This opera tells the story of 'The Central Park Five,' Donald Trump's role included

Published: Saturday, May 10, 2025 at 10:00 am

Detroit Opera Stages "The Central Park Five," Exploring a Controversial Chapter in American History

The Detroit Opera is set to premiere "The Central Park Five," a powerful opera based on the wrongful conviction and imprisonment of five Black and brown teenagers in the 1989 Central Park jogger case. The opera, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2020, tells the story of Raymond Santana, Kevin Richardson, Antron McCray, Korey Wise, and Yusef Salaam, who were wrongly accused and later exonerated in 2002.

The opera delves into the events surrounding the case, including the role of then-real estate developer Donald Trump. Trump famously took out full-page newspaper ads demanding the death penalty for the teenagers, a move composer Anthony Davis suggests marked the beginning of Trump's political career. The Detroit Opera's production, running from May 10-18, will feature Trump as a character, though the staging has been adjusted to focus on the experiences of the five young men. Director Nataki Garrett emphasizes that the opera's core is about the lives and journeys of the exonerated men, now grown, who have positively impacted their communities.

The opera's score, composed by Anthony Davis, draws from a wide range of American musical styles, including jazz, blues, and soul. Conductor Anthony Parnther highlights the technical demands of the piece, praising Davis's unique harmonic vocabulary. The production comes at a time when stories addressing uncomfortable truths about power and race are often politicized. Garrett, who has faced threats in her career, emphasizes the importance of artists reflecting and exposing truth to foster empathy.

BNN's Perspective:

This opera offers a vital opportunity to revisit a painful chapter in American history. While the focus on the five men is crucial, the inclusion of Donald Trump's actions provides a necessary context for understanding the societal forces at play. It's a delicate balance to strike, ensuring the story's core message of injustice and resilience remains paramount while acknowledging the impact of influential figures. The Detroit Opera's approach seems to prioritize the victims' narratives, which is a responsible and potentially impactful artistic choice.

Keywords: The Central Park Five, opera, Detroit Opera, Donald Trump, wrongful conviction, exoneration, Anthony Davis, Nataki Garrett, Raymond Santana, Kevin Richardson, Antron McCray, Korey Wise, Yusef Salaam, Pulitzer Prize, music, race, injustice, Central Park jogger, political, American history, Detroit, Michigan

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