A Movement Opera based on the true story of Franceska Mann
created by Cassandra Rosebeetle and JL Marlor
Premiered at
Nancy Manocherian’s
the cell theatre
(Artistic Director, Kira Simring)
July 14th-31st 2022
For 13 sold-out performances
ABOUT
Told through opera and dance, The Final Veil explores the remarkable and true story of Franceska Mann, a Polish-Jewish dancer who demonstrated resistance and strength amid the horrors of the Holocaust. When Mann was brought to Auschwitz, she and the other new arrivals were sent to the gas chambers and told to remove their clothing. According to eyewitnesses, Franceska performed a distracting striptease, after which she managed to grab a gun, shoot, and fatally wound one SS Guard and injure a second, before her own subsequent death. Her actions in Auschwitz tell the story of a woman desperate to spare her life and others, using the tools she gathered as a ballerina in occupied Poland.
CREATIVE TEAM
Created by Cassandra Rosebeetle and JL Marlor
Directed by Cassandra Rosebeetle
Score and Libretto by JL Marlor
Music Director/Conductor Micah Gleason
Additional Text and Dramaturgy by Kate Mulley
Choreographed by Katherine Crockett and Cassandra Rosebeetle
Assistant Directors Carly Dorman and Brian Reager
Light Design by Ayumu "Poe" Saegusa
Scenic Design by Dan Daly
Sound Design by Matthew Yohn
PREMIERE CAST
Ensemble Dancers: Hallie Chametzky, Lauren Pagano, Lauren Barette
Singers: Katie Lipow, Abagael Cheng, Heather Michele, Katherine Lerner Lee
Quartet: Connie Li, violin, YoonJung Hwang, violin, Sean Flynn, viola, Camille Dietrich, cello
DONATE
If you are interested in donating or becoming an Executive Producer, please email us at:
Photos from our 2022 premiere at the cell theatre by Frank Padrone
CONTACT
Get in touch with us at thefinalveilopera@gmail.com
Photos from our 2019 work-in-progress at Abrons Arts Center by Warren Whitmore