Bitter Laurel, by Margaret Bonds

Music by Margaret Bonds
Book by Demetrios Vilan
Lyrics by Janice Lovoos, Edmund Penney and Demetrios Vilan 

The world premiere of Bonds’ last major work, left unfinished at her death. Bitter Laurel tells the story of Elizabeth Keckley, the enslaved person who bought her freedom and became dressmaker to Mary Todd Lincoln. A passionate call for equality and justice for all, and a scathing indictment of racism and hypocrisy, this sweeping musical will be given its first performances at Queens University.

As is often the case with world premiere performances of new stage works, this is a staged workshop production, presented with minimal staging, no props or costumes, and a narrator to provide stage directions.