TANGLED ROOTS
An Opera in One Act
Music composed and arranged by
Rufus Ferguson, Jordan Hamilton and Carmen Bell
Libretto composed and arranged by Carmen Bell
Tangled Roots is a one-act opera rooted in memory, ancestry, and the presence of those who came before us. Inspired by Born in Slavery: Slave Narratives from the Federal Writers’ Project, 1936–1938, the work draws from firsthand accounts of former slaves to illuminate stories that shaped generations.
Musically, the opera is grounded in African American spirituals and incorporates musical traditions that span the African American experience, reimagined through a contemporary lens. These sounds move fluidly across time, connecting past and present through a shared musical language.
Through a series of unfolding encounters, the opera gives voice to ancestors whose lives echo across time. Names become stories, and stories become presence, as the past emerges with urgency, intimacy, and power.
Each moment carries narratives of resilience, love, and hope, revealing the depth and complexity of African American experience. Tangled Roots invites audiences into a space where memory is not distant, but alive, where history speaks, and where legacy continues to shape identity in the present.
Synopsis
Set against the backdrop of Juneteenth, Tangled Roots follows Queenie and Caleb as they guide audiences through a tapestry of stories drawn from the testimonies of formerly enslaved people. As voices from the past emerge, including Mary Reynolds, John, William Colbert, Sarah Ashley, Arnold Gragston, Felix Haywood, Katie Rowe, and Marshall Butler, the audience encounters powerful accounts of family separation, survival, resistance, faith, and liberation.
Rather than telling a single narrative, the opera brings together many lived experiences, revealing the diverse realities of enslavement and freedom. Through music, spoken word, and historical testimony, these voices are transformed from archival records into living memories. As the stories unfold, past and present intersect, culminating in a communal celebration of freedom, remembrance, and hope. Tangled Roots invites audiences to reflect on the legacy of those who came before us and the continuing journey toward justice and equality.
Act I
Scene I . An Un-watered Seed
Scene II. Roots of Courage
Scene III. Leaves of Faith
Scene IV. Blossoms of Freedom
Scene V. Resolve
Upcoming Performance
Juneteenth 2027
COMPOSERS & CREATORS
Carmen Bell, M.M.
Creator • Co-Composer • Librettist • Soprano
Carmen Bell, soprano, is recognized for her compelling and expressive performances, captivating audiences throughout Michigan and beyond. She holds a Master of Music degree in Voice Performance from Eastern Michigan University and a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Western Michigan University, where she studied under Dr. Carl J. Ratner.
Her operatic repertoire includes Miss Todd in Menotti's The Old Maid and the Thief, La Ciesca in Puccini's Gianni Schicchi, and performances in Le Nozze di Figaro, Così fan tutte, The Tender Land, and La Traviata. An accomplished composer, producer, and arts entrepreneur, Bell is the founder and executive director of AuthenticOpera Co., an organization dedicated to expanding access to opera through innovative community-centered productions and new works. Her compositional work includes the youth musicals Princess Lily and The Battle, as well as the Juneteenth opera Tangled Roots: An Opera in One Act.
Beyond the stage, she is a higher education administrator and educator with more than a decade of experience leading student success initiatives. She currently serves as Program Manager for Academic Support Programs at Western Michigan University and will join Black Voices in Cabaret as Managing Director for the upcoming season.
Bell is an active community leader, serving on the boards of the Black Arts & Cultural Center and the Southwestern Michigan Urban League. Through her work in the arts, education, and community engagement, she continues to create opportunities that amplify underrepresented voices and connect communities through storytelling and performance.
Rufus Ferguson, M.M.
Co-Creator • Composer • Arranger • Piano
Rufus Ferguson is a Detroit-based multi-genre pianist, organist, composer, and arranger whose musical voice bridges gospel, jazz, and classical traditions. Raised in Flint, Michigan, he began playing in the church at an early age and was introduced to jazz piano at 13, shaping a style defined by both versatility and depth.
Ferguson holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in jazz and classical piano from Western Michigan University, where he studied with Roger Jones, Jeremy Siskind, and Matthew Fries. His dynamic range across styles has led to collaborations with Grammy-nominated and award-winning artists, including a feature on producer Brandon Williams’ album alongside renowned pianists Taylor Eigsti and Robert Glasper.
He is a member of the Rodney Whitaker Group, led by internationally acclaimed bassist and Michigan State University Distinguished Professor Rodney Whitaker. As a composer and arranger, Ferguson’s work has been featured at the 2018 Gilmore Keyboard Festival with his 9-piece ensemble, and his orchestral arrangements have been performed by the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra and the Battle Creek Symphony Orchestra.
An active performer on the global stage, Ferguson has toured internationally, including recent appearances in the United Arab Emirates with New York–based hip-hop artist and activist Mahogany Jones.
In addition to his performance career, Ferguson is a dedicated educator. He has taught class piano and directed the University Jazz Lab Band at Western Michigan University, served as Assistant Professor of Jazz and Popular Music at Albion College, and currently serves as Professor of Music and Chair of Music Technology Programs at Mott Community College.
