What does it take to face ourselves? Enter the darkness in search of something beautiful, transcendent. But be very careful what you need to know…

Drawing on the complicated mythologies of the surrealist writer William S. Burroughs (Naked Lunch), Black Lodge uses dance, industrial rock, classical string quartet, and opera to take viewers through a Lynchian psychological escape room.

Set in a nightmarish Bardo, a place between death and rebirth, a tormented writer faces down demons of his own making. Forced to confront the darkest moment in his life, he mines fractured and repressed memories for a way out. A woman is at the center of all the writer’s afterlife encounters. She is the subject of his life’s greatest regret, and she materializes everywhere in this Otherworld. The writer cannot detach any thoughts of his life from her. 

Part film screening and part industrial rock opera concert, this world premiere event features glam opera band Timur & the Dime Museum alongside musicians from the Opera Philadelphia Orchestra.

“A Twin Peaks-inspired musical theater piece”
—LA Times

Credits

COMPOSER: David T. Little
LIBRETTIST: Anne Waldman
STORY, SCREENPLAY, & DIRECTOR: Michael Joseph McQuilken
PRODUCER: Beth Morrison Projects
PERFORMERS: Timur and the Dime Museum, Opera Philadelphia Orchestra
FILM SET DESIGNER & EVENT LIGHTING DESIGNER: Maruti Evans
FILM ART DIRECTOR: Sandra Powers
COSTUME DESIGN: Timur and the Dime Museum (live) are wearing designs by Victor Wilde/Bohemian Society

Health & Safety

Proof of vaccination is required to attend this event. Masks are optional. For the safety of audiences, artists, staff, and our greater community, you must be fully vaccinated to attend this event. You will be asked to show proof of vaccination before entering the venue. Accepted forms for proof of vaccination include a physical vaccine card with your name on it or a digital proof of vaccination Please plan accordingly.

Venue

Philadelphia Film Center
1412 Chestnut St
Philadelphia, PA 19102

Supporters

Festival Co-Producers: Sissie & Herb Lipton

Opera commissioned by Beth Morrison Projects and the Allen R. and Judy Brick Freedman Venture Fund for Opera

Film commissioned by Beth Morrison Projects, Opera Philadelphia, the Allen R. and Judy Brick Freedman Venture Fund for Opera, David & Kiki Gindler, Charlotte Isaacs, and Thomas H. Platz, with additional support provided by the Howard Gilman Foundation.

Major support provided by the Mellon Foundation

Developed by Beth Morrison Projects, California Institute for the Arts, HERE Arts Center, and REDCAT.

This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

Pricing

$25 general
$2 FringeACCESS

Note: tickets for this event are sold exclusively through Opera Philadelphia. Visit operaphila.org/blacklodge to purchase tickets.