Rocking Horse Winner & Approaching Ali

Opéra Louisiane announces double-bill of two modern operas, Rocking Horse Winner by Gareth Williams and Anna Chatterton, and Approaching Ali by D.J. Sparr, Mark Campbell, and Davis Miller to be performed at the Manship Theatre on March 31 and April 2, 2023.

Opéra Louisiane’s spring opera production features two one-hour operas in English by living composers. Rocking Horse Winner is based on the short story by D.H. Lawrence and Approaching Ali is based on the Tao of Muhammad Ali by Davis Miller. Approaching Ali composer, D.J. Sparr currently resides in Baton Rouge and will be giving a preshow talk about Approaching Ali before each performance.

Returning to the Opéra Louisiane stage in the roles of Ava in Rocking Horse Winner and Odessa Clay in Approaching Ali is soprano, Hope Briggs. Ms. Briggs was last seen in Opéra Louisiane’s production of Madame Butterfly. Brandon Coleman will make his Opéra Louisiane debut as Muhammad Ali in Approaching Ali, and the cast is filled with some local favorites including Scott Purcell, Tyler Smith, and Eric Morgan.