New Works Festival

Two Operas. Two Perspectives. One Extraordinary Festival.

The Arizona Opera New Works Festival brings bold new voices and fresh perspectives into an intimate, up-close setting where audiences can experience and be part of the creative process firsthand. The festival's mission is to explore new and recent operas and works in development through performances, workshop presentations, and other innovative programming that involves the audience in the process and pushes the art form forward.

Jefferson Lives! (by Joshua Daniel Nichols, Stefanos Koroneos and James Harrigan) is a family-friendly educational opera that centers on John Adams' deathbed reflections regarding his complex relationship with Thomas Jefferson. Developed by Teatro Grattacielo and the Tucson-based Polyhymnia collective, and premiering fall 2026 in New York City, the opera traces the ideas and debates that shaped the American Revolution.

The Post Office (by Laura Kaminsky and Elaine Sexton, with original scenic design by Charles Renfro) follows a conflict among co-workers in a one-room U.S. post office centering on free speech and democracy, with the ghost of Benjamin Franklin (America's first Postmaster General) drawn into the fray. The work was created by American Opera Projects and premiered at Brooklyn Academy of Music in 2026.

Reserve Your Seat Today

Experience these two thought-provoking works side by side right here in Arizona, then stay for a Q&A with the composers, performers, and members of the creative team. Hear directly from the artists shaping these new works and gain a behind-the-scenes look at how new opera comes to life.

Please note: Performance details, premiere information, and festival programming are subject to change.

Event Timeline

#azonewworksfestival

Estimated Running Time: 2.5 hours on Saturday (7:30 - 10 PM) and 3 hours on Sunday (2 - 5 PM). Each opera runs approximately 50 minutes, with a 20-minute intermission between performances.

Performed with English and Spanish supertitles

The New Works Festival is sponsored by an Anonymous friend of Arizona Opera.