LYRIC OPERA OF CHICAGO | 2014-19
Jess has served as Resident Director and Artistic Consultant on numerous collaborations with the Lyric’s Chicago Voices and EmpowerYouth! programs, helping nonprofessionals create large-scale theatre pieces that tell their stories in their words.
CHICAGO VOICES | 2016
ft. Harmony, Hope and Healing, Tellin’ Tales & The Kirin-Gornick Band
libretto | Rachel Claff
music supervision | Mike Przygoda
set & lights | Brandon Wardell
costumes | Rachel Sypniewski
sound | Chris LaPorte
photo: Michael Brosilow
CHICAGO VOICES | 2017
ft. Kuumba Lynx, YOLO Boomers & Blu Rhythm Collective
libretto | Derek McPhatter
music supervision | Mike Przygoda
set | Collette Pollard
lights | Lee Fiskness
costumes | Stephanie Cluggish
sound | Matt Chapman
photo: Jaclyn Simpson
VIDEO | WHAT IS CHICAGO VOICES?
VIDEO | CHICAGO VOICES 2017 HIGHLIGHTS REEL
“The three groups [Kuumba Lynx, YOLO Boomers, Blu Rhythm Collective] that performed at the Harris Theater this past Sunday afternoon commanded a full house with the urgency and creativity of their respective stories….Drawn from the performers’ own lived experiences, messages of solidarity and discrimination, faith and dejection, success and failure were accented against that complex mosaic of a backdrop: Chicago.
Punctuating the drama were several impressive ensemble and solo dance pieces, expertly choreographed and executed…” -Schmopera
photos: Michael Brosilow
FEATURE | “Lyric Opera, Blu Rhythm Collective honor slain Chicago teen Kevin Ambrose with song, dance and spoken word, “ WFMT
EMPOWER! | 2018
a partnership with the Chicago Urban League
libretto | Ike Holter
music | Damian Sneed
music direction | Kedrick Armstrong
choreo | Tanji Harper
set | Arnel Sancianco
lights | Heather Sparling
costumes | Mieka Van Der Ploeg
photos: Todd Rosenberg
