Join us at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum for a musical preview, lively discussion about the opera's story and music, and insights from an actual Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) veteran. Speakers will include:

Jeremy Howard Beck, composer of The Long Walk
Frances Rabalais, stage director of The Long Walk
Christopher Hahn, General Director of Pittsburgh Opera
One or more cast members
Robert Sehnert, Board member of the EOD Warrior Foundation, which serves the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) community by providing financial assistance and support to active-duty and veteran wounded, injured or ill EOD warriors, families of our wounded and fallen EOD warriors, and by maintaining the EOD Memorial

The event is free and open to the public. Additional information to follow.

For more information visit http://www.pittsburghopera.org/calendar/detail/opera-up-close-the-long-walk

The Long Walk - Previews on WQED-FM 89.3 and WQED.ORG
Saturday, January 13, 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM and
Friday, January 19, 7:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Hosted by WQED, and broadcast over the airwaves on WQED-FM 89.3 as well as the WQED website, The Long Walk Preview gives listeners an engaging introduction to the singers, music, and story of the opera. For more information: http://www.pittsburghopera.org/calendar/detail/wqed-preview-the-long-walk

Meet the Creators
Saturday, January 20, 2018 7:00 PM
Location: Pittsburgh CAPA School Theater

Join us on opening night for an unforgettable pre-show event when you can meet the creators of The Long Walk.

Pittsburgh Opera is pleased to host composer Jeremy Howard Beck, librettist Stephanie Fleischmann, and Brian Castner, the author of the book The Long Walk: A Story of War and the Life that Follows, upon which the opera is based.

Pittsburgh Opera General Director Christopher Hahn will emcee a lively and engaging 30-minute talk with this power trio starting at 7:00 PM. Free to all Saturday ticketholders, no reservations necessary.

Brian Castner book signing
Sunday, January 21, 2018 2:00PM
Location: Classic Lines bookstore, 5825 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15217

Brian Castner, the author of the book The Long Walk: A Story of War and the Life that Follows, will make a special in-store appearance at Classic Lines bookstore in Squirrel Hill.

The autobiographical book, which was the inspiration for the opera The Long Walk, tells of Castner's return from Iraq, where he served as an officer in an Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit, and his battle with what he calls “the Crazy” as he tries to reintegrate into his family life.

Castner will read from his book, answer questions, and sign copies.

This event is free. No reservations necessary.

Pre-opera Talks for The Long Walk
One hour prior to the Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday performances
Pittsburgh CAPA School Black Box Theater

Ticketholders are invited to attend a free Pre-Opera Talk one hour before the Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday performances’ curtain in the Black Box Theater of the Pittsburgh CAPA School Theater. Learn about the composer, the story, and other interesting information about the opera!

Pre-Opera Talks are free to all ticketholders at these performances.

Audio Description: The Long Walk
Tuesday, January 23, 7:00 PM
Pittsburgh CAPA Theater

Ticketholders with visual impairments are invited to use Pittsburgh Opera’s Audio
Description service at our Tuesday performances. Trained volunteers describe the scenery, costumes, and stage action. The listeners hear these descriptions via assistive listening devices. Those wishing to use Audio Description should reserve seats to the Tuesday, January 23rd performance by contacting Regina Connolly at 412-281-0912, ext. 213 or groups@pittsburghopera.org. Braille and large-print programs are also available.

Meet the Artists of The Long Walk
Tuesday, January 23
Immediately following the performance, in the Black Box Theater

Ticketholders for the Tuesday, January 23 performance of The Long Walk are invited to gather in the CAPA Black Box Theater immediately following the performance when General Director Christopher Hahn interviews the stars of the opera. This event is free to all Tuesday performance ticketholders.

Cast and Artistic Team

Fun Facts

The Story, in brief

Act I

A figure runs along the Niagara River in Buffalo, New York. It is Brian Castner, a former Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Captain in the U.S. Air Force. As he runs, he is haunted by memories of Iraq. Brian’s wife, Jessie, recalls her grandmother’s prophecy: even if her husband returns from combat, the war will no doubt kill him at home.

At dinner with his family, Brian is besieged by another memory of Iraq, imagining that soldiers are invading the Castner family kitchen. Brian’s son Martin asks his father to read him a bedtime story. Later that night, Brian wakes in terror, and Jessie urges him to get help.

The next morning, Brian struggles to get the kids ready for school. Longing to escape the challenges of the everyday, Brian flashes back to his EOD training prior to his service in Iraq, and the brotherhood he found there, “the Brotherhood of the Crab.”

That afternoon, at their son’s seventh birthday party, Jessie urges Brian to try to be present for the sake of the children. Brian struggles to connect with what’s happening all around him, and to remember minute details of his family’s past, and fails. He retreats to the garage, where he attempts to arm the family minivan in order to keep his boys safe on their way to school. His son Martin finds him there. Brian takes off, attempting to outrun “the Crazy,” but is assaulted by a barrage of memories of Iraq, culminating in the moment he came close to shooting a cluster of keening Iraqi women.

When the memories fade away, he finds himself back at home, staring into the mirror. He mounts the stairs and then sits, rifle in hands, guarding his sleeping boys.

Act II

Jessie appeals to Brian to seek help, giving him an ultimatum of sorts. Brian descends into another horrific memory of Iraq, one of which persuaded him to go home. Brian visits a shrink at the VA, who gives him a diagnosis.

Later, at the funeral of a fallen EOD man, Jessie mourns the loss of the man she married. Back at home, the boys sing about their father. The Shrink asks Brian: Why is the war still in your house? At a yoga class for veterans, Brian, faced with yet another Iraq memory, manages to remain in the present.

Some time later, Jessie and the boys are playing before Brian’s return from a trip. He panics at the airport and phones Jessie, who talks him down. Brian asks her to remind him of details of the family life he’s forgotten. They connect over their shared past. The Shrink tells Brian he’s making progress.

Brian accompanies his son to the Mite Hockey championship. Seeing his son suiting up, he breaks down, flashing back to the memory of one of his “brothers” suiting up to take the Long Walk. He then has another flashback: the men in their Humvee returning from a mission before dawn. A pigeon lands on the Humvee. Back in Buffalo, Brian runs along the Niagara River, through memories of war and present moments of peace, past his EOD brothers, towards his wife and children, and on, into the future.

*Written by Utah Opera

For more information, plus videos, musical samples, and cast biographies, visit pittsburghopera.org/LongWalk.

Pittsburgh opera presents the long walk

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