The Toledo Opera Association breaks new ground next weekend with I Dream by London-born composer and current Atlanta resident Douglas Tappin.

The work represents a double first for the organization. Not only does the piece journey beyond the walls of traditional classical opera, it is also a world premiere. Dubbed a “rhythm and blues opera” by the composer, the work traces the last 36 hours of the life of America’s most notable civil rights leader, Martin Luther King, Jr.

Subtitled The Story of a Preacher from Atlanta, the show’s debut coincides with the 50th anniversary of King’s assassination on April 4, 1968. On an interesting note, King was actually in Toledo at Scott High School to hold a rally on Sept. 23, 1967, just months before.

Set in two acts, the opera begins with King boarding a plane on the morning of April 3. A series of reminiscences, dreams, and premonitions appear about the influential people in his life and the key events of his civil rights struggle as King moves ever closer to his impending appointment with destiny at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis.

For composer/author Tappin, the opera is not just a story about that point in time.

“The work actually covers the history of the civil rights movement from 1941 to 1968. I wanted to frame the significance of that whole period within the context of the last 36 hours of King’s life,” he explained in a recent interview with The Blade.

“Art is meant to cause conversations,” he said. “This is an important part of American history, and I meant to tell it in a poetic way, to create a moving experience that would engender conversation.

“The opera’s creative journey actually began when I moved from London to Atlanta. I was aware of King’s story, but I didn’t become truly familiar with it until I was living in the city and visited the historic sites.”

The work had its first incarnation as a series of short scenes presented in 2006. It continued to grow and be refined, receiving another presentation in 2010 in Atlanta.

“This production of the now complete work is the world premiere, here in Toledo. It is between 65 to 70 percent all new,” Tappin said. “I needed to coin a new word for the work I had created, and I am calling it ‘Rhythm and Blues Opera.’”

For him, this means “the work is a compilation of a number of musical styles: jazz, gospel, blues, and opera. It has recitatives, arias, meditations, plus a chorus, orchestra, and a small additional band.”

For actor Derrick Davis, who portrays the role of King, “the work is billed as an R&B opera, but I think it is more a musical theater opera. It draws on so many elements from classical styles to the more popular, and it all is just woven together beautifully.”

Davis comes to the Toledo production having just finished a tour with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera.

“Everybody knows Dr. King,” Davis said. “They are so familiar with him as an almost legendary superhuman, and we hope to preserve and protect that legacy.

“But Tappin has delved into the personal beauty of King’s story. He seeks to tell the human being side of the struggle, and I hope I can as well in my own performance.”

For Davis, this opportunity is perfectly timed. “As I was touring with Phantom, we played all of the major cities which were a part of the Civil Rights struggle: Detroit, Memphis, Birmingham. I was visiting all of these pivotal places, and without my realizing, it was setting me up for this role.”

As for actually portraying King, the performer noted, “Emotionally it is truly a challenge. King is on stage for nearly three-fourths of the show. The music is so powerful, especially his three major arias. It is simply a beast of a role. I find myself carrying the emotions of people from 50, 60, and 70 years ago even as I just walk down the street on any given day.”

Davis’ hope for the production? “I want the work to be provocative; I want people to feel anger but to funnel that anger into productive means. The message of the show is peaceful non-violent protest to engender change.

“That sort of protest began with Gandhi; it was taken up by King, and we see it happening with school kids today. You have to fight to make progress, but it has to be done with unity and love. I do want this work to make a difference.”

This same hope is carried by the show’s director, Daniel Goldstein, who said, “I’m just trying to tell the story as clearly as we can. It carries such parallels to our present day; constant reminders of things we all must face.”

“One thing is certain,” he said, “the show is not about King the legend. It is about King the man. The difficulty of being a legend is that as you are living it, you have human obligations that come with being the leader of a movement. We want to show the story of King clearly, the human with both successes and failures.”

Opera Executive Director Suzanne Rorick echoed those sentiments. “Our mission is simple: Opera tells relevant stories that still apply today.”

Filling out the cast are faces familiar to the Toledo Opera stage: Soprano Laquita Mitchell plays Coretta Scott King and baritone Kenneth Overton portrays Ralph David Abernathy. Mezzo-soprano Krysty Swann will sing King’s grandmother, Jennie Williams, and tenor Victor Ryan Robertson rounds out the cast as Hosea Williams.

Video projections by New York artist Lucy MacKinnon will provide a textured background to create place and time.

The Toledo Opera Chorus forms a core element as well, both singing and dancing their way through music true to the historic period. A three keyboard/bass/drum set ensemble will complete the sound, all underscored by the Toledo Symphony under the baton of conductor Carl Marsh.

When asked for a final comment on his work, Tappin closed with the thought, “Love is the better way; anything that can help that message forward is good.”

Performances of I Dream are set for 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Valentine Theatre, 400 N. Superior St., Toledo. Tickets, starting at $40, are available from the Toledo Opera box office, 419-255- 7464, or toledoopera.org.

First Published April 1, 2018, 1:00 p.m.