‘To The People Like Us’ – Students from 826 Boston write opera about gentrification

Celina Colby

Celina Colby is an arts and travel reporter with a fondness for Russian novels.... VIEW BIO

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“To The People Like Us,” the newest production from activist opera company White Snake Projects, is a little different from its usual performances. This opera was written by teenagers. Students from 826 Boston’s Youth Literacy Advisory Board conceptualized a production about their experiences with gentrification and wrote the libretto for the powerful premiere this month.

The students, 11 in total ranging from 15 to 18 years old, spent a semester ruminating on the topic of gentrification and the ways it intersects with climate change and development in Boston. Their words will be heard during the production, set to original music by Mexican American composer Jorge Sosa and performed by a quartet of singers and a classical music ensemble.

“I never thought that I’d be able to write an opera,” said Daniela Martinez of East Boston, one of the 826 Boston writers. “It seemed daunting. But, whenever I ran out of words, my writing partners filled in the blanks for me. Creating this opera showed me the brilliance of others firsthand.”

In “To The People Like Us,” audiences will find themselves in a neighborhood much like Roxbury or Dorchester. It’s populated predominantly by Latine residents and other people of color. Apartments and the local bodega are slated to be razed for development and the community is up in arms. In the show, young activists come together to fight these changes.

Composer Jorge Sosa PHOTO: MANON HALLIBURTON

Sosa tried to channel the words of the young writers when composing the music that would accompany them. Audiences will hear influences from electronic music as well as classic Latin rhythms.

“The story takes place in contemporary times and it’s about these young activists, young people,” said Sosa. “I tried to create a style of music that reflects on contemporary popular culture and popular trends.”

Despite their hard work, the students haven’t yet heard the music and the libretto together. They won’t until opening night of the show.

Soprano Nina Evelyn in rehearsal for
“To The People Like Us.” PHOTO: MIU TUNG RONG

“It’s probably the very first time that many of them have been to an opera, and their families as well,” Sosa said. “I think it’ll be an exciting moment to come to the theater and the very first thing that you see is the one that you wrote.”

“To The People Like Us,” will run at the Strand Theatre on June 28 for two performances, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Admission is pay-what-you-can.

The production is part of White Snake Projects’ seasonlong focus on climate change. It’s a timely piece made even more immediate through the words of local youth who will be most directly impacted by the actions of today. By giving the 826 students control over the production, its themes and its words, White Snake Projects is giving them much needed control and agency over their futures.

“Instead of us trying to figure out what it is that young audiences want, we instead decided to give them the opportunity to write whatever they want, so that they have a stake in in the artistic product and the artistic outcome,” Sosa said. “It’s an opportunity for them to express their concerns and express their vision for what art and art activism can look like.”