in the penal colony [glass]
[05/2016]
composer | PHILIP GLASS
librettist | RUDY WURLITZER
conductor | CATHERINE O’SHAUGHNESSY
scenic designer | DAN STRATTON
costume designer | STEPHANIE CLUGGISH
lighting designer | REBECCA JEFFORDS
photographer | WENDY ALAS
videographer | DAN GOLDROSEN
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/9pMitJxzHVWex562HKBQmZ;944x1220.jpeg?auto=webp)
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/h5QgjAOtLWadHW7GnemwgD;944x1220.jpeg?auto=webp)
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/faB8rMBpqeSeQE6nDayosd;984x656.jpeg?auto=webp)
The Soldier (Eric Staves) shackles the Condemned Man (Matt Katzenmeier) to a column.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/bwiQKhgQwkJbud2rIW6r3O;906x654.jpeg?auto=webp)
The Visitor (Zachary Vanderburg) examines his surroundings.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/2Efxwng9ZF9g2kS3mAcxVM;984x656.jpeg?auto=webp)
The Officer (Matthan Black) is dressed…
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/buEGEXEqPtvf6U1SZjKSSr;906x654.jpeg?auto=webp)
…and meets the Visitor.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/1u7yMP3onfYeaIu546aaYZ;944x630.jpeg?auto=webp)
The Officer shows the Visitor the draftings for the execution machine.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/ad5j7akR8n1dAmm2XA0z8r;944x630.jpeg?auto=webp)
The Officer explains the Condemned Man’s crime.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/5TGScPIBDyWeRlMBSRKtbN;944x630.jpeg?auto=webp)
The Officer explains how the executive machine works…
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/l22zjuCNoqYfZzZLu0wLJj;944x630.jpeg?auto=webp)
…by tattooing the Condemned Man’s crimes onto his body and bleeding him to death.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/2lMMG6LtPnEeAxNZiM0G9W;944x630.jpeg?auto=webp)
The tattoos are, in their own way, works of art.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/jWhRPOof20Te4BdW7w4j4h;944x630.jpeg?auto=webp)
The Visitor watches a test of the execution machine.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/7Oj0j9VGgWydeCtjZYKiHV;964x642.jpeg?auto=webp)
The Condemned Man is taking to his execution, but the machine breaks and fails to work.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/fV7TKfpXkBNcfXb5lCwLUm;926x642.jpeg?auto=webp)
The Officer tries to convince the Visitor to advocate for the execution machine with the New Commander.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/dxuReIkbPcFeEnLrR3F9pj;916x648.jpeg?auto=webp)
The Officer realizes that the only way to convince the Visitor…
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/3h8WALR6Y4zctdg8JoSGfD;974x650.jpeg?auto=webp)
…is to put himself into the machine.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/8iU0zv4ERmUeB732isGDjW;1920x1280.jpeg?auto=webp)
The Visitor reads the tombstone of the Old Commander, before leaving the penal colony forever.