Opera Roanoke will present the American opera, Glory Denied, on February 24 and 26 at the Jefferson Center

Based on the true story of the Vietnam War prisoner who was held by the United States the longest.

Glory Denied is an American opera that will be put on by Opera Roanoke at the Jefferson Center on February 24 and 26. The opera tells the story of Col. Jim Thompson, who was the American prisoner held the longest during the Vietnam War. Col. Thompson was held captive for nine years in the jungles of southeast Asia. He was kept alone for five of those years. Before he was caught, his wife Alyce’s letters were the only thing that kept him going.

After being held captive from 1964 to 1973, Col. Thompson came back to a home and country that he barely recognized. Through Jim Thompson and his wife Alyce, played by two sopranos, a tenor, and a baritone, this opera looks at how families worked during a difficult time in our country’s history.

This work will be put on by Opera Roanoke to honor the stories and views of veterans in the area. Before both shows, Opera Roanoke will hold a Veteran’s Fair in the Jefferson Center Atrium to let people know about veteran support groups and help them find more resources and volunteer opportunities if they are interested.

Glory Denied will be performed on the main stage in February. Before that, there will be two more events. On February 11 at 10 a.m., Platoon, a movie about the Vietnam War, will be shown at the Grandin Theater with the help of Opera Roanoke. At 9:15, there will be free coffee and donuts, and at 9:30, there will be a short talk about how the war has been shown on film and stage.

On February 16 at 7 p.m., Opera Roanoke will work with Hoot and Holler, Roanoke’s only live storytelling event, to share the stories of local veterans and their families with music from the opera. Part of the money from this event will go to Healing Strides, a program in Boones Mill, VA, that uses horses to help people heal.

Through Opera Roanoke’s Free Community Ticket Program, all veterans are able to get free tickets to the Glory Denied shows. You can make reservations ahead of time by calling (540) 982-2742 or sending an email to [email protected].