Opera Omaha | Susannah

Susannah

Jan 30 1 2026

SHOW INFORMATION

Dates

Jan 30, 2026	7:30 PM
Feb 1, 2026	2:00 PM

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Venue

Orpheum Theater

409 S 16th St
Omaha, NE 68102

Location

OVERVIEW

Music and Libretto by Carlisle Floyd
Performed in English with English supertitles.

The performance runs approximately 2 hours, including one 20-minute intermission.

Information to know before you go

Content Warning
This production contains a gunshot in Act Two.
This production contains appearances of firearms and spoken references to violence and sexual assault.

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION

Susannah explores the destructive effects of false accusations and the cruelty of mob mentality. Set in a stark Tennessee town, a young woman is targeted by suspicion and gossip that mounts in intensity. The music is undeniably American and inspired by familiar folk melodies that underscore the opera’s setting. Directed by renowned soprano Patricia Racette in her Opera Omaha debut, Susannah confronts the complexity of human nature through Susannah’s search for beauty and one man’s lust for power.

SYNOPSIS

Act One

The people of New Hope Valley, a rural Tennessee town in the Appalachian Mountains, have assembled for a square dance on a hot July night. The Elders’ wives gossip about the beautiful young Susannah, calling her a “shameless wench” raised by a drunkard brother. Reverend Olin Blitch arrives and confidently introduces himself. As the visiting revival preacher, he intends to bring sinners to repentance. Noticing Susannah, he joins her in the square dance.
Little Bat walks Susannah home that night. Staring up at the starry sky, she shares her dreams of leaving New Hope Valley. Sam arrives, and Susannah asks him to sing her favorite song before they go to bed. The next morning, when the church Elders go searching for a baptismal creek for the revival, they discover Susannah bathing in it. Ashamed of their lust for the girl, they vow to punish her for her brazen nakedness.
That night, at a potluck dinner, the Elders and their wives spread rumors that Susannah is corrupting their young men. When Susannah arrives, the townsfolk refuse to speak to her. Confused and embarrassed, she leaves. Little Bat finds her at home and explains the situation: his parents made him confess that Susannah seduced him, and there’s talk of running her out of the valley. Alone with Sam, Susannah begs to know what all this cruelty is about. Her brother’s only explanation is that “people want to believe what’s bad.”

Act Two

A few days have passed, and the town has continued to shun Susannah. Sam tells her that they are waiting for a confession, but Susannah insists she has done no evil. Nevertheless, her brother suggests she attend a revival service to show the congregation she’s not afraid. That evening, Sam leaves on a hunting trip, and Susannah makes her way to church. Olin Blitch preaches a sermon full of hellfire and asks anyone feeling guilty to bring their sins to the altar. When Susannah doesn’t come forward, Blitch pressures her to publicly admit her wrongdoings. Overwhelmed, she screams “No!” and flees the sanctuary.
An hour later, Blitch finds Susannah alone at home, singing a sad folksong her mother taught her. He tries again to get a confession out of her, but Susannah stands her ground, despite the toll this ordeal has taken on her. Blitch confides to Susannah that he’s lonely and desperate for love. Exhausted from fighting, Susannah succumbs to his advances, and he leads her into the house.
The next morning at the church, Blitch—now a broken man racked with shame—prays for mercy. During his night with Susannah, he discovered that she was still a virgin and had been telling the truth. When the Elders and their wives enter, Blitch tries to convince them of Susannah’s innocence. But when he can’t explain how he knows, they remain unconvinced and leave. Susannah, meanwhile, has entered. Blitch pleads for forgiveness, and she responds that she’s forgotten what the word means.
At sundown, Sam returns drunk from his hunting trip. Susannah tells him that Blitch violated her, and he rushes off, vowing to kill the preacher. She realizes too late that Sam took his shotgun with him, and she suddenly hears his weapon fire in the distance. Little Bat runs in to report that Sam shot and killed Blitch in the baptismal stream. The townsfolk assemble around Susannah’s house, warning her to leave New Hope Valley, but she laughs scornfully and scares them away with her own gun. Alone with Little Bat, she lures him seductively, only to slap him across the face. He hurries away, and she remains planted on her porch, a defiant yet “lonely prisoner of a self-imposed exile.”

CREATIVE TEAM

Steven White

Conductor

Patricia Racette

Director

Andrew Boyce

Set Designer

Kaye Voyce

Costume Designer

Eric Southern III

Lighting Designer

Greg Emetaz

Projection Designer

Kylee Loera

Associate Projection Designer

CAST

Caitlin Lynch

Susannah Polk

Andrew Potter

Olin Blitch

Robert Stahley

Sam Polk

Christian Sanders

Little Bat McLean

Lauren Paul

Mrs. McLean

Thomas Gunther

Elder McLean

Joseph Canuto Leon

Elder Ott

Graham Brooks

Elder Gleaton

Fran Daniel Laucerica

Elder Hayes

Gretchen Crane

Mrs. Hayes

Lauren Cook

Mrs. Ott

Karina Brazas

Mrs. Gleaton

Tanner Engeseth

A Man

Opera Omaha Chorus

Production & Music Staff

Omaha Symphony

PROGRAM BOOK

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PRODUCTION SPONSORS

Todd Simon

Paul and Annette Smith

ARTIST SPONSOR

Linda Burt Rebrovic and John Rebrovic

Mutual of Omaha

Husch Blackwell

SEASON SPONSORS

Omaha Steaks

Holland Foundation

Applied Underwriters

Nebraska Arts Council

Nebraska Cultural Endowment

DOUGLAS County