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apparition
An Immersive Musical Experience
Featuring the music of George Crumb and J.S. Bach, Apparition is a sonic meditation exploring our relationship to dying, death, and the afterlife.
Wednesday, October 29th
Friday October 31st
Doors 7pm / Show 7:30pm
The Perch Music & Arts Workshop
Emerald & Arizona Sts. , Philadelphia, PA
Meet the Cast and Crew
Known for their “sonorous baritone” (Broad Street Review) and “commanding stage presence," (Miami Herald) Philadelphia native and Italian-American baritone, Matthew Maisano (they/them) enjoys performing a diverse repertoire ranging from opera, musical theatre, pop, folk, and more! Matthew works to create opportunity and access to the healing and transformative power of the vocal arts for all people.
Matthew is also blessed with a vibrant and active career as drag artist, Balena Canto (she/her) (Philadelphia's seductive song-wielding siren with a voice snatched for the gods)! Balena’s mission is to bring joy, laughter, and perhaps a tear or two (she is an opera singer after all) to her audiences through song. Nothing makes her more happy than combining her two greatest loves— drag and opera! Learn more at https://www.matthewmaisano.com/
Matthew Maisano (they/them)
Praised for her “clear, beautiful soprano,"(Aisle Seat) Marcelle McGuirk brings her bold musical interpretations to audiences of every kind. As Violet Caballero, they won Philadelphia Magazine’s “Best of Philly 2025” for their performances bridging opera, burlesque, and drag.
In addition to producing and performing with Prismatic Arts Ensemble, Marcelle is working on a solo research & performance project, Songs of mi Gente, which aims to spread awareness of classical vocal music from Puerto Rican composers. They are also a proud alum of Beth Morrison Project’s Producer Academy.
When not singing, Ms. McGuirk works with racial justice groups in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, serving as chair of the Archbishop’s Commission for Racial Healing.
Learn more at www.marcellemcguirk.com
Marcelle McGuirk (she/they)
Felipe is a Brooklyn-born keyboardist, conductor, composer, and conjurer. His research interests include Gregorian chant, Balinese gamelan, mid-century jazz, and occasional legerdemain (he is a master of none of these things). Musical travels have taken him around the world to places such as Cuba, China, and the Middle East, but he has grown quite fond of Philadelphia, where he gets to make music with all kinds of folks in all kinds of spaces (mostly indoors). As one of the founding members of Prismatic Arts Ensemble, he is grateful for colleagues who are committed to unusual and compelling storytelling through music, theater, film, and whatever medium that can be used for creating things of beauty.
Felipe Palma (he/him)
VANESSA OGBUEHI is a director for new and contemporary theatre. Through a maximalist aesthetic and cross-disciplinary collaboration, Vanessa pushes everyday stories to mythic proportions. Past projects include an immersive take on Fefu and her Friends at Sweet Briar College, and assistant directing Heartbeat Opera’s Lady M, which the NYT called “Flat-out brilliant.” University direction includes Orlando (Boston University), Metamorphoses (Villanova), and Resilient: Black Bottom (Drexel). Upcoming: new musical Americannibal at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival and Directing Fellowship at Opera Columbus. Vanessa is a proud alum of the Drama League and a fellowship at Music Academy of the West, and is currently a Crane Directing Fellow at Opera Columbus. She holds a Graduate Certificate in Devised Performance from Pig Iron/University of the Arts.
Vanessa Ogbuehi (she/her)
CHELSEA MEYNIG is recognized for her rich and versatile tone, as well as the captivating narrative power in her playing. She is principal flute of The Revolution Winds and the ENA Ensemble. Chelsea frequently works with composers premiering and recording new music. Chelsea frequently performs with The Philadelphia Ballet Orchestra, The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, The Black Pearl Orchestra, Symphony in C, The No Name Pops, The Capital Philharmonic, The Ocean City Pops as well as many other regional orchestras. Most Recently Chelsea played the world premiere of “Tongue River Music” with the ENA Ensemble. Primarily composed by Evan Kassof– though Chelsea received a co-composing credit as several of her improvisations were written into this music.
Chelsea graduated from Temple University with her Masters Degree where she studied with Mr. David Cramer. Additionally Chelsea graduated from Shenandoah Conservatory in flute performance where she studied with Mr. Jonathan Snowden, one of Britain's première flute players, as well as Dr. Frances Lapp Averitt. Her previous primary teacher was Margaret Newcomb.
Chelsea Meynig (she/her)
What to Expect
In a world where violence and death are everywhere, it is too easy to become desensitized to the loss (and value) of life. Our nervous systems are not built to handle the daily onslaught of graphic images of war, stories about mass shootings, and violence against marginalized bodies.
Apparition is an opportunity to reset our internal selves, renew our sense of the sacred duality of life and death, and gain clarity around our own relationship to our limited time in the physical realm.
We begin our evening in the Emerald Wildflower Garden to reconnect to the earth as it settles into dormancy for the coming winter. Enjoy seasonal beverages and snacks while mingling with the fellow living.
Two ghostly figures emerge, inviting audience members into a brief group meditation before forming a candle-lit procession to a space containing a physical manifestation of their internal lives.
Through the music of Johann Sebastian Bach's Ich habe genug (I have enough) and George Crumb's Apparition, our otherworldly visitors will guide guests on a journey to consider their own relationship to the unrelenting cycle of life, dying, death, and rebirth.
Following the performance, audience members have the opportunity to mingle more and to connect with our artists.
Apparition will be sung in English and in German.
Estimated run time: 1 hrs and 40 minutes
Content Warning: This production explores themes around death and dying.
Staged production, with piano accompaniment and immersive elements.
Co-produced in collaboration with The Perch Music & Arts Workshop.
Accessibility: The Perch is not currently ADA compliant. The performance will take place in the Emerald Wildflower Garden and in the Black Box space at the Perch. Both spaces are ground level and have no stairs, though there the garden is a grass space without paved paths. The ground level restroom has a two step climb to access, and there is a second floor restroom only accessible by a flight of stairs. Both restrooms are small. If you have specific accessibility questions or requests, please email us at prismaticensemble@gmail.com
Parking: There is street parking available, though the neighborhood is a busy one and finding parking can sometimes be difficult. We recommend using public transit or ride-sharing if that's an option for you. Nearby public transit options include buses (5, 39, and 89) and the York-Dauphin stop on the L (Market-Frankford line). If planning on driving, we recommend budgeting an extra 15 minutes to look for parking before your intended arrival time.
This production is made possible by the financial support of the Philadelphia Cultural Fund and of audience members like you!