Chamber Opera. Redefined Stages. Bold Voices. Shared Justice. Connection.
Rising Waters
Collective
disPLACE
Fri, Aug 21
|Seattle
Set amid the changing streets of Seattle’s International District, disPLACE unearths the personal stories behind urban transformation. This U.S. premiere by Rising Waters Collective brings voices to those often left out of the conversation on progress and belonging.
Time & Location
Aug 21, 2026, 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Seattle, 409 7th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104, USA
About the event
In the heart of Seattle’s International District, where generations have built lives, homes, and businesses, the question of who gets to stay, and who is forced to move on, echoes louder than ever.
disPLACE is a contemporary chamber opera that gives voice to those caught in the tide of urban “renewal.” Through two intertwining stories of loss, resilience, and belonging, it explores how the search for home collides with the forces of gentrification.
disPLACE brings together performance artist Julia Benzinger and baritone José Rubio, directed by Kelly Kitchens, with stage management by Quinn Chase and assistant stage management by Amanda Balter.
Presented in partnership with Theatre Off Jackson, disPLACE finds powerful resonance in the International District, a neighborhood shaped by migration, displacement, and enduring community. Here, the opera becomes more than performance, it’s a reflection of the changing city itself.
