OUR IMPACT

Since 2019, the work and impact of eARTHOPEra have steadily evolved throughout New York's Hudson Valley region.

‘Seeds Under Nuclear Winter: An Earth Opera’—the original creative work that inspired the founding of eARTHOPEra as a nonprofit public charity— began as a small experimental theater and music project, composed and developed by Elizabeth Clark at Byrdcliffe Artists Colony in Woodstock, NY. The project grew into a large-scale immersive theater production—becoming an annual community performance, ritual, and celebration.

For the past six years, the production has brought together an ensemble of 20–40 local performing artists, musicians, visual artists, costume makers, prop designers, stagehands, special effects and light projection artists, a volunteer community choir, and a community-recruited “flash mob” of dancers. Each year, we spend many months working together—rehearsing, sharing potluck meals, and collaboratively developing the next iteration of this ever-evolving production. This extended creative process culminates in immersive, interactive public performances presented at various locations, reflecting months of shared dedication, artistic collaboration, and community building.

At the heart of eARTHOPEra's work is a commitment to creating meaningful artistic experiences that bring people together across generations, cultures, backgrounds, and levels of experience.

By intentionally bringing professional performing artists and musicians together with emerging and less experienced artists, eARTHOPEra creates opportunities for community members to participate in the development and performance of ambitious, large-scale interdisciplinary works. This collaborative approach makes the creative process itself an important part of the organization's impact.

In 2025, the project expanded its intergenerational approach, inviting local children, teenagers, and elders to participate in creating and performing the ever-evolving production.

AUDIENCE & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

To date, Seeds Under Nuclear Winter: An Earth Opera—the original creative work that inspired the founding of eARTHOPEra as a nonprofit public charity—has reached nearly 4,000 audience members since 2019.

From 2021–2024, performances took place at the extraordinary Widow Jane Mine, a vast underground former cement mine transformed into a natural amphitheater and immersive performance space. These annual productions drew audiences of well over 600 people each year.

In 2024 and 2025, adaptations of the production were presented at the historic Old Dutch Church in Kingston, NY, drawing more than 400 audience members over the performance weekends.

Additional performances at Byrdcliffe Theater, The Lace Mill in Kingston, Graveside Variety's POP-UP venue in Woodstock, and other regional spaces have been warmly received and well attended by the public.

The work also expanded into an immersive theater retreat offered at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY, creating an opportunity for participants to engage more deeply with the creative process through music, movement, theater, and collaborative artistic exploration. This experience extended the spirit of eARTHOPEra beyond the stage, inviting participants into the transformative possibilities of immersive, community-based art.

Many audience members have returned year after year, experiencing every new iteration of the production since its beginnings. This ongoing relationship between artists and audiences has helped cultivate a growing community around the work.

ARTISTIC COLLABORATION

Over the past six years, more than 100 professional and emerging artists have participated in performances of Seeds Under Nuclear Winter: An Earth Opera, contributing their diverse talents, artistic traditions, and creative perspectives.

Collaborating artists and ensembles have included the nationally renowned South American ensemble ANDES MANTA; Catskill Mountain Gamelan, a Sundanese orchestra led by Dorcinda Knauth; choreographers Sondra Loring, Sharon Penz, Clyde Forth, and Arianna Noble; and performance artists Jaguar Mary X, Linda Mary Montano, IONE, Lisa B. Kelley, Elwin Cuevas, Luis Mojica, Phillip x Levine, Jed Zaeb, Nabless, Agon Mizelle, Douglas Keller, Katie Down, Noa Graham, Asa Lowengard Graham, Maia Lorien, Vincenza Dante, and many others.

Musical collaborators have included Bill Brovold, Jeremy Starpoli, Rusty Boris, Melora Creager (Rasputina), Peter Wetzler, Antonin Fajt, Chris Anderson, Matt Carvin, Andrew Forbes, Eric Archer, Megan Gugliotta, Alvaro Romeo, Sarah Power, Erin the Bard, and many others.

Visual artists, prop designers, light designers, and costume makers have included Anne Arden Macdonald, James Adelman, Jesse Reed, Erika McCarthy, BA Miale, Adam Michael Taylor, among many others.

Together, these artists have helped shape an evolving body of work that celebrates artistic experimentation, cultural exchange, collective imagination, and the transformative possibilities of community-based performance.

OUR IMPACT IS STILL GROWING

And in many ways, the work of eARTHOPEra is just beginning!

What began as a single experimental performance has grown into a vibrant network of artists, collaborators, volunteers, and audiences, brought together through the transformative power of immersive theater, live music, performance art, and mythic storytelling.

As eARTHOPEra enters its next chapter as a nonprofit arts organization, we look forward to expanding opportunities for artistic collaboration, intergenerational participation, and transformative community experiences.

With your support, we can continue to grow this work—creating new performances, nurturing artistic relationships, and making ambitious, imaginative, community-centered art accessible to all.