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