UK Opera Theatre tells immigrant stories with world premiere of 'A Nation of Others'

"Our students don't get to talk to Mozart, whereas we could ask Paul, 'Hey, can you help me figure out how to make this musical line work?' And seeing that collaboration is really amazing. This opportunity to work directly with the composer and librettist during rehearsals is something unique to UK's production."

"We got off the ferry, and I stepped onto Ellis Island for the first time. I had never been, even as a child, and I was just in tears because that is where my family started. That felt like a place of privilege, and walking around and seeing that this is what she (her great grandmother) saw."

"The island feels alive with the stories and the history that are there. I find myself transported back in time. The physical location of Ellis Island carries profound historical significance and emotional resonance for those experiencing it."

The University of Kentucky Opera Theatre presented the world premiere of 'A Nation of Others,' an American opera set on Ellis Island in 1921 that follows immigrant narratives through arrival, inspection, interviews, and entry into the United States. Created by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Paul Moravec and librettist Mark Campbell, the production is the second installment in UK's 'Telling America's Stories' series, which highlights overlooked American narratives. Students involved in the production gained unique professional experience by collaborating directly with the composer and librettist during rehearsals. Production staff, including stage manager Megh Jennings-Posner and stage director Sarah Meyers, visited Ellis Island in December 2025, where they connected personally with the historical location and the immigrant stories depicted in the opera.

Read at Kentucky Kernel