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