A Word From Our Director - PJ Freebourn

When we humans first emerged from caves, our survival depended on our ability to classify. That sabertooth tiger is deadly. This bunny is not. Our brains classify everything in our surroundings and we do it instinctively. Being wary of the unknown was a way to prolong your life.

Even now, this instinct drives us to belittle, shame, and persecute those who do not fit our societal classifications. When something is hard to classify, we are likely to classify it as “monstrous.”

Julie could not and would not be classified. Some people hated her, some loved her, everyone talked about her. She was unashamedly queer. She dressed as a man, had relationships with men and women, mastered sword fighting, sang onstage, and combined traditionally masculine and feminine characteristics in her public performances.

The story of Julie’s life is an important story to tell in 2021. She embraced the unclassifiable and forced people to expand their understanding of sexual and gender roles. In a similar fashion, the opera Julie, Monster refuses to be classified, telling its story through a unique blend of electronica, pop, and baroque music.

I hope that this opera helps to affirm those who feel like monsters living outside classification. 

“There are no monsters, just more ways to be alive than you ever imagined.” –Julie Monster

PJ Freebourn, Director