WEST CHESTER, PA — A concert hall transformed into a 1930s New Orleans museum will set the stage for an unusual theatrical experience as West Chester University Opera Theatre presents the Pennsylvania premiere of Amy Beach’s Cabildo, inviting audiences to step inside the story before the first note is sung.
The one-act opera will be performed Friday, Nov. 13, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 14, at 3 p.m. in the Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall at the university’s Philips Memorial Building.
Directed by Dr. Nicholas Provenzale, the production combines opera, historical storytelling and immersive theater, with student performers interacting with visitors in character before the performance begins.
A New Orleans Museum Comes to West Chester
Rather than simply taking their seats and waiting for the curtain, audience members will enter a setting inspired by the historic Cabildo Museum in New Orleans.
The concert hall lobby will become a 1930s museum, where performers will greet visitors in character and create the atmosphere of a guided tour.
The experience introduces the historical setting of Cabildo, an American opera that blends romance, humor and intrigue.
Composed by Amy Beach with a libretto by Nan Bagby Stephens, the work offers audiences an opportunity to discover a lesser-known American opera through a production that extends beyond the traditional stage.
The Pennsylvania premiere also gives West Chester University’s student performers an opportunity to introduce the work to a new regional audience.
Student Performers Take Center Stage
The production features a cast of West Chester University students portraying the characters at the center of the story.
Jenna Zueno performs as Barker, with Kallista Lake as Mary and Nico Cooper as Tom. Adrian Camano portrays Pierre Lafitte, while Jarrell Flippen appears as the Gaoler, Brandon Zuniga as Dominique and Anna Maria Stabilito as Lady Valerie.
The supporting chorus and understudies include Faith Bullen, Delia Maldonado, Daphnis Mock, Jenna Micklos, Peyton Anastasio, Lizzy Fink, Grace Tate, Emma Hammen, Abigail Grisolia, Isabella Murteira, Isabella Wissler, Lauren Cusick and Isaiah Davitt.
Connor Petula serves as stage manager.
The production will use Beach’s original instrumentation for piano, violin and cello, featuring Ahyoung Jung on piano, Irene Sedun on violin and Aidan Jianniney on cello.
The smaller instrumental ensemble creates an intimate musical setting suited to the one-act production.
An Accessible Introduction to Opera
With a running time of less than one hour, Cabildo offers families and first-time opera attendees an opportunity to experience the art form without committing to a lengthy performance.
The opera will be sung in English, with English supertitles displayed to help audiences follow the story.
Admission is free for children ages 12 and younger, as well as West Chester University students, faculty and staff presenting valid identification. General admission tickets cost $8.25, including fees.
For those unable to attend in person, the university will also offer a livestream of the performance.
Event Details
- What: West Chester University Opera Theatre presents the Pennsylvania premiere of Amy Beach’s Cabildo, directed by Dr. Nicholas Provenzale, featuring an immersive 1930s New Orleans museum experience.
- When: Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, at 3 p.m.
- Where: Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall, Philips Memorial Building, 700 S. High St., West Chester, PA 19383.
- Cost/Tickets: $8.25 general admission, including fees. Free for children 12 and younger and WCU students, faculty and staff with valid identification. Tickets are available at www.wcupatix.com.
- More Info: https://www.wcupa.edu/communications/newsroom/2026/11.04Cabildo.aspx
- Livestream: www.vimeo.com/wsom
- Program: www.issuu.com/wsom
By combining an interactive museum setting with student performances and affordable admission, West Chester University is offering Chester County audiences a distinctive way to experience opera.
The two performances also provide an opportunity to support emerging musicians and theater artists while experiencing the Pennsylvania premiere of a work by an American composer.
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