Kentucky Opera’s production of “All is Calm,” based on the Christmas Truce of 1914, is, in many ways, unlike a typical opera. Its dialogue and songs are a capella and mostly in English; it’s relatively short only 75 minutes and it’s staged inside a black box theater, meaning it doesn’t have an ornate set like you might see in more traditional productions.
Even so, the opera delivers an emotional punch as big as any you’d get from a show on a larger stage. The show, whose dialogue comes from letters written by real World War I soldiers, tells a nuanced and memorable story of young men who were drawn into military service with hopes of seeking adventure and serving their countries before finding an unexpected camaraderie with “the enemy” in the midst of war.
The production only has five shows, two of which are sold out as of this writing; the remaining showtimes are Tuesday, Dec. 19, at 1:30 p.m.; Friday, Dec. 22, at 8 p.m.; and Saturday, Dec. 23, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $45-$55 for general admission or $15 for students, not including fees, but guests can also contact the box office for pay-what-you-can pricing.
The cast includes Christopher Burchett, Cameron Carnes, Tyler Carnes, Jesse Donner, Zackery Morris, Kaymon Murrah, Andrew Pungratz, Troy Sleeman, Chad Sloan, Morgan Smith, and Kyle White.
LEO photographed the show’s final dress and photo call on Wednesday. Check out our photos in the gallery above.
