Sarah Joy Miller, James Barbour & Christina Sajous to Star in Anna Nicole Smith Opera at BAM

Anna Nicole, the opera based on the life of the late Anna Nicole Smith, will makes its U.S. debut as part of BAM’s 2013 Next Wave Festival. Directed by Richard Jones, Anna Nicole runs at the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Gilman Opera House September 17 through 28. The co-prodction with New York City Opera stars opera vet Sarah Joy Miller as Anna Nicole, James Barbour (A Tale of Two Cities) as Daddy Hogan and Christina Sajous (Forever Dusty) as Blossom.

Joining Miller, Barbour and Sajous are Mary Testa as Aunt Kaye, Ben Davis as Billy, John Easterlin as Larry King, Susan Bickley as Virgie, Robert Brubaker as Old Man Marshall, Rod Gilfry as Stern, Joshua Jeremiah as Deputy Mayor and Stephen Wallem as Trucker.

Composed by Mark-Anthony Turnage and featuring a libretto by Richard Thomas, Anna Nicole tells the story of Anna Nicole Smith, a small-town Texas waitress-turned-exotic dancer-turned Playboy Playmate of the Year-turned Guess model-turned trophy wife-turned reality star and her pursuit of the American Dream. This modern opera mixes comedy and tragedy and boldly confronts issues of modern celebrity, greed and exploitation.

Anna Nicole features set design by Miriam Buether, costume design by Nicky Gillibrand, lighting design by Mimi Jordan Sherin and D.M. Wood and choreography by Aletta Collins. 

Anna Nicole was commissioned by the Royal Opera House in London and premiered there in February 2011.

Check out the trailer for the London production below!