In February 2022, Opera Grand Rapids premiered the opera Stinney: An American Execution, composed by Frances Pollock, with a libretto by Frances Pollock and Tia Price.

In 1944, George Stinney Jr. was executed at the age of 14. Wrongfully accused of the rape and murder of two white girls, George became the youngest person legally executed in America. Stinney: An American Execution spotlights the agony of this injustice as it reminds us of our aspirations for an enlightened society.

The recording of Opera Grand Rapids’ production will be broadcast on WGVU June 14 at 9:00 pm. Starting June 17, it will be available to stream on PBS platforms nationally.