2017 Western Opera adaptation of Riders of the Purple Sage. Information from Arizona Opera.
Jane Withersteen, a devout Mormon woman, has inherited a sprawling ranch from her father. With all the wealth and power her ranch represents, Jane is under pressure from the church to marry Elder Tull and add her land, herd, and spring to the growing Mormon settlement of Short Creek. When Jane resists Tull’s advances, he resorts to threatening to whip her head rider, Venters, on a trumped-up charge. Lassiter, a mysterious gunman, arrives in time to save Venters and drive off the Mormons. Lassiter has come to see the grave of Milly Erne, who was a dear friend to Jane. He asks about Milly’s daughter, who was taken by the church when she was a baby. When rustlers steal one of Jane’s herds, Venters rides off to confront them, knowing the feared Masked Rider is among them. He wounds the Masked Rider, and is astonished to discover a girl named Bess beneath the rider’s mask…. (Arizona Opera)
Craig Bohmler, Composer
Steven Mark Kohn, adapted by Librettist
Ed Mell, Scenic Designer
Fenlon Lamb, Stage Director
Joseph Mechavich, Conductor
Kristin Atwell Ford, Co-Producer
Karin Wolverton, Jane Withersteen
Laura Wilde, Jane Withersteen
Morgan Smith, Lassiter
Joshua Jeremiah, Lassiter
Joshua Dennis, Bern Venters
Amanda Opuszynski, Bess
Kristopher Irmiter, Bishop Dyer
Keith Phares, Elder Tull
Hugo Vera, Judkins
Reviews:
- Kerry Lengel, Arizona Central
- Southern Utah News
Zane Grey and me 