Three Decembers
Music by Jake Heggie
Libretto by Gene Scheer
Based on an original play by Terrence McNally
Commissioned by the Houston Grand Opera
May 29 & 31, 2026, 7:30 pm & 3 pm
Soreng Theater, Hult Center for the Performing Arts
Inspired by the unpublished play Some Christmas Letters by Tony Award-winning playwright Terrence McNally, Three Decembers tells the poignant and compelling story of Broadway star Madeline Mitchell—played by renowned soprano Emily Pulley—and her two adult children, Beatrice (Ivy Zhou) and Charlie (Phillip Bullock), spanning the years 1986, 1996, and 2006. As long-buried secrets surface, the family grapples with love, loss, and the struggle to truly connect. With a sharp, moving libretto by Gene Scheer and a lush, emotional score by Jake Heggie, this 90-minute American opera is a heartfelt exploration of the families we are born into and the ones we create.
Three Decembers is directed by acclaimed stage director David Gately.
Cast
Madeline Mitchell - Emily Pulley
Charlie - Phillip Bullock
Beatrice - Ivy Zhou
Featuring the Eugene Opera Orchestra
Creative Team
Conducted by Eugene Opera Artistic Director Andrew Bisantz
Directed by David Gately
VENUE:
Hult Center for the Performing Arts
The Hult Center is located at One Eugene Center, Eugene OR 97401. Main lobby entrances are off 6th and 7th Avenues, with the ADA accessible ramp on the 6th Avenue side.
