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Synopsis
Act I begins with the night in Lansing, MI when the Little family-including a young Malcolm-hears, at a Marcus Garvey meeting, that Malcolm's father has been killed. The family and neighbors assume his death is caused by white racists. The Little family collapses and Malcolm travels to the seductive and crime-ridden streets of Boston. Malcolm and accomplices commit a burglary and are caught, arrested, and jailed.
Act II follows his conversion to Islam and rapid rise in the Black Muslim movement, his relationship and conflicts with Black Muslim's leader, Elijah Muhammad, his successful preaching career, and finally his remark about President Kennedy's assassination, that America's chickens were coming home to roost.
Act III follows his break with Elijah and his journey to Mecca, his second conversion to orthodox Islam (he changes his name to El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz), his return to the Harlem riots of 1964, the founding of the Organization of Afro-American Unity, and finally his assassination.
Productions
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| COMPANY | TITLE | DATES | Seattle Opera | X, or The Life and Times of Malcolm X | 2/24/2024 - 3/9/2024 | Metropolitan Opera | X, or The Life and Times of Malcolm X | 11/3/2023 - 12/2/2023 | Opera Omaha | X, or The Life and Times of Malcolm X | 11/4/2022 - 11/6/2022 | Detroit Opera | X, or The Life and Times of Malcolm X | 5/14/2022 - 5/22/2022 |
OPERA America/Opera.ca Grants Awarded
Click here to learn more about OPERA America granting programs.
| GRANT NAME | YEAR | Opera for the Eighties and Beyond | 1986 |
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Title Information
All information is derived from OPERA America's Season Schedule of Performances and titles databases which date back to 1991. OPERA America is constantly updating this data. If you feel that a work or an artist has been omitted or that information is incorrect, please use the linked forms below. Title Information Form Artist Information Form
Approximate Runtime (hh:mm)
2:30
Number of Acts
3
Musical Style
Influenced by classical, popular, jazz (swing, scat), and non-Western sources; lyrical with dark atonal passages; some improvisation; traditional set pieces.
Vocal & Musical Forces
4 Baritones, 5 Tenors, 5 Mezz-Sopranos, Bass Baritone, 5 Sopranos, Bass, non-speaking roles
Original Cast
Ben Holt (Malcolm X)
Thomas Young (Street/Elijah Muhammad)
Priscilla Baskerville (Louise Little/Queen Mother/Betty Shabazz)
Marietta Simpson (Ella/Muslim)
Mark S. Doss (Reginald)
Armond Pressley (Young Malcolm Little)
And 32 others
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