The Swann is a chamber opera inspired by the life of William Dorsey Swann—a formerly enslaved person who became the first self-identified “queen of drag” in the United States—the work explores early forms of Black queer resistance, joy, and self-determination.

Artists 

photo by Scott Ellison Smith

Tamar-kali (Mabou Mines Associate Artist) is an award-winning composer, vocalist and performer whose practice extends from alt rock, chamber and opera to film and symphonic work with radical depth and emotional precision. She scored the acclaimed films Mudbound, The Assistant, Shirley and Little Richard: I am Everything among others. Her original score for history making cinematographer Rachel Morrison’s directorial debut ‘The Fire Inside’ made 2025’s Oscar Shortlist. She has collaborated with visionaries including Steve McQueen, Bill T Jones, Josephine Decker and Julie Dash. As a performer, her work has graced world-class stages. Tamar-kali is one of the most compelling sonic storytellers of our time.

James Blaszko (director) is a first-generation American director and creative producer. After staging and translating Sapphira Cristál’s maxi challenge-winning performance of “O mio babbino caro” for RuPaul’s Drag Race on MTV, as well as directing her popular music video of the same aria, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts commissioned Blaszko to open their 2024 Summer for the City Festival with Soundcake, starring Cristál, Monét X Change, and Thorgy Thor. He has directed several other concert works and special events including Tamar-kali’s Freedom is a Constant Struggle (Lincoln Center), We Count (Harare International Festival of the Arts) and Ride of the Valkyries! (Boston Lyric Opera) narrated by David Hyde Pierce. Most recently, Blaszko served as Lena Waithe’s creative producer on her sold-out playwright and stage acting debut, trinity at Baltimore Center Stage. He continues to tour Liza Jessie Peterson’s The Peculiar Patriot to theatres and prisons across the country, with its next stop at New York Theatre Workshop in May 2026. @jamesblaszko