This week, Sneed joins award-winning, world-renowned choreographer, Bill T. Jones for the workshop of Opera Philadelphia’s WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED at the historic Apollo Theater. In 2017, Opera Philadelphia will present the world premiere of WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED; developed and composed by Daniel Bernard Roumain and librettist Marc Bamuthi Joseph. The new opera will be directed Bill T. Jones. Other talent tapped for the workshop includes Sneed (pianist and keyboardist), Eve Gigliotti (soprano), Justin Hopkins (bass-baritone), Lauren Whitehead (spoken word artist), and Val Jenty (electronic musician). WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED will open at the Wilma Theater.
WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED fuses elements of hip-hop, classical and story-telling inspired by the writing of students in Art Sanctuary’s award-winning afterschool program, and is set to Joseph’s original words. Opera Philadelphia is known for their outstanding productions of both classic and new operatic works that resonate within the community and is the recipient of the 2014 Building Opera Audiences Award from OPERA America.