The Brick presents
True Voyage
by The Syndicate
November 3-5, 2022

True Voyage is an experimental, improvised, science fiction opera. A scientist, at work on a unified theory of time, makes unexpected contact with a neighboring planet. The ensuing journey will change the galaxy forever!

Raquel Acevedo Klein (The Scientist)
Beaudeau Banks (dance chorus)
Lehuanani DeFranco (dance chorus)
Andrew Daly Frank (guitar)
Rebecca Gual (dance chorus)
Nicole Loeffler-Gladstone (dance chorus, choreography)
Annie Lemieux (trumpet, electronics, Striking Worker)
Ashur Rayis (Minister of Propaganda, Trucker)
Nathan Repasz (drums, The Researcher)
Mikaela Saucedo Gladstone (costume design)
Rachel Schapira (dramaturg, designer)
Emerson Sieverts (The Colonel, The Oracle, The Partner)
Evan Strauss (bass, bass clarinet, electronics)
Rose Tang 唐路 (The Band Leader)
Ellie van Bever (dance chorus)

Everything else by The Syndicate

True Voyage is a non-traditional opera rooted in improvisational movement, devised theatre, free jazz, puppetry, and poetry. It uses the communal act of creation to tell the story of a scientist, at work on a unified theory of time, who makes unexpected contact with a neighboring planet. The ensuing journey challenges long-held assumptions of action and consequence, choice and coercion, and the imperative to self-actualize in service to your community. The creators of this project (The Syndicate) utilize a non-hierarchical leadership model, purposely eschewing a director in favor of the insanely stressful yet incredibly gratifying process of consensus-based horizontal decision-making.

Raquel Acevedo Klein (The Scientist) is a Brooklyn native, and a conductor, vocalist, composer, and instrumentalist. Raquel has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Guggenheim, Rockefeller Center, on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, WNYC, National Sawdust and elsewhere. She has premiered works and operas by Philip Glass, Caroline Shaw, John Adams, Nico Muhly, Paola Prestini, Bryce Dessner, and George Lewis among others.

Beaudau Banks (dance chorus) is a dancer, choreographer, and theater technician, currently working as Associate Production Manager at Gibney Dance in NYC. They have performed with the Bill T. Jones company at Park Avenue Armory, and shown their own choreography at Brooklyn’s Center for Performance Research. Beau is an immigrant from Belize, Central America.

Lehuanani DeFranco (dance chorus) is a Kanaka Maoli protector for Indigenous rights, a Brooklyn-based dancer, and an activist for Native Hawaiian sovereignty. She is the Production & Research Associate with Roadwork Center, which supports BIPOC- and LGBTQIA-led social justice movements. She received her MFA in Dance from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and performs with Te Ao Mana to expand the presence of Polynesian culture worldwide.

Andrew Daly Frank (guitar) is a Philadelphia-based guitarist, composer, improviser, and songwriter.

Mikaela Saucedo Gladstone (Costume Desginer) is a middle school teacher by profession, and a freelance costume designer by trade. She studied in the Theatre Design/Technology department at SUNY Purchase College. Previous credits include: Peer Gynt, Fucking A – Purchase, NY. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Piano Lesson, Santa Rosa, CA. The Giver, Fancy Nancy, Puffs, Hot n’ Throbbing, Portland, OR.

Rebecca Gual (dance chorus) is a mover and maker of Caribbean descent, born and bred in Queens, New York. She is currently the Studio Associate at Center for Performance Research and recently wrapped the Dance Your Future: Artist & Mentor Collaborative Residency through Pepatián & Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance for 2021-2022.

Annie Lemieux (trumpet, electronics, Striking Worker) is an NYC-based experimental trumpeter and improviser. She specializes in sung multiphonics, pedal based electronics, and live music streaming online.

Nicole Loeffler-Gladstone (dance chorus) is a Seattle-based writer whose work appears in BOMB Magazine, The Brooklyn Rail, and Dance Magazine. Her choreography has been commissioned by NYC’s Riverside Park Alliance, Center for Performance Research, and Movement Research at Judson Church. Her work in Seattle is supported by grants from King County Open 4Culture and City of Shoreline Public Art.

Ashur Rayis (Minister of Propaganda, Trucker) is a composer, performer, and theater technician. His compositions were recently featured in Maiko Kikuchi and Spencer Lott’s production of “9000 Paper Balloons,” commissioned by NYC’s HERE Art Center. He is a founding member of Eat Drink Tell Your Friends puppetry and Monster Trux performance collective.

Nathan Repasz (drums, The Researcher) is a drummer, vocalist, improviser, and theatre artist. His solo and ensemble work has been presented at Brooklyn’s Target Margin theater and as part of the Exponential Festival. He assisted Sxip Shirey’s production of “The Gauntlet” at Rockefeller Center and co-developed the music for Shirey’s 2019 run of Bindlestiff Family Cirkus.

Rachel Schapira (dramaturg, designer, fabricator) lives in Brooklyn and is a 2019 Henson Grant recipient. She currently tours with Basil Twist’s opera, “Book of Mountains & Seas,” and has worked with Welcome to Campfire, Ripe Time, The Story Pirates, New Georges, Opera Slavica, and Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew. She is a teaching artist with Red Hook Art Project, and is a founding member of Eat Drink Tell Your Friends and Monster Trux.

Emerson Sieverts (The Colonel, The Oracle, The Partner) is a professional choral musician based in Manhattan.

Evan Strauss (bass, bass clarinet, electronics) is a licensed mental health counselor, musician, and audio engineer. He received is MA in Transpersonal Counseling from Naropa University. His debut album as bandleader, “The Uproar In Bursts Of Sound and Silence,” was released through 577 Records in August 2022.

In consideration for the health and safety or our staff members, artists, and audiences, The Brick remains committed to maintaining vaccination requirements and mask mandates for our in-person presentations for the foreseeable future. We ask that all audience members remain masked. All staff and performers will be vaccinated; performers may not be masked. Audience can provide proof of vaccination with a government issued I.D. along with a physical copy or picture of your COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card, the NYC COVID Safe App or the New York State Excelsior Pass. Please be patient with staff.