Welcome To Encompass

Encompass New Opera Theatre is dedicated to the creation, development, and production of adventurous new music theatre and contemporary opera, as well as dynamic revivals of musical works by American and international composers. Since its inception in 1975, Encompass is devoted to widening the recognition of America's outstanding composers, dramatists, singers and musicians.

The theatre has produced over 69 full-scale productions with orchestra and staged readings of over 166 new works from jazz and cabaret to musicals and opera. Encompass productions represent a vast tapestry of American voices and genres, garnering a reputation for creative process, quality performances, and artistic passion.

The Encompass educational community outreach program, Paradigm Shifts Music and Film Festival, celebrates courageous people preserving our planet, oceans, wildlife, and sacred lands by bridging indigenous cultures, women's wisdom, and social justice/environmental movements through the lens of music and independent film.

Upcoming events:

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All-Encompassing Legacy- 40 Years of Music Theatre

Past events:

Sunday, June 9 – 3pm
The Greene Space
44 Charlton St.
New York, NY, 10014

Encompass New Opera Theatre hosted a dazzling musical afternoon at The Greene Space to celebrate the rich cultural tapestry that is the very fabric of America, whether you, your parents, or your ancestors from long ago immigrated here. Film, voice, violin, cello, flute and piano amplify their stories! 

Unheard Voices: An Immigrant’s Dream featured world premieres from El Salvador and Argentina sung by the gifted Salvador/American tenor Oswaldo Iraheta, by composer Juan Carlos Guerra Gonzalez; and the riveting composer Richard Pearson Thomas with a tribute to his Great Grandmother sent to America in 1899 with only a note pinned to her jacket.  Soprano MaKayla McDonald performed the compelling aria from The Consul. The international Ukrainian/Russian duo of Sky Caravan---Milena Dawidowicz, violin and Elena Panova, piano performed John Williams’ Theme from Schindler’s List and Melody by the beloved Ukrainian composer Myroslav Skoryk. Cellist Valeriya Sholokhova and Flutist Jessica Aura Taskov performed premiere works on the program.

On November 15th, 2023, we were honored to bring the powerful story of Sister Dorothy Stang on tour! With her perseverance, courage, and environmental awareness, Sister Dorothy Stang’s compassionate devotion to saving the rainforest and its people is vitally important today. Encompass Theatre performed Angel of the Amazon by Evan Mack at Notre Dame Academy in Hingham, MA for students of Emmanuel College and four Notre Dame Academy high schools in their 800 seat theatre!

Interested in bringing Angel of the Amazon to a theatre near you?
Click the link above to find out more information!

encompass at nyoanext 2023

The New York Opera Alliance (NYOA), hailed as “a remarkably strong and diverse exploration of everything opera can be in the city (The New York Times),” is a consortium of New York City opera companies and producers established to enhance and support the visibility and viability of opera in NYC.

NYOA Next, a festival of events and concerts (April 20, 22, 23) spotlighted local opera artists and companies with a first stop in The Bronx.

The Concert at The Bronx House was hosted by Pamela Jones, who has performed in numerous operas around the world, and is the Artist Development Manager at Opera America!

In honor of the late and revered American composer Ned Rorem, Encompass presented Soprano Sara LeMesh who sang Emily’s Aria from Ned Rorem’s opera, "Our Town," based on the famous play by Thornton Wilder, with a libretto by J.D. McClatchy. Her second aria was from "Romeo and Juliette," a French opera by Charles Gounod, based on the play by Shakespeare.

Soprano Sara LeMesh made her debut with Opera Naples in the spring of 2023 performing the roles of Frasquita in Bizet’s Carmen and Woman #1 in Rodriguez’s Frida. Sarah LeMesh was accompanied by Pianist Saffron Chung.

The Encompass Board of Trustees, Sheldon Harnick, and Nancy Rhodes, celebrate the Masters of Music Theatre and Opera with an exciting night of performances!

Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman were honored with the Encompass
"Sheldon Harnick Award for Creative Excellence" and Marilyn Maye was honored with the Encompass "Lifetime Achievement Award.”

For more information about the honorees and the event, click here!

SUNDAY MARCH 26, 2023

At The National Arts Club
15 Gramercy Park South
New York, NY 10003

We thank our circle donors and sponsors!

William Stiegel
Juergen Stolt
Andrew Weitzen
Mathy Mezey
Carmine Esposito
William Wooby
Brian W. Kaltner, Allied Plastics
Elisa Loti Stein

The Shubert Organization
101 Productions Ltd. – Wendy Orshan, Jeff Klein, Jeff Wilson

Nov 10-13, 17-20 2022

The rainforests are the heart and breath of our planet, evocative of the Tree of Life, symbolizing the eternal connection of air, light, water, and
earth in harmony with the people of the world.

