Greeners

Greeners, still a work-in-progress, tells the story of Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe as they struggle to adjust to the new ways, culture, and language of America on the Lower East Side of New York a century ago.  As the characters adapt and assimilate to the New World, and try to become less “green,” the language that they sing slowly changes from their native Yiddish to a mix of Yiddish and elementary English, and eventually to a more fluent and nuanced American English.  The story is based partly on the writings of journalist Ab Cahan, particularly his novella Yekl, and partly based on the composer’s own family history.

Run Time: 100 minutes
Cast: 5 sopranos, 2 mezzo-sopranos, 1 boy soprano (or soprano) 3 tenors, 3 baritones, chorus
Instrumentation: 1 flute/piccolo, 1 oboe/English horn, 1 clarinet in Bb, 1 bassoon, 2 horns in F, 1 trumpet in C, piano, strings, and percussion (piano score also available)

“Ab Cahan’s novella Yekl transformed into an opera,” Jennifer A. Stern, Der Forverts, July 23, 2025

https://forward.com/yiddish/757498/ab-cahans-novella-yekl-transformed-into-an-opera/