Amid the anti-crime hysteria of New York City in 1989, five African-American and Latino teenagers were arrested and later convicted for assaulting a jogger in Central Park — and, tragically, they ended up serving time for a crime that it turns out they didn’t commit. People of color continue to be falsely accused and punished by the legal system today, which makes Long Beach Opera’s world premiere of composer Anthony Davis and librettist Richard Wesley’s new opera, The Central Park Five, a potentially compelling artistic examination of our collective souls and social responsibilities.

 

Warner Grand Theatre, 478 W. 6th St., San Pedro; Sat., June 15 & 22, 7:30 p.m.; Sun., June 23, 2:30 p.m.; $49-$150. (310) 548-7672, longbeachopera.org.

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