jw anderson x justin vivian bond | complications in sue opera

The creative partnership between JW Anderson and Justin Vivian Bond reaches a new stage this week in Philadelphia. Known for their work together on campaigns and cultural projects, the duo has reunited for the world premiere of ‘Complications in Sue’ at the Academy of Music. This production marks the first time Anderson has designed costumes for the opera stage and sees Bond taking on their first title role in the medium. Opera Philadelphia presents this new work from the 4th to the 8th of February. As a MacArthur Fellow and cabaret icon, Bond has spent decades as a cultural provocateur, weaving together history and wit to explore contemporary identity. Their journey across the landscape of gender has influenced both their artistic practice and wider LGBTQ+ rights conversations, making them a long-standing muse for Jonathan Anderson. Here, Bond’s specific perspective forms the foundation of the production, as the opera grew from their original concept. The opera unfolds through ten distinct vignettes written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Michael R. Jackson. Jackson, known for ‘A Strange Loop,’ makes his operatic debut here with a libretto based on an idea originally conceived by Bond. Each scene captures a different decade in the life of... Read more » The post jw anderson x justin vivian bond | complications in sue opera appeared first on Schön! Magazine.