Conductor

 Charlie Parker’s Yardbird paints a portrait of the tortured jazzman, legendary saxophonist, and inventor of ‘bebop.’ As his soul lingers between life and death, Charlie (Martin Bakari) returns to his famous NYC jazz club, Birdland, and is challenged to compose a final masterpiece, all while pondering the inspirations, demons, and women who fueled his creative genius. Indianapolis-native and opera superstar Angela Brown debuted the role of Charlie’s mother, Addie Parker, and will reprise this powerful character for the Indiana premiere. Written by composer Daniel Schnyder with libretto by the late playwright Bridgette A. Wimberly, this 90-minute opera offers an unflinching portrayal of one man’s journey to redemption against a backdrop of the music, opioid crisis, and racial inequality of 1950s America.

EPSG:4326

Charlie Parker’s Yardbird

Madam Walker Legacy Center

You’re the studio audience for a delicious double feature! The Cook-Off, a fresh new comic opera, is set during a televised cooking competition. Grammy-nominated composer Shawn E. Okpebholo and Pulitzer Prize and Grammy Award-winning librettist Mark Campbell have whipped up a delightful concoction, as moving as it is hilarious.

Conductor

Clinton Smith

Events

Upcoming events

6 - 7 Feb, 2026

The Cook-Off & Bon Appétit · Dayton Performing Arts

Past events

Mar 16, 2024

Charlie Parker’s Yardbird · Indianapolis Opera

About

Clinton Smith hasn't added a bio