Chagrin Arts Presents Blind Injustice - Playhouse Square

Blind Injustice – A Powerful Opera of Truth and Redemption

Chagrin Arts Presents BLIND INJUSTICE at Playhouse Square
More info on chagrinarts.org/blind-injustice
Tickets at playhousesquare.org/events/detail/chagrin-arts-presents-blind-injustice
(short link: tiny.cc/blindinjustice2025)

About the Event

Chagrin Arts is proud to present the Northeast Ohio premiere of BLIND INJUSTICE, a groundbreaking opera based on real stories of wrongful conviction. Originally commissioned by Cincinnati Opera, BLIND INJUSTICE debuted in July 2019 to five sold-out performances. It was then brought to life in NYC by MasterVoices in February 2025. It has received critical acclaim for its powerful storytelling and innovative use of jazz, rap, blues, and gospel. 

This compelling work is based on Mark Godsey’s book of the same name and recounts the harrowing journeys of six Ohio exonerees who had their convictions overturned through the work of the Ohio Innocence Project. With 40% of the opera’s text derived directly from exonerees’ interviews, BLIND INJUSTICE delivers an unfiltered, deeply moving experience that resonates with audiences.

6 Lives
118 Years Wrongly Incarcerated
1 Story of Exoneration and Hope

Composer: Scott Davenport Richards
Librettist: David Cote
Based on the book Blind Injustice by Mark Godsey
Director: Eric van Baars
Conductor: Andrew Grams

Event Details

Dates:
July 11, 2025: 7:30pm
July 12, 2025: 7:30pm
July 13, 2025: 3:00pm
Location: Playhouse Square Outcalt Theatre, Cleveland, Ohio
Tickets & Information: Tickets sold on playhousesquare.org

Chagrin Arts: Arts with a Purpose

Founded in 2007, Chagrin Arts is dedicated to “Arts with a Purpose”—using the arts to spark meaningful conversations and inspire social change. Over the past five years, Chagrin Arts has focused on raising awareness of wrongful convictions, most notably with the creation of the Garden of Hope in Chagrin Falls, featuring exoneree Dean Gillispie’s sculpture, Imaginal Cell.

Our Mission & Vision

Mission: To enrich lives through inspiring arts programming and thought-provoking discussions.
Vision: To end the tragedy of wrongful convictions in Ohio through the power of the arts.

Why This Matters

Wrongful convictions devastate lives and erode trust in the justice system. BLIND INJUSTICE aims to:
 ✔ Educate audiences about systemic flaws in the legal system
 ✔ Challenge perceptions and inspire critical discussions
 ✔ Engage the community in justice reform efforts
 ✔ Empower audiences to become advocates for change

Critical Acclaim

Wall Street Journal: “Seamless, hard-hitting and affecting. The music is masterly, adroit, tuneful. A powerful piece of music theater.”
Opera News: "A powerful and moving work, as evident from the audience’s enthusiastic response.”
Justice Michael P. Donnelly, Ohio Supreme Court: “This opera conveys the human suffering that takes place when innocent people are convicted and highlights the systemic causes that allow these injustices to happen.”

Learn More:
New York Times
The New Yorker
ABC News
NY Classical Review
The Mill Brook Independent

Join Us

Chagrin Arts invites you to become an integral supporter of this project. Your participation helps amplify the message that the arts can educate, inspire, and drive real change.

For press inquiries and sponsorship opportunities, contact Chagrin Arts at:
info@chagrinarts.org
(440) 247-9700

📍 Playhouse Square, Cleveland, OH
📅 July 2025

Chagrin Arts presents Blind Injustice, a groundbreaking opera based on the true stories of six Ohioans who were wrongfully convicted and later exonerated through the work of the Ohio Innocence Project. Adapted from Mark Godsey’s book Blind Injustice, this compelling production brings their harrowing journeys to the stage through a dynamic blend of operatic, jazz, gospel, funk, and hip-hop influences.

🎶 What to Expect:
✨ A unique operatic experience infused with diverse musical styles
📖 A gripping narrative based on real-life exonerations
🎭 A moving exploration of justice, resilience, and the human spirit

🔹 Creative Team:
🎬 Robin Guarino – Director & Dramaturg
🎼 Ted Sperling – Conductor
🎵 Scott Davenport Richards – Composer
✍️ David Cote – Librettist

Don’t miss this unforgettable performance that sheds light on the flaws of the justice system and the triumph of truth. Stay tuned for ticket information!