Hometown Heroes: Wading Home

Rosalyn Story is the author of the novel "Wading Home.” It tells the story of Julian, a trumpet player from New Orleans who is estranged from his family.

Living in New York, Julian rushes home after Hurricane Katrina hits and the levees fail. His father is missing and Julian searches for him for weeks.

Along the way, he learns a lot about himself and the family and the city he left behind.

"Wading Home" has been turned into an opera, and music students and alumni from SMU are bringing it to life. There will be 50 singers from Dallas, 50 singers from New Orleans, plus children, dancers, an orchestra and a slideshow presentation showing Hurricane Katrina's aftermath.

The opera shows the strength, hope and inspiration of the city and its survivors. All of the artists are donating their time and talent. 

Admission is free and donations will be accepted for the three productions that benefit two non-profits: The Roots of Music, a non-profit after-school music program in New Orleans, and the Bruce Foote Music Scholarship in Dallas.

In New Orleans, "Wading Home" will be performed Saturday, Sept. 12 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 13 at 3 p.m. at Loyola University New Orleans in Roussel Hall.

The Dallas performance will be Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 7:30 p.m. at the Dallas City Performance Hall.

For more information or to make a donation to the all-volunteer production, call Barbara Hill Moore, distinguished professor of voice at SMU, at 214-768-3580.

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