new wave opera to present world premiere of deep water

New Wave Opera premieres post-apocalyptic queer fantasy opera by Portland composer Caroline Louise Miller

April 29, 2026 – Portland, OR: New Wave Opera (NWO) presents the world premiere of Deep Water by Portland composer Caroline Louise Miller, June 18-21 at the Boiler Room Theatre in Lincoln Hall at Portland State University. Deep Water is a post-apocalyptic fantasy opera that investigates rage, grief, play, & persistence in the face of gargantuan, destructive forces. Queer teenage companions Val & Bluejay chronicle the fall of humanity during the Anthropocene, acting as witnesses and documentarians and finding resilience through love and play. Deep Water positions two queer teenagers in the role of history-creation, defining what is worth preserving. 

Shaping this groundbreaking opera are Portland’s leading musical and theatrical artists: stage director Chrsitine Freije, lighting designer Samantha Kemp, and music director Stephen Lewis. “The world that Caroline has conjured in Deep Water is so imaginative, surprising, and infused with deeply human grief, longing, and humor,” says Freije. Adds Kemp, “I am excited to explore the question of what our role and responsibility as individual humans is in leaving behind a legacy as a collective species, especially in the face of ecological crisis.” The production features a giant goblin shark sculpture crafted from recycled materials by artist Eli Cannon, bringing a striking fusion of visual art and opera to the stage. 

Stage Director Christine Freije

Music Director Dr. Stephen Lewis

Lighting Designer Samantha Kemp

The musical world of the opera includes four singers, piano, and electronics, with influences from a  variety of musical styles. “Miller’s unique blend of avant-garde, musical theater, and pop styles channels a fractured legacy of meaning while being supported by a deeper consistency of feeling,” shares Lewis. The cast is led by contemporary music powerhouses soprano Lindsey Rae Johnson as Val and mezzo Lisa Neher as Bluejay, the teenage companions cursed to wander the earth and document the fall of humanity. Soprano Dru Rutledge and mezzo Allison Kim-Yok Knotts portray a variety of roles, from mysterious and powerful Time Priests to human travelers who gather materials from the ruins of society. 
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Miller shares about their opera: “In writing Deep Water, I am continually inspired by the vast complexities of human experience, exploring entanglements of climate grief with the need for love, levity and play.”

Deep Water will be performed in English with English supertitles, with a runtime of 70 minutes. The Sunday June 21 performance will be ASL interpreted, thanks to generous support from Portland Arts & Culture’s Arts Access Fund. This production is made possible thanks to generous support from Portland State University, Regional Arts & Culture Council, Portland Arts & Culture’s Arts Access Fund, and donors from our community. 

To learn more about this show and more from the upcoming season, visit NEWWAVEOPERA.ORG.

Deep Water Composer & Librettist Caroline Louise Miller

AT A GLANCE

WHAT: Deep Water (World Premiere)
WHEN: Thursday, June 18, 7:30 pm, Friday June 19, 7:30 pm, Saturday, June 20, 7:30 pm, Sunday, June 21, 2:00 pm (includes ASL interpretation)
WHERE: Boiler Room Theatre at Lincoln Hall | Portland State University | 1620 SW Park Ave | Portland, OR | 97201
TICKETS: $30 General Admission; $15 Seniors, Veterans, & Artists; $10 Students, BIPOC, Indigenous, LGBTQ+; $5 Arts for All. Free to PSU Students with ID.
RUNTIME: 70 minutes with no intermission
CONTENT: This production includes brief profanity

FOR MEDIA INQUIRES

Contact Lisa Neher, President, New Wave Opera

DEEP WATER CAST

Val: Lindsey Rae Johnson
Bluejay: Lisa Neher
Traveler 1: Dru Rutledge
Traveler 2: Allison Kim-Yok Knotts

DEEP WATER CREATIVE TEAM

Caroline Miller, composer & librettist
Stephen Lewis, music director & pianist
Christine Freije, stage director
Samantha Kemp, lighting designer
Eli Cannon, sculpture artist