Cultural Attaché’s Icons 2025 series continues with two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage. Our conversation was centered on the world premiere of her new opera with composer Ricky Ian Gordon, This House.
They had previously collaborated on the opera Intimate Apparel based on her play. What made this collaboration unique was that the source material was written by her daughter, Ruby Aiyo Gerber who is also credited with the libretto alongside Lynn Nottage.
In addition to her many plays (Ruined, Clyde’s, Sweat, By The Way Meet Vera Stark), Lynn Nottage also wrote the book for MJ: The Musical about Michael Jackson. The show is still running on Broadway and touring the United States.
During this interview we spoke about the lessons she learned doing her first opera, her collaboration with her daughter and her goal of creating community with her work.
Given Lynn Nottage’s reputation, I was surprised that this video hadn’t been discovered…yet. I’m hoping that this will give opera fans and those who love her plays and opportunity to hear this amazingly gifted playwright/librettist talk about her creative process and thinking.
This House tells a ghost story. Lynn Nottage tells many wonderful stories with great insights in this conversation.
This interview took place on May 28th. The interview was first posted the next day on May 29th.
To read the print version of my interview with Lynn Nottage, please go HERE.
Photo: Lynn Nottage in the Cultural Attaché Interview