On Paul's 22nd birthday, his work: "Majors and Minors" was reviewed in The Harper's Weekly Magazine. William Dean Howell's review of this work instantly brought Dunbar international acclaim. He would be the first of his race to achieve such an accomplishment.
Today is a very special day in the lives of The Dunbar Operas. Eight years ago, Act I of Lyrics of Sunshine and Shadows was first performed at The Catholic University of America. Since, the operas have grown to incorporate two vignettes. One of which, The Poet, was performed on Dunbar's birthday at the Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Washington, DC., 2014. The cast included: Gregory J. Watkins as Paul Laurence Dunbar, Denyce Graves as Matilda Dunbar, Lisa Edwards-Burrs as Alice Ruth Moore and Daniel Noone, as Major James Pond.
The Poet was premiered with new orchestrations by The South Shore Opera Company of Chicago in October of 2017. As well, The Dunbar Operas was featured in "Beyond the Mask", the first PBS documentary on the life the the famous poet.
Just recently, Opera@Morgan presented scenes from Lyrics of Sunshine and Shadows in April of this year.
What's next for The Dunbar Operas? Now that the full opera has been completed, The Dunbar Operas Fund, Inc. invites you to be part of our mission to present, promote, and preserve the story of Paul Laurence Dunbar through the dramatic arts. Your contributions would serve the greater need of this cause. You may donate by clicking the following link. The Dunbar Operas Fund, Inc. Consider your pledge today!