FULL STEELE ROOTS (Dave Ragland) Atlanta GA 2025 Indra Thomas, Daniel Rich

Information on the Performance

• Work Title: Steele Roots  
• Composer: Ragland Dave   
• Libretto: Selda Sahin    Libretto Text, Libretto Index
• Venue & Opera Company: Ray Charles Performing Arts Center, Atlanta, Georgia, Atlanta Opera  
• Recorded: June 21, 2025
• Type: Staged Opera Live
• Singers: Indra Thomas, Daniel Rich, Martin Bakari, Amanda Sheriff, Rehanna Thelwell
• Conductor: Nicole HARDIN  
• Orchestra: Atlanta Opera  
• Stage Director: Tazewell Thompson  
• Costume Designer:   

Information about the Recording

• Published by: Atlanta Opera  
• Date Published: 2025  
• Format: Streaming
• Quality Video: 4 Audio:4
• Subtitles: yessubs, ensubs  

• ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PERFORMANCE

  Steele Roots is an opera that examines themes of legacy, family, and perseverance through the lens of its central character, Carrie Steele. Set in the late 19th century at the Atlanta Terminal train station and moving into the present day, the story follows Carrie, who uses her literacy, integrity, and compassion to care for abandoned children while raising funds by selling her autobiography to establish a permanent home for them.

  Carrie’s legacy is explored via Ruth, a 12-year-old in her care who is learning to read, and Raymond, a coworker who supports her efforts. The narrative shifts between past and present as Michael, a modern-day father, arrives seeking a connection to his family roots to become a better father to his newborn daughter. The story explores ideas of community, responsibility, and the enduring influence of one person’s actions. Carrie’s efforts endure in the Carrie Steele-Pitts Home, an Atlanta institution and a testament to her determination and vision. With its blend of music and dialogue, Steele Roots reflects how a single person can change the world for the better.

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