Tickets are now on sale for the hotly anticipated 10 Days in a Madhouse, a bold contemporary opera inspired by journalist Nellie Bly’s daring 1887 exposé of patient abuse at the Women’s Lunatic Asylum on Blackwell’s Island in New York City.

This gripping psychological work from acclaimed Canadian playwright Hannah Moscovitch and American composer Rene Orth makes its Canadian premiere on June 16, co-presented by Tapestry Opera, Luminato Festival, and the Canadian Opera Company, in association with TO Live.

Trailblazing journalist Nellie Bly fakes madness to be admitted to Blackwell’s Asylum in 1887. Her goal: to uncover the truth about life inside. What she finds instead is a world built to break women—where grief, poverty, and trauma are mistaken for insanity, and where doctors decide who is sane enough to be heard.

Once inside, Nellie quickly drops her “mad act.” But no one notices. Surrounded by women who have been silenced and dismissed, she witnesses the violence of indifference—and begins to question how thin the line between sanity and madness really is.

Directed by Joanna Settle, with COC’s Price Family Chorus Master Sandra Horst leading musical direction of the opera’s dynamic score, this production stars Canadian soprano and COC Ensemble Studio graduate Mireille Asselin as Nellie, alongside American mezzo-soprano Taylor-Alexis DuPont as Lizzie, and American baritone Jorell Williams as the asylum’s malevolent Dr. Josiah Blackwell. Canadian/American soprano and COC Ensemble Studio graduate Lauren Pearl completes the cast, reprising her role from the world premiere as Nurse/Matron.

“Opera needs works like 10 Days, which treats the medium with affection and respect while also chafing at its tropes throughout history.” — The New York Times

10 Days in a Madhouse runs June 16-21.

Performance time is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, with no intermission

Performance takes place at the Bluma Appel Theatre at 27 Front St. E

Sung in English with English SURTITLES™

Please note: While the COC is a co-presenter of this production, all related sales and customer service inquiries will be managed by TO Live via their Box Office at 416-368-6161 or info@tolive.com.

For more information, please visit www.coc.ca.