MADISON, WI (WVDN) — The haunting legend of Greenbrier County’s own Zona Heaster Shue is finding a new voice over 800 miles away. Madison Opera has announced the world premiere of “Everlasting Faint,” a full-length opera based on the famous West Virginia “Greenbrier Ghost” case.
The production, featuring music by Scott Gendel and a libretto by Sandra Flores-Strand, will debut at the Capitol Theater in Madison, Wisconsin, with performances on Feb. 13 and 15.
The opera stays true to the historical events of 1897. It follows the story of Elva (Zona), whose sudden death was initially dismissed by a doctor as an “everlasting faint.” The plot centers on Elva’s mother, Mary, who refuses to accept the diagnosis.
In a tale familiar to West Virginians, the opera depicts Elva’s ghost appearing to her mother to reveal the grim truth: her husband, Trout, had broken her neck.
This historical case remains famous as the only known instance in U.S. history where a ghost’s “testimony” helped secure a murder conviction.
“Sandra and I wrote this opera to be deeply emotional and exciting, with the big dramatic sweep of classic operas but in a distinctively 21st-century American style,” says composer Scott Gendel.
While the supernatural elements drive the plot, the production also aims to capture the atmosphere of a rural Appalachian community. The score ranges from folk-song-inspired choruses to dramatic arias, utilizing the Madison Opera Chorus and members of the Madison Symphony Orchestra to bring the small West Virginia town to life.
The cast features:
Katherine Pracht as Mary Heaster, the determined mother.
Tori Tedeschi Adams as Elva, the ghost seeking justice.
Andrew Bidlack as the villainous Trout Shue.
Performance Details:
For those traveling or with family in the Midwest, tickets for this world premiere start under $35.
Friday, Feb. 13, at 7:30 PM
Sunday, Feb. 15, at 2:30 PM
Location: Capitol Theater, Overture Center for the Arts, Madison, WI.
More Info: www.madisonopera.org
