Home > Reviews
Dead Man Walking
May 2, May 10
Fort Worth Opera
Bass Performance Hall
330 East Fourth Street, Suite 300, Fort Worth
(817) 212-4325, www.fwopera.org
Author Sister Helen Prejean based this book on her real-life experiences working with death-row inmates. Now a thrilling opera by first-time composer Jake Heggie (see page 18 for an interview with Mr. Heggie), the story is set in 1980s Louisiana, where Joseph De Rocher, a convicted murderer, is awaiting execution on death row. Mr. De Rocher begins a correspondence with Sister Helen. After meeting with him, despite misgivings of her own, Sister Helen takes on a personal mission to convince Mr. De Rocher to find peace and salvation through confession. The libretto was written by Pulitzer Prize-winner Terrence McNally. The production stars Robynne Redmon as Sister Helen Prejean and Daniel Okulitch as Joseph De Rocher. In 1995, the story was translated for the screen into an award-winning film with Sean Penn and Susan Sarandon.
Fort Worth Opera
Bass Performance Hall
330 East Fourth Street, Suite 300, Fort Worth
(817) 212-4325, www.fwopera.org
Author Sister Helen Prejean based this book on her real-life experiences working with death-row inmates. Now a thrilling opera by first-time composer Jake Heggie (see page 18 for an interview with Mr. Heggie), the story is set in 1980s Louisiana, where Joseph De Rocher, a convicted murderer, is awaiting execution on death row. Mr. De Rocher begins a correspondence with Sister Helen. After meeting with him, despite misgivings of her own, Sister Helen takes on a personal mission to convince Mr. De Rocher to find peace and salvation through confession. The libretto was written by Pulitzer Prize-winner Terrence McNally. The production stars Robynne Redmon as Sister Helen Prejean and Daniel Okulitch as Joseph De Rocher. In 1995, the story was translated for the screen into an award-winning film with Sean Penn and Susan Sarandon.