A FREE EVENT FOR THE COMMUNITY

Opera Saratoga is thrilled to present the world premiere of The Long Walk this July as part of the 2015 Summer Festival. The Long Walk is based on Brian Castner's critically acclaimed memoir of the same name, which is his deeply personal exploration of a soldier'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 upon returning from the war.
 
Opera Saratoga will present a variety of events leading up to the premiere and throughout the summer that explore the highly topical and important issues of veteran reintegration; PTSD and Blast Induced Traumatic Brain Injury; and the challenges faced by the family members of those who have served our country so bravely.

Our first event to introduce the community to the The Long Walk and the people behind the creation of the opera will be hosted by the New York State Military Museum. This free event will include a discussion with Brian Castner, moderated by Opera Saratoga's Artistic and General Director Lawrence Edelson, about why he wrote his memoir, and how The Long Walk relates to the museum's Oral History Program, which collects interviews of New York State Veterans from all eras. The event will also feature readings from both Castner's memoir and excerpts from the upcoming world premiere opera, performed by Daniel Belcher and Heather Johnson, as well as a discussion with composer Jeremy Howard Beck and librettist Stephanie Fleischmann about how the opera was developed at American Lyric Theater in New York City.