Poppea: A groovy realization of Monteverdi's classic opera, L’incoronazione di Poppea. Written in 1643 and credited to the Italian composer Claudio Monteverdi, his opera follows the Roman Emperor Nero’s descent into tyranny as he coronates his mistress. For centuries, stagings of Poppea have presented Nero as a power hungry villain--a contrast to the libretto, which offers a nuanced perspective. Leaning into this nuance, our production of Poppea complicates this narrative in a refreshing take on this historic tale. Our story has been removed from ancient Rome and reset in New York in the 1970’s. A time of political and social unrest and progress, the growing tension between the old and new guards evokes a time not unlike our own.