Photo: Jim Carmody

Scenic Design 
Anthony Davis-Composer
Allan Havis-Librettist
Mark DeChiazza-Director 
Hailie Parker-Costumes
MaryEllen Stebbins-Lighting
Black Box Theatre at Conrad Prebys Music Center, UC San Diego

Composed by Anthony Davis with a libretto by Allan Havis, Lear on the 2nd Floor is a contemporary take on Shakespeare’s King Lear. It tells the story of Nora Lear, a prominent neuroscience researcher beset with early onset Alzheimer’s; as she loses her bearings and her autonomy, she is increasingly at the mercy of her three quarreling daughters. Nora’s dead husband Mortimer is Shakespeare’s fool in this version and is her constant companion as she walks through a world where the past and present blend and reality bends. Davis’ arrangement and instrumentation reflect diverse influences ranging from classical opera to jazz to reggae.

With musical direction by Steven Schick, and stage direction by Mark DeChiazza, the cast features soprano Susan Narucki as Nora Lear, bass-baritone Philip Larson as Mortimer, Jorell Williams as the Nurse and the Lawyer, Ruff Yeager as the Doctor,  UCSD graduate students Bonnie Lander, Alice Teyssier, Tiffany Du Mouchelle and Sara Perez and the musicians of palimpsest.  

Lear on the 2nd Floor is presented by kallisti, the contemporary vocal ensemble of the UC Department of Music.