{"id":1245857,"date":"2026-03-03T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.washingtoninformer.com\/?p=1245857"},"modified":"2026-03-03T12:18:44","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T17:18:44","slug":"washington-national-opera-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.washingtoninformer.com\/washington-national-opera-preview\/","title":{"rendered":"Opera Meets the Community: WNO Previews ‘Treemonisha’ and ‘The Crucible’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Before the curtain rises at Lisner Auditorium this weekend, Washington Informer readers received a first look at the Washington National Opera’s (WNO)<\/strong><\/a> adaptations of \u201cTreemonisha\u201d and \u201cThe Crucible\u201d at Busboys and Poets Takoma in Washington.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Washington National Opera, in partnership with The Washington Informer, hosted a Spring Preview Performance and Q&A on Thursday, Feb. 26, from 6 to 8:30 p.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The evening featured preview excerpts from \u201cTreemonisha<\/strong><\/a>,\u201d the only surviving opera by Scott Joplin, and \u201cThe Crucible,\u201d the timeless drama centered on the Salem witch trials \u2014 both coming to the nation\u2019s capital this month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three-time Grammy Award-winning mezzo-soprano J\u2019Nai Bridges<\/strong><\/a>, who sings the role of Elizabeth Proctor in \u201cThe Crucible,\u201d said she was eager to perform ahead of opening night.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
J’Nai Bridges sings at The Washington National Opera’s spring preview of “Treemonisha” and “The Crucible” at Busboys and Poets Takoma in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Feb. 26. (Demarco Rush\/The Washington Informer)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m very excited to be back in the D.C. area to sing with this incredible opera company,\u201d she told The Informer. \u201cWe came out to bring opera to the community in hopes that they will come out to the opera. I know they will.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bridges said the role has been emotionally demanding, as her character navigates her husband\u2019s infidelity and accusations of witchcraft during a deeply polarized time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPreparing for this role has been quite emotional, it\u2019s intense,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally composed in 1911, \u201cTreemonisha\u201d follows a young Black woman who leads her community through education and empowerment \u2014 themes that continue to resonate more than a century later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WNO\u2019s staging brings renewed energy to the ragtime-infused opera, underscoring its cultural and historical significance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Viviana Goodwin<\/strong><\/a>, the soprano who sings the title role in \u201cTreemonisha,\u201d described the production process as both demanding and exhilarating.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
J’Nai Bridges (right) and Kelsey Nicole Nelson have a conversation at The Washington National Opera’s spring preview of “Treemonisha” and “The Crucible” at Busboys and Poets Takoma in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Feb. 26. (Demarco Rush\/The Washington Informer)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cThe rehearsal process has been a whirlwind,\u201d Goodwin told The Informer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, Fox sports reporter Kelsey Nicole Nelson, who hosted the Feb. 26 event, praised the opportunity to highlight Black artists in an often underrepresented field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTo end Black History Month with a bang like this, it\u2019s nothing greater,\u201d Nelson told The Informer. \u201cThe arts have such an important role, and I love things that connect people.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With \u201cTreemonisha\u201d kicking off the run this weekend, Goodwin touted hopes for the adaptation, premiering at Lisner Auditorium March 7, 8 and 15.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI hope that [everyone] here comes out to see the show. It\u2019s going to be a fantastic production,\u201d Goodwin said. \u201cWe [wanted] to reach out to the community and just share some of the story with them.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Washington National Opera, in partnership with The Washington Informer, hosted a Spring Preview Performance and Q&A featuring excerpts from “Treemonisha” and “The Crucible” at Busboys & Poets Takoma, with Grammy Award-winning mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges and soprano Viviana Goodwin starring in the productions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4426,"featured_media":1245859,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"_primary_brand":0,"_newspack_byline_active":false,"_newspack_byline":"","nota_seo_page_title":"Spring preview: WNO's 'Treemonisha' and 'The Crucible'","nota_seo_page_description":"Get a sneak peek of the Washington National Opera's adaptations of 'Treemonisha' and 'The Crucible' at Lisner Auditorium this weekend.","newspack_featured_image_position":"small","newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_show_updated_date":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30843],"tags":[37303,72091,51503,88374,88881,88722,88880],"brand":[],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"nota":[],"coauthors":[72011],"class_list":["post-1245857","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle","tag-busboys-and-poets","tag-demarco-rush","tag-jnai-bridges","tag-scott-joplin","tag-the-crucible","tag-treemonisha","tag-viviana-goodwin","entry"],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"\nSpring preview: WNO's 'Treemonisha' and 'The Crucible' - 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