Karin Wolverton as Jane Withersteen & Morgan Smith as Lassiter in
Arizona Opera's World Premiere of "Riders of the Purple Sage".
​World Premiere photos by Tim Trumble, Courtesy of Arizona Opera. ​ ​

"My personal favorite is the 'graveyard scene'. It is the place where our lone gunfighter Lassiter comes to put the search for his dead sister to rest. Against Ed Mell’s dazzling skies, Lassiter’s relationship to Jane is deepened and a discovery is made, which leads to the cliff-hanger curtain at the end of this act. It is the scene in which philosophies and raw emotions are revealed with soaring and heart-breaking music."                
                                                                                                                               – Craig Bohmler, Composer​

The Opera

​In RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE a gunslinger empowers a woman rancher being pushed to marry by her powerful churchmen. Set in a towering, epic landscape, Zane Grey’s intimate story of faith and fundamentalism resonates around the world.

Composer Craig Bohmler discovered Zane Grey's novel on the centennial of its first printing. “The story seemed to 'sing' from the very first pages. It was an epic tale with two sets of lovers, strong relationships, lots of action, high emotions, and clear antagonists” says Bohmler. “I was inspired to tell an Arizona story and create what would be the first true American Western opera with all the hallmarks of the Western genre.”




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Lassiter, played by Morgan Smith, prepares to show why he carries two six shooters in Arizona Opera's World Premiere. Photo by Tim Trumbal, courtesy of Arizona Opera.

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​The opera celebrated its premiere in 2017

 Venters, Joshua Dennis, and Bess, Amanda Opuszynski, share their dreams in the vast landscape of
Ed Mell's Surprise Valley in Arizona Opera's World Premiere.

​"An opera as monumental and well-crafted as 'Riders of the Purple Sage' can now lay claim to a rightful place in the canon of works about the American West."
​                                                  — Broadway World ​

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Act One

Elder Tull, played by Keith Phares, pays a visit to Jane Withersteen, "I would have you as my wife and tend to this ranch."  
​(50 mins)

Act Two

Venters, Joshua Dennis, and Bess, Amanda Opuszynski, find each other out in the sage. "This is a lonely land, Bess. This land don't care what happens to you or me." 
​(60 mins)

Act Three

Lassiter, Morgan Smith, confronts the Bishop, Kristopher Irmiter, in front of his congregation. "Worry not, my brothers. I do not fear this man. God is with me."
​(30 mins)

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WORLD PREMIERE CAST & CREATIVE TEAM 

• Composer Craig Bohmler
• Librettist Steven Mark Kohn
• Conductor Joseph Mechavich
• Stage Director Fenlon Lamb
• Scenic Design Ed Mell
• Projection Design Jake Pinholster
• Costume Design Kathleen Trott
• Lighting Design Gregory Allen Hirsch
• Co-Producer  Kristin Atwell Ford
• Executive Producers Billie Jo & Judd Herberger​​
• Sponsored by Dr. Rex and Dr. Arlyn Brewster and Frieda Elizabeth Reish
• Lassiter: baritones Morgan Smith / Joshua Jeremiah
• Jane Withersteen: sopranos Karin Wolverton / Laura Wilde 
• Bern Venters: tenor Joshua Dennis
• Bess: soprano Amanda Opuszynski
• Bishop Dyer: bass-baritone Kristopher Irmiter
• Elder Tull: baritone Keith Phares​

​To book Arizona Opera's production of "Riders of the Purple Sage", contact Greg Hirsch • 602.218.7340 • ghirsch@azopera.org