by Mike Telin

When composer Melissa Dunphy and her husband purchased a Philadelphia property that was in foreclosure, they saw it as an opportunity to own what could become a small performing arts space in a prime location. “It’s only an eight-minute walk to the Liberty Bell,” Dunphy said during a telephone conversation. Little did they know that what lay beneath the foundation of the former Magic Theater would reveal a story worthy of a made-for-television cold case mystery. Or better yet, an opera.

On January 27 and 28 at 8:00 pm and January 29 at 6:30 pm in Finney Chapel, Oberlin Opera Theater will present the world premiere of Dunphy’s Alice Tierney. With a libretto by Jacqueline Goldfinger, the opera explores the fictionalized story surrounding the death of the real-life Alice. But who was Alice? And can four archeology grad students unveil the truth about her mysterious demise?

Stage direction is by Christopher Mirto, and Benjamin Martin conducts. The production is the Oberlin Opera Commissioning Program’s first world premiere. The one-hour performance is free but reservations are required.

Dunphy’s discovery of the real Alice Tierney began when she and her husband decided to build an apartment on top of the former theater. “In order to do that, they needed to dig into the foundation to strengthen it in order to support the added weight,” the composer said. [Read more…]