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
The opera unfolds as a series of encounters with the past, where the presence of ancestors is felt, heard, and remembered. As names are spoken and stories emerge, voices rise to fill the space, bringing to life moments that have shaped generations.
Each scene reveals a new layer of experience, moving through expressions of courage, faith, love, and freedom. The boundaries between past and present begin to dissolve, allowing history to exist not as something distant, but as something living and immediate.
Through these unfolding moments, Tangled Roots becomes an intimate and powerful journey of remembrance, connection, and identity.
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 | Friday, June 19, 2026
7:00 PM
Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership
1903 W Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo, MI 49008
This performance is presented in collaboration with Face Off Theatre Company, Authentic Opera Co., and the Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership.
