Scarlet Fever

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What happens when a young woman shows up for her senior year of high school pregnant…and a man? Such is the stuff of SCARLET FEVER, a new opera from Brooklyn-based Collective Opera Company. Taking Nathaniel Hawthorne’s iconic 19th century novel “The Scarlet Letter” as a starting point, SCARLET FEVER mines America’s long-held obsession with unorthodox pregnancy. Classical voices, romantic literature and tabloid headlines collide in this absurdist riff on parental identity.

SCARLET FEVER is the first opera commission by Mt. Tremper Arts (MTA), and will be performed as part of the summer festival on August 21 at 8pm, and August 22 at 8pm. Tickets ($15) are available at smarttix.com or by calling 877-238-5596.

Dress Code: Audiences attending SCARLET FEVER are encouraged to wear red.

Scarlet Fever is also made possible by a generous residency from Moving Theater at the Park Avenue Armory.

Concept and creation by Collective Opera Company including Summer Baldwin, Brent Capron, Michael Hart, Jocelyn Ladd, Ryan Scott Lathan, Elizabeth Munn, Chris Schiavo, Ryan Tracy, and Paula White

Original music by Ryan Tracy, with contribution from the company

Libretto by the company, based on “The Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Lighting and visual design by Chris Schiavo

Excerpts of Scarlet Fever were performed at The Delancy on April 6, with performers including Rupert Boyd, Michael Hart, Jocelyn Ladd, Dana Marie, Rachel Mason, Christina Reaves, Ryan Tracy, Paula White, and Diana Yourke



  1. [...] novel “The Scarlet Letter” as a starting point, Collective Opera Company presents Scarlet Fever, a new opera that mines America’s long-held obsession with unorthodox pregnancy. Classical [...]

  2. [...] some of you may know, I have been hard at work on a new opera over the last few months. It is now finished and had its world premiere this past weekend at the [...]

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