"Prisoner of Mercy" Libretto & Exhibit Preview

Prisoner of Mercy (POM) is a developing operatic performance piece that invites us to examine our relationship to mercy and identify the impact it has or could have on our lives, the lives of others and the world around us. It is based on the true stories of individuals confronted with life altering systemic and societal prejudice. We witness how mercy - given, received, and withheld - affects the course of their lives. Librettist, Luisamaria Hernandez, uses her interviews and letters with these individuals to create the characters: Tethered, in prison for life; Misunderstood, who struggles with addiction; and Broken, who has undergone abortions. She underlines their experience with mercy throughout key moments of their lives to exemplify the power that it has had on them and show how ultimately it unites us all. While steeped in the operatic tradition, the piece takes a multidisciplinary approach using poetry, dance, and the visual arts.

POM is presented by Silentwoods Collective, 501(c)(3).

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