Nov 11, 2005 04:38 PM

Poets take the stage

by James Panero

Yesterday this blog took note of the poet Glyn Maxwell’s contributions to the stage and the premiere of his latest work of verse theater.

Today we add another opening to that list. Readers of The New Criterion will no doubt be familiar with the writer, historian, and poet Daniel Mark Epstein; his three-page poem "Eurylochus recalls the Sirens" is the centerpiece, for one, of our upcoming December issue. Now we can add librettist to his job description. Daniel Mark Epstein has written the libretto for a new opera, with music by Damon Ferrante, called "Jefferson and Poe." The opera opens in Baltimore on November 17 and will have its New York premiere on December 2 & 3 at Symphony Space, on Broadway and 95th.

Here is how the Symphony Space website describes the opera:

A young Edgar Allan Poe has fallen in love with Thomas Jefferson’s slave daughter, and plots to get the President to set her free. Poet and President lock horns over the questions of slavery and freedom, passion and rationality, in this romantic comedy. Presented by Steeplechase Arts & Productions.

I’m hoping to catch the Friday December 2 performance in New York.

When it comes to poets working in the theater, is it possible we’ve detected a trend?