WORLD PREMIERE
Mother. Soldier. What if both are at war?

Adapted from George Brant’s “thought-provoking” (Washington Post), “sharp-eyed” (Time Out New York), and “compelling and provocative” (San Francisco Chronicle) one-woman play, WNO presents the world premiere of Tony Award®–winning composer Jeanine Tesori’s new work, Grounded.

Jess is an accomplished F-16 fighter pilot—until pregnancy grounds her to the “chair force” to target enemies via drones from a trailer in Las Vegas. This new arrangement seems ideal at first: by day, Jess uses her elite training to protect and serve America, and by night, she returns to her family. Ultimately, we see that protecting Jess from physical danger does little to shield her from the psychological trauma of war-by-proxy.

Mezzo-soprano Emily D’Angelo stars as a pilot and mother shaken into a downward spiral as the separation between career and home crumbles. In a first for opera stages, massive LED-screen technology will immerse audiences in the psychological and social implications of virtual warfare, suggesting that “distance” from war through technology is no distance at all.

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Commissioned by the Metropolitan Opera.
Developed by the Metropolitan Opera/Lincoln Center Theater New Works Program.

Music by Jeanine Tesori / Libretto based on the stage play by George Brant
In English with Projected English Titles

Come early for a free Pre-Performance Talk

Delve deeper as you take a peek inside the composer’s mind, behind the scenes of planning a production, and into the history and social context of the opera.

Free with a Songbird ticket, starting 1 hour before every performance and lasting 25–30 minutes:

• Mar. 9: Librettist Kelley Rourke
• Mar. 11, 15, 17, 20 & 23: Conductor James Lowe

Stay after for a Post-Performance Artist Q&A

Don’t miss your opportunity to engage directly with our artists and share your thoughts on the experience you just had! Here’s your chance to ask questions and get the inside scoop on the production from members of the cast and creative team.

Free with a Songbird ticket, beginning immediately after the performance: 

Dates + Moderators

Mar. 11: WNO General Director Timothy O’Leary
Mar. 17: WNO Director of Production Chelsea Dennis

Military Outreach and Community Engagement Events

In acknowledgement of and to honor the service members and military communities in and around the Washington, D.C., area, WNO is collaborating with them to further explore the themes of the opera and provide access to resources. These partnerships and engagement events include the following:

October 8, 2023 at 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. October 8, 2023 at 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

October 23, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. October 23, 2023 at 5:30 p.m.

October 24, 2023 at 7 p.m. October 24, 2023 at 7 p.m.

November 1, 2023November 1, 2023

Partnership with Stop Soldier Suicide: WNO seeks to support America’s heroes by providing access to mental health resources through its partnership with Stop Soldier Suicide, a national non-profit that seeks to prevent soldier suicide by addressing the underlying issues before they escalate into a crisis. A table of resources, staffed by Kennedy Center volunteers and service members, will be in the lobby before, during intermission, and following each Grounded performance.