Jordan Hamilton, M.M.
Co-Creator • Composer • Arranger • Cello
Award-winning cellist, vocalist, composer, songwriter, and producer Jordan Hamilton, M.M. is recognized for his genre-defying approach to music, blending classical traditions with hip-hop, soul, R&B, jazz, folk, and electronic influences. A graduate of Western Michigan University, where he earned his Master of Music degree in 2018, Hamilton has developed a distinctive artistic voice through cello, vocals, looping technology, improvisation, and original composition.
Classically trained, Hamilton has performed regularly with the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra for nearly a decade and is currently listed among the orchestra’s cello section. His work also extends deeply into contemporary music as a member of Kalamazoo’s Last Gasp Collective and through an expansive career as a solo and collaborative artist.
Hamilton’s original music has earned significant recognition. His 2019 EP, My Thoughts Are, received Album of the Year at the 2020 WYCE Jammie Awards, and he was named a Local Spins Emerging Artist of the Year. His recorded work also includes Vibrations, Believe In..., and Project Freedom, his 2024 album released through Mello Music Group. Written and produced by Hamilton, Project Freedom explores resilience, connection, growth, loss, love, and personal freedom while expanding the cello’s role across R&B, soul, hip-hop, electronic music, and jazz.
His collaborative work includes Tri Magi with producer The Lasso and saxophonist Saxsquatch, released through Mello Music Group. On the project, Hamilton contributes cello, voice, and piano, further demonstrating the versatility that has become central to his artistic identity. His performances and artistry have also been featured by PBS and other regional and national arts media.
Hamilton’s work continually expands expectations of the cello. Equally comfortable interpreting classical repertoire and creating layered contemporary compositions, he uses the instrument as a vehicle for melody, rhythm, harmony, storytelling, and experimentation. His work as a performer and community artist also includes workshops and collaborative performances designed to foster creativity and connection through music.
FEATURED ARTISTS
Travis Leon Williams, M.M
Featured Artist • Tenor
American tenor Travis Leon Williams, a native of Lansing, Michigan, is a Resident Artist with Detroit Opera. During the 2025–26 season, he made his Detroit Opera mainstage debut as Luke in Poul Ruders’ The Handmaid’s Tale, appeared in John Cage’s Apartment House 1776, and covered roles in the double bill Highways and Valleys.
Williams made his professional operatic role debut as Spoletta in Tosca with Opera Las Vegas and originated the role of legendary tenor Roland Hayes in Vegas City Opera’s 2022 premiere of Black Swan Radio Hour, returning to the role for its 2023 revival. His additional performance credits include Opera Grand Rapids, the Lansing Symphony Orchestra, Las Vegas Sinfonietta, and appearances in both opera and musical theatre.
Williams earned his Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Western Michigan University and the Lee Honors College and his Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. His advanced training has included participation in Dolora Zajick’s Institute for Young Dramatic Voices, where he worked with internationally recognized coaches in operatic repertoire, language, and performance.
His honors include first prizes in the Opera Grand Rapids Collegiate Competition, second prize in the American Institute of Musical Studies Meistersinger Competition, and a 2022 Encouragement Award from the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition.
In addition to his performance career, Williams is committed to arts education and mentorship, having worked as a voice coach and teaching artist with programs including the Wharton Center for Performing Arts, the Sutton Foster Awards, Disney Musicals in Schools, and Take It From The Top.
Williams performs the role of Caleb in Tangled Roots.
PRODUCTION HISTORY
Since its world premiere, Tangled Roots has continued to evolve through performances that bring together opera, theatre, spoken word, jazz, and contemporary musical influences to illuminate the firsthand narratives at the heart of the work.
2025 WORLD PREMIERE
February 28, 2025 | Battle Creek, Michigan
Cast
Queenie — Carmen Bell, Soprano
Caleb — Travis Leon Williams, Tenor
Mary Reynolds — Marissa Herrington
Laura Clark — Angela Matthews
William Colbert — James A. Smith II
William Moore — Sidney Ellis
Katie Rowe — Jessica LaGrand
Robert Falls — LE Johnson
Arnold Gragston — Tim Elliott
With support from
W.K. Kellogg Foundation • Southwest Michigan Urban League
2026 JUNETEENTH PRODUCTION
June 19, 2026 | Dalton Theatre, Kalamazoo College | Kalamazoo, Michigan
Cast
Queenie — Carmen Bell, Soprano
Caleb — Travis Leon Williams, Tenor • Detroit Opera Resident Artist
Mary Reynolds — Bianca Washington
Felix Haywood — Sidney Ellis
Katie Rowe — Altamiece Cooper
Arnold Gragston — Ed Genesis, Spoken Word Performer
Sarah Ashley — Bridget Banks
John W. Fields — Aslan Smith
Marshall Butler — Xavier Bolden
William Colbert — James A. Smith II, Spoken Word Performer
With support from
Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership • The Gilmore • Face Off Theatre Company • AuthenticOpera Co. • Pink Ribbon Sisterhood
