Kristina Riegle
Actor, Singer, Teacher, Mandala Artist
AEA | AGMA | NATS
Upcoming Performances
Detroit Opera
Highways and Valleys – Two American Love Stories
Highway 1, USA – William Grant Still
Down in the Valley – Kurt Weill
DEC 7 / SUN / 2:30PM
DEC 11 / THUR / 7:30PM
DEC 13 / SAT / 7:30PM
Journey into the soul of America with Detroit Opera’s inspiring double-bill. In Highway 1, USA, William Grant Still, the “Dean of African American composers,” paints a portrait of a family navigating the promises and pressures of the American Dream. It is paired with Kurt Weill’s folk-inspired Down in the Valley, a newly staged production and premiere about love and sacrifice.
Visionary director Kaneza Schaal weaves these two Black American love stories together with stunning artistry. A monumental backdrop by Christopher Myers, inspired by African American quilting traditions, becomes a dynamic vehicle for the narrative. Costume designer Charlese Antoinette (Judas and the Black Messiah) grounds the production in authenticity, dressing the entire cast in denim and workwear that honors Detroit’s legacy of labor.
DIRECTOR: Kaneza Schaal
CONDUCTOR: Roberto Kalb
DOWN IN THE VALLEY
MUSIC: Kurt Weill
LIBRETTO: Arnold Sundgaard
DURATION: 35 minutes
HIGHWAY 1, USA
MUSIC: William Grant Still
LIBRETTO: Verna Arvey
DURATION: 57 minutes
* There will be one 25 minute intermission between operas
Detroit Opera
The Handmaid's Tale
MAR 1 / SUN / 2:30PM
MAR 5 / THUR / 7:30PM
MAR 7 / SAT / 7:30PM
Music by Poul Ruders
Libretto by Paul Bentley
Based on the novel by Margaret Atwood
The Handmaid’s Tale serves as a cautionary tale that forces reflection on whether America’s core values—freedom and separation of church and state—are at risk. The Handmaid’s Tale provides a chilling look into an imagined future, where America’s fragile democracy collapses into religious tyranny. Echoing contemporary concerns about the overlap between government and religion, this fictional story is timelier than ever.
CONTENT WARNING: The Handmaid’s Tale, a dystopian setting based on the original novel, contains graphic depictions of sexual and physical violence, state-enforced pregnancy, and gender-based oppression, as well as scenes of psychological trauma and hangings. Viewer discretion is advised.
Not recommended for children under 16 years of age.
DIRECTOR: Brenna Corner
CONDUCTOR: Marit Strindlund