Angel of the Amazon is based on the true story of Sister Dorothy Stang, an American missionary who devoted forty years to helping the indigenous farmers and families of Brazil gain land rights and to protecting the Rainforest. In 2005, this 73-year-old nun was brutally murdered by assassins hired by the owner of a logging company, who felt her passion for the Earth and all of its gifts to be a threat. Angel of the Amazon depicts her life's work and the events that set her on a path to martyrdom.

A modern musical story of strength, devotion and sacrifice, was produced by Encompass New Opera Theatre, in 2011, at the Baryshnikov Arts Center. It is now being developed by Encompass for touring, to bring vital awareness of the importance of preserving the Amazon Rainforest, considered to be the lungs of our planet. Angel of the Amazon is a centerpiece of the Encompass Paradigm Shifts Festival, that honors people around the world who are preserving our Planet and is dedicated to bridging indigenous cultures and knowledge, women's wisdom, and environmental-social justice issues that explore our place in the universe.

Cast and Artistic Team:

Special thanks to the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and our generous patrons for providing vital support for this production and the tour!

If you're interested in learning how your organization or school can book Angel of the Amazon, please contact Nancy Rhodes at encompassopera@yahoo.com,
or call (718) 398-4675.

An Oral History with Nancy Rhodes

On October 14th, 2021, stage director, writer, and educator Nancy Rhodes sat down with OPERA America's President/CEO Marc A. Scorca for a conversation about opera as part of OPERA America's Oral History Project, just released July 2022.

Opera America embarked on an ambitious oral history project as part of its 50th Anniversary - setting out to record the recollections of 75 key figures who have shaped the American opera field over the past 50 years. The oral histories immortalize the insights and experiences of industry pioneers over the past half- century, with the hope that by sharing these lessons learned, the next generation of leaders will be empowered to build on the efforts of their predecessors; advancing the art form to new audiences.

MUSic for peace

June 18, 2022

Encompass hosted a benefit concert featuring musicians and singers from Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, and the former country of Yugoslavia, as well as Encompass singers and pianists, to support the children and families affected by the war. All ticket sales and donations were sent to Ukraine to provide food, clothing, and medicine for the people of Odessa, Ukraine.

NATIONAL ASSoC. of the teachers of singing (nats)

July 2022

Encompass flew to Chicago for the 57th National Conference of NATS to share operas and arias from living American composers.

Composers included: Charles Fussell, John Kander, Victor Kioulaphides, Evan Mack, Richard Pearson Thomas, and Edward Thomas.

Featured works were: “Angel of the Amazon,” “Anna Christie,” “The Astronaut’s Tale,” “Flora the Red Menace,” “Ladies in a Maze,” “Ocean Dream,” and “A Wake or a Wedding.”

Anna Christie

Read the April 2020 edition of OPERA NEWS Critic's Choice, glowing review of the

ANNA CHRISTIE ALBUM by Joshua Rosenblum

FROM STAGE TO STUDIO: Encompass brings its world-premiere production of Anna Christie to a global audience through a once-in-a-lifetime album experience! With music by Grammy nominated Ed Thomas and libretto by 8-time Tony winner, the late Joe Masteroff (Cabaret, She Loves Me), premiere production staged by international director Nancy Rhodes, 12-Time Grammy-Winning producer Thomas Z. Shepard (Sondheim, Bernstein) Grammy nominated conductor Julian Wachner, original cast and 14-piece orchestra will bring this moving score to life! 

We are pleased to announce that Broadway Records has released our ANNA CHRISTIE Album and it is also available at Amazon!

'As an opera, ANNA CHRISTIE is emotionally and musically thrilling…the score by Edward Thomas is perfectly suited to the material and characters. The music alternates between aching longing, jaunty American folk rhythms, and sumptuous melodies'. - Talkin' Broadway

We are so excited to share with you that our ANNA CHRISTIE Album reached #6 on the Billboard Charts for Classical and Traditional albums!  You can learn more about the production and album at www.AnnaChristieOpera.com. Click below to visit Amazon!

Featuring Melanie Long, Frank Basile, Jonathan Estabrooks, Joy Hermalyn, Mike Pirozzi . Conducted by Julian Wachner from Broadway Records.

Recent World Premiere of ANNA CHRISTIE

12 Performances: October 4 – 21, 2018

A new music drama based on the Pulitzer prize-winning sea play by Eugene O'Neill explores the lost relationship of a woman and her father, and the sailor she falls in love with.

Highlights from the Performances:

What’s next on the horizon