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The Falling and The Rising
Petite Opera Productions tells true soldiers stories with The Falling and The Rising
The Falling and The Rising is an exciting new American opera that salutes the service and sacrifice of military service men and women by telling true soldiers stories. Based on interviews with military veterans at Walter Reed Hospital, Bethesda Hospital and Ft. Meade, the opera was created in hopes of capturing the indomitable spirit of our U.S. military veterans and to shed light on the inspirational power of their often overlooked stories, The Falling and The Rising is a story of family, service, and sacrificed inside a period of great uncertainty.
The opera centers around a strong female hero known only as “Soldier”. After sending a video message home on the eve of her daughter’s thirteenth birthday, our soldier is severely wounded by a roadside IED. Doctors quickly place her in a medically-induced coma to help minimize the extensive trauma to her brain. We follow as she makes her way through a miraculous coma-induced dreamscape punctuated with the lives of other fellow service members, each on their own individual journey toward healing and home. Together, they must move toward clarity, comfort, consciousness, and communal hope during a time of adversity.
The opera’s mission is to connect civilians and military through untold soldiers stories—to raise awareness of emotional trauma experienced by those who serve and protect us, and to start the healing process for veterans and active-duty military by sharing the stories they are often unable to share.
The cast of Petite Opera Productions “The Falling and The Rising” is joined by Composer Zach Redler and Librettist Jerre Dye on the performance November 9, 2019
Audience question-answer with the Petite Opera Productions cast and creators of “The Falling and The Rising”
Susan Baushke leads audience Q&A after Petite Opera Productions “The Falling and The Rising”
Petite Opera Productions veteran chorus joins the lead characters in bringing Soldier back from her coma
Doctors examine Soldier after she suffers a Traumatic Brain Injury in “The Falling and The Rising”
Colonel celebrates his anniversary alone in “The Falling and The Rising”
Homecoming Soldier gives his testimony to the “here and now” in “The Falling and The Rising”
Jumper describes the glories of freefall to Soldier in “The Falling and The Rising”
Ron Kobeluch, Vietnam veteran and former POW, salutes the memorial flag during the POW-MIA Missing Soldier ceremony before “The Falling and The Rising”
Librettist Jerre Dye shares a funny story about the interviews that inspired “The Falling and The Rising”
Toledo, a soldier who suffered a recent trauma, speaks to her therapist while Soldier observes in “The Falling and The Rising”
The Petite Opera Productions Veterans Chorus salutes as they leave the stage in “The Falling and The Rising”
Soldier sends home a video greeting to her daughter in “The Falling and The Rising”
Soldier is diagnosed with a Traumatic Brain Injury in “The Falling and The Rising”
At home on a stage with a military setting, Vietnam veteran and chorus member Ron Kobeluch chats with Susan Baushke about the military opera “The Falling and The Rising.” Baushke is executive director of Petite Opera Productions, which is presenting the opera’s Chicago premiere in Park Ridge. Burt Constable | Staff Photographer
The cast sings the powerful theme anthem of “The Falling and The Rising”, affirming that soldiers are never alone, and we stand as one. Video plays in the background of fallen veterans, photos of veteran cast members and rising active-duty military. Petite Opera Productions Chicago premiere.
ARTISTS AND STAFFThe Falling and The Rising
November 2019 Music by: Zach Redler Libretto by: Jerre Dye Conceived by: SFC Ben Hilgert of the U.S. Army
Managing Executive Director: Susan Baushke Music Director: Qiyun Dai Resident Stage Director: Cathy Dunn Directors of Production: Steven Arvanites, Susan Baushke Resident Stage Manager: Nicole Verive Resident Lighting Director: Elizabeth Sklena Resident Costume Designer: Sienna Kusek
Members of Military Veterans Chorus: Laura Finnelly, Earl Holtz, Ron Kobeluch, Bill Kwaak, Thomas Love, Ramona Pozek, Marvin Schnabel, John Van Alstin
“I’ve been a military veteran for over 60 years, and this is the first production that truly told the stories of what we went through.” — a veteran from the Battle of the Bulge, after seeing The Falling and The Rising.
Tickets
$30 Adults | $27 Seniors | $25 Military | $15 Students | $5 Preschool
Reserve yourtickets now and pay at the Box Office on the performance date with cash, check, or credit card. (No credit card numbers accepted over the phone).
Buy at the door.
Prepaid online credit card purchases, and reservations accepted until 4 hours before show time. After that point, please bring cash, or credit card with you to the Box Office.
Location
The Mary Wilson House-Beyer Auditorium
part of St. Mary’s Episcopal church campus
306 S Prospect Ave (at Crescent Ave)
Park Ridge, IL 60068
Handicapped accessible
