Since my master’s studies in Louisville, Kentucky, I became good friends with my colleague Claire DiVizio (opera singer, producer, great cook!). For her and Pat MacDevitt, tenor, I composed a comedic pocket opera “Close Encounter with the Hillbilly Kind”, which she included in Thompson Street Opera Company‘s 2012 season. In 2014, TSOC premiered my “Rootabaga Stories” based on Carl Sandberg’s children’s stories. Now there’s exciting news that TSOC will move to Chicago’s Stage 773 and more “Rootabaga Stories” performances are coming up!

Here is a quote from the TSOC director July 12, 2016:

“Thank you EVEN MORE SO… because as a result of our artistic growth in Louisville over the last four years, we have been approached by a respected venue in Chicago which would like to promote our work and mission. We will be expanding our reach to this great city starting INCREDIBLY SOON!!! Our contract is signed with Stage 773 as a partner ensemble on their Inoffensive Theatre Series, geared towards families with children. We are thrilled to be presenting a double bill of “The Mouse Deer and the Crocodile” by Hong-Da Chin (from our 2015 season) and “The Rootabaga Stories” by Yvonne Freckmann (from 2014). Performances will be August 27th, September 11th, and October 22nd, all at 2:00pm. More details to follow!”

-Claire DiVizio
TSOC Executive & Artistic Director