Minnesota Opera Presents World Premiere of The Fix With Joel Puckett, Eric Simonson, and Timothy Myers

The Minnesota Opera is set to premiere The Fix, a new opera by composer Joel Puckett, librettist Eric Simonson, and conducted by Timothy Myers, based on a true story of the “Black Sox” scandal in 1919.

Around the early 1900s, the Chicago White Sox were considered the best team in the industry, but they were poorly paid and constantly at odds with their penny-pinching owner. Resentment, revenge and ambition motivated eight players to conspire with gamblers to throw the 1919 World Series to the Cincinnati Reds. The Fix tells this tragic tale of epic proportions about disenfranchised and exploited players.

“I am thrilled to tell this incredible American story of deception, heartbreak and disillusionment. I am even more thrilled to be bringing this story to life with the amazing supportive team at Minnesota Opera,” Joel said.

After being part of the team to lead Pulitzer Prize-winning opera Silent Night at Austin Opera, conductor Timothy Myers will make his Minnesota Opera debut starting this Saturday, March 16. The conductor is thrilled to work on this new opera and be part of the dynamic and inventive team.

“It is an honor to make my Minnesota Opera debut conducting the world premiere of The Fix. A uniquely American story, this opera is a beautifully constructed and captivating piece of theater that will inspire audiences,” Timothy said. Hear his thoughts on conducting this work in a special Facebook video.

Academy Award-winning director and long-time Minnesota Opera collaborator Eric Simonson crafted his first-ever libretto for The Fix, and leads a world-class design team as the stage director for this production.

Joshua Dennis (Rigoletto, Roméo et Juliette) sings the lead role of “Shoeless” Joe Jackson. Former Minnesota Resident Artists Kelly Markgraf and Andrew Wilkowske star as news reporter Ring Lardner and former baseball player Bill “Sleepy” Burns, respectfully. Wei Wu, recently seen as Kobun in the world premiere production of The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs at the Santa Fe Opera, makes his Minnesota Opera debut as Arnold “Chick” Gandil. Northfield, Minnesota resident and international opera star Dennis Petersen (The Italian Straw Hat, Dead Man Walking, Das Rheingold) returns to the Ordway stage as sportswriter Hugh Fullerton. Jasmine Habersham (Fellow Travelers) creates the role of Kate Jackson.

The Fix was commissioned by Minnesota Opera as part of its New Works Initiative, and it is sung in English with English supertitles projected above the stage. The runtime is two hours and 15 minutes with one intermission.

This major league opera will be 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 16, Tuesday, March 19, Thursday, March 21, and Saturday, March 23; and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 24. It will be on stage at Ordway Music Theater in Saint Paul, Minnesota. To purchase tickets or read more details as well as see photos and videos, visit Minnesota Opera’s website.