The Central Park Five, an opera based on the experience of five African American and Latino teenagers wrongfully convicted of a brutal rape in 1989, opens June 15 for a three-performance run at the Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro. The Long Beach Opera production, composed by Anthony Davis and directed by Andreas Mitisek, will take place June 15, 22 and 23.

“This happened in 1989 but this is still going on today and a lot of the prejudice is still around now and seems to be resurfacing more in some regards,” said composer Anthony Davis. “We are not trying to do a documentary about these five people. That has been done really well. What we want to create is a work of art that is based on their experience.”

For tickets and more information, visit Long Beach Opera’s website here or call 562-683-2109.

Director Andreas Mitisek works with his cast as they rehearse for “The Central Park Five,” of the Long Beach Opera in Long Beach Saturday, June 1, 2019. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
Leslie Dunner, Conductor, directs during a rehearsal, from left to right, Bernard Holcomb, Nathan Granner, Derrell Acon, Cedric Berry and Orson Van Gay, who play the men wrongfully convicted of raping a woman in New York in “The Central Park Five,” of the Long Beach Opera in Long Beach Saturday, June 1, 2019. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
Cedric Berry performs during the interrogation scene during a rehearsal of “The Central Park Five,” of the Long Beach Opera in Long Beach Saturday, June 1, 2019. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
Cedric Berry, center and the other actors perform during the interrogation scene during a rehearsal of “The Central Park Five,” of the Long Beach Opera in Long Beach Saturday, June 1, 2019. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
Derrell Acon, left, Cedric Berry, center and Bernard Holcomb, right, do voice warmups during a rehearsal of “The Central Park Five,” of the Long Beach Opera in Long Beach Saturday, June 1, 2019. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
Bernard Holcomb, center, and his fellow actors play their part during a rehearsal of “The Central Park Five,” of the Long Beach Opera in Long Beach Saturday, June 1, 2019. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
Bernard Holcomb, left and Orson Van Gay, right, do voice warmups with Leslie Dunner, Conductor, during a rehearsal of “The Central Park Five,” of the Long Beach Opera in Long Beach Saturday, June 1, 2019. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
Orson Van Gay listens to the stage director during a rehearsal of “The Central Park Five,” of the Long Beach Opera in Long Beach Saturday, June 1, 2019. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
Leslie Dunner, Conductor, directs during a rehearsal, in “The Central Park Five,” of the Long Beach Opera in Long Beach Saturday, June 1, 2019. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
Leslie Dunner, Conductor, directs during a rehearsal, as the actors move places in “The Central Park Five,” in Long Beach Saturday, June 1, 2019. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
Joelle Lamarre, who plays one of the mothers, visits her son in the interrogation room played by Derrell Acon during a rehearsal of “The Central Park Five,” of the Long Beach Opera in Long Beach Saturday, June 1, 2019. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
Derrell Acon, during a rehearsal, reacts as he is in an interrogation room Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
Jessica Mamey who plays the District Attorney, during a rehearsal of “The Central Park Five,” of the Long Beach Opera in Long Beach Saturday, June 1, 2019. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
Nathan Granner reacts as he is in an interrogation room as he plays one of the five young men wrongfully convicted of raping a woman in New York in “The Central Park Five,” by the Long Beach Opera in Long Beach Saturday, June 1, 2019. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
Nathan Granner during a rehearsal as he plays one of the five young men wrongfully convicted of raping a woman in New York in “The Central Park Five,” by the Long Beach Opera in Long Beach Saturday, June 1, 2019. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.
Leslie Dunner, Conductor, directs the cast as they rehearse for “The Central Park Five,” of the Long Beach Opera in Long Beach Saturday, June 1, 2019. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.