"Forsyth County is Flooding (with the Joy of Lake Lanier)" is a bold new chamber opera by composer/librettist Marcus Norris and story by Adamma Ebo. Set against the haunting history of Georgia’s Lake Lanier—built over the displaced Black community of Forsyth County—the opera weaves past and present through lyrical storytelling and striking music. Blending humor, sorrow, and surreal imagery, it explores themes of memory, loss, and the ghosts that linger beneath the surface. With its powerful score and poignant libretto, this work reclaims a buried history while celebrating Black resilience, identity, and the human drive to find joy amid tragedy.

Produced and performed by The Atlanta Opera in June 2024.

Composer and Librettist MARCUS NORRIS
Story ADAMMA EBO

CAST
Church Jenkins KEVIN THOMPSON
Minka Wiltz ODELLA SYRUS
County Mayor John Johns ANDREW GILSTRAP
Oscar AC WILSON
Jane SAKINAH BENNETT
Bully MARNIE BRECKENRIDGE
Butter RONNITA MILLER

CREATIVE TEAM
Conductor CHAOWLEN TING
Director TINASHE KAJESE-BOLDEN
Choreographer DALE HOWLETT
Scenic & Props Designer KAT CONLEY
Costume Designer JARROD BARNES
Lighting & Projections Designer BRADLEY BERGERON
Assistant Choreographer ZACHARY ORR
Assistant Conductor TIMOTHY VERVILLE
Film Producers TOMER ZVULUN and FELIPE BARRAL
Director of Photography FELIPE BARRAL