Liberty City Arts Presents - Letters and Specters

Liberty City Arts Presents – Letters and Specters

Zachary Angus & Rachael Long, Sara Tillett & Michael McAndrew

Music, Opera

An evening exploring love, loss, and the supernatural through two song cycles. Kevin Puts' The Brightness of Light brings O'Keeffe and Stieglitz's love letters to life, while Michael McAndrew's world premiere Ghostly Sentiments traces our relationship with ghosts and sentimentality.

The Brightness of Light by Kevin Puts
This compelling song cycle brings to life the intimate love letters exchanged between painter Georgia O'Keeffe and photographer Alfred Stieglitz. The multimedia performance weaves together music and visual art, with Stieglitz's evocative photographs projected during the baritone solos and O'Keeffe's iconic paintings illuminating the soprano's vocal moments. The 45-minute cycle captures the passionate correspondence between these two artistic giants, bringing their words to life through Puts' sophisticated musical language while surrounding the audience with the very artworks that defined their creative partnership.

Ghostly Sentiments by Michael McAndrew (World Premiere)
This haunting six-movement song cycle weaves together poetry by Jean Blewett, Duncan Campbell Scott, Rose Hawthorne Lathrop, Sara Teasdale, Walter de la Mare, and Elizabeth Jennings. These words become the main emotional thread – in fear, anticipation, reminiscence, uncertainty, and even in prayer, as a reflection on those we leave or have left behind in our own lives. The visual art by Brett Myszkowski and Erin Medley, as well as the eerie lighting create a more familiar atmosphere; stories told by candlelight or by the campfire. On the surface, these can seem like any other ghost stories, but take a much more sentimental journey.

Details

Run Time: 100 mins

Ticket Price: $20

Venue: Northern Liberties Community Center

Dates: September 12, 2025 - September 13, 2025

Buy Tickets

September 12, 2025 7.00pm

700 N 3rd St

General Admission: $20

September 13, 2025 7.00pm

700 N 3rd St

General Admission: $20

About the Artist

Philly-based Soprano Rachael Long returns to Fringe (Kevin Puts' The Brightness of Light), debuts as Della (The Gift of the Magi) w Delaware Valley Opera. Recent performances: Pamina (The Magic Flute), Ciesca (Gianni Schicchi) w Art City Opera.

Philly-based baritone Zachary Angus' second Fringe appearance. Recent world premieres: David Winkler's Rossini Perduto, Daniel Asia's The Tin Angel, role debut as Enrico Ashton (Lucia di Lammermoor). Appearances w Bohème Opera NJ, Opera Festival Chicago, Indianapolis Opera.

Benjamin D'Annibale is a pianist/early keyboardist based in Philly. M.M. in Harpsichord, Univ of Music Freiburg, Germany; B.M., Piano Performance, Temple Univ, studying w Vladimir Feltsman, Charles Abramovic, and Dr. Robert Hill; music director, Schwarzwald Lutheran Church.

Soprano Sara Tillett is thrilled to perform this world premiere, Ghostly Sentiments, as part of the Philly Fringe Festival! Her fall season includes a company debut as Mrs. Gobineau in The Medium with Delaware Valley Opera Company. Find out more about Sara’s work at saratillett.com.

Michael N. McAndrew, DMA, is a pianist, vocal coach, and composer/arranger. Based at Lamar Univ, he teaches piano, theory, and opera theatre while collaborating with acclaimed artists and festivals. His work encompasses vocal coaching, conducting, reorchestrating operas, and leadership roles in TMTA/MTNA.

Brett Myszkowski is a writer and visual artist based in Philly. He is pursuing his Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at Temple Univ. Brett works as a Gallery Associate at Borrelli’s Chestnut Hill, where he was invited to show his artwork in Jan of 2026.

Erin Medley, from Humble, Texas, is pursuing a BFA in Studio Art (conc. Drawing) at Lamar Univ. Passionate about drawing since 2020, she has exhibited locally, at the Beaumont Art League and Le Grand Bal. Her work explores vulnerability and human emotion, influenced by artists like LeGrow, Jelina, and Fautri

Accessibility & Content Considerations

Open captioning

Contact the Fringe Festival Box Office for up to date accessibility information.

This event is appropriate for all ages

Fog/Smoke Effects

Covid-19 Safety policy

This event does not require masks to be worn