An American Dream by Perla, From (2023/2023), Directed by Richard Gammon, Conductor Lance Inouye, Moanalua Performing Arts Center, Honolulu, United States

Provocative drama with local connections Treasured possessions become symbols of home in this Seattle Opera commission written by composer Jack Perla from a libretto by Jessica Murphy Moo and inspired by true stories from our painful history. Set during World War II, this opera explores the lives of two women: a Japanese American forced to leave her home and a German Jewish immigrant preoccupied with those she left behind. An American Dream is accompanied by a four-piece chamber ensemble, and while this opera is a piece of fiction, the story was crafted from interviews with residents of Puget Sound, Washington, who experienced the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. We are honored to partner with the Honouliuli National Historic Site for this special production. Although not yet open to the public, Honouliuli National Historic Site will tell the history of incarceration, martial law, and the experience of prisoners of war in Hawai‘i during World War II. Honouliuli National Historic Site will be a place to reflect on wartime experiences and recommit ourselves to the pursuit of freedom and justice. Listen to “Don’t You Recognize Me?” from An American Dream: