UK Opera Theatre Presents Rappahannock County at the Lexington Opera House, October 16–18, 2026
LEXINGTON, KY (July 20, 2026) –– As the third production in the Tell America's Stories series, Rappahannock County will be performed at the Lexington Opera House from Friday, October 16, through Sunday, October 18, 2026. With a libretto by Pulitzer Prize winner Mark Campbell and music by Ricky Ian Gordon, Rappahannock County, published by Theodore Presser Company, is a theatrical song cycle that premiered in 2011 and explores the impact of the Civil War on Virginians. Inspired by diaries, letters, and firsthand accounts, the work traces the years 1861-65 through five chapters that illuminate the cost of the conflict. The production is a multimedia event, enhanced by projections, and features five singers performing more than 30 roles.
Gordon is also the composer of Orpheus & Euridice and the opera adaptation of The Grapes of Wrath. Campbell, a Pulitzer Prize and Grammy Award winner, has written 45 opera librettos, lyrics for seven musicals, and the texts for 12 song cycles and seven oratorios. His works include Silent Night, A Nation of Others, and Sanctuary Road, all of which have been presented by UK Opera Theatre.
“As we celebrate the 250th birthday of our nation, we are delighted to announce that we plan to continue this initiative beyond our initial commitment of three operas,” said Everett McCorvey, D.M.A., director of UK Opera Theatre. “Rappahannock County gives us an insight into American history and the mindset of the people of Virginia during the Civil War. We are also delighted to welcome stage director Richard Gammon back to Lexington as we embark on this powerful work.”
Tickets are available for purchase now at ticketmaster.com, lexingtonoperahouse.com, or in person at the Central Bank Center Box Office from 12-4 P.M. on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Venue Contact:
Megan Garrett | MGarrett@centralbankcenter.com
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About Lexington Opera House
Located in Lexington, Kentucky, the Lexington Center Corporation (LCC) is a not-for-profit 501c3 corporate agency of the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government. It was established in 1974 to manage and maintain Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center, the Central Bank Center (formerly Lexington Convention Center), Triangle Park, and the Lexington Opera House. One of the nation’s most storied entertainment destinations, Central Bank Center venues collectively welcome an average of 1.3 million patrons annually.
The Lexington Opera House, built in 1886 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is one of the premier performing arts centers in the region. Since its opening, the Opera House has played host to such famous stage performers as W.C. Fields, The Marx Brothers, Al Jolson, Julie Harris, Steve Martin, Brian Wilson, and Graham Nash. It has undergone two major renovations and remains a cultural destination in downtown Lexington.
About Oak View Group
Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in premium live entertainment infrastructure and services, with a platform spanning venue development and end-to-end capabilities across venue management, hospitality, and sponsorship sales. Founded in 2015, the Company serves a collection of seven world-class owned venues and a client roster of the most iconic arenas, stadiums, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions, spanning four continents.