A new volume by acclaimed poet Kim Addonizio, whose work is known for its streetwise, unflinching explorations of love, lust, and mortality.

Set in locations from dive bars to Montparnasse Cemetery, from an ancient Greek temple to a tourist shop in Assisi, Exit Opera explores the ever-vexing issues of time, mortality, love, and loss, and considers the roles of art and human connection. Whatever their nominal subject—jazz, zombies, Buddhism, Siberian tigers—these poems make for a compelling mix of humor and pain, difficulty and solace. In a nod to Keats, one of the many fellow travelers in these poems, Addonizio invites us to “[inscribe] a few verses on whatever water / you can find” and assures readers that they are not alone in navigating the challenges and changes of mortal life.

What happens when a kingdom built on rigid rules and fragile power collides with the forces of laughter, desire, and rebellion?

Originally penned in 1933 by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, Kingdom of Cards is a darkly whimsical and poetic satire that challenges authoritarianism, blind conformity, and materialistic greed. In this bold new adaptation, Sukanya Chakrabarti reimagines Tagore’s allegory through a contemporary lens, fusing magic realism with urgent political commentary. Featuring the talents of student artists and community voices, and enriched by the evocative strains of Rabindrasangeet (Tagore’s own musical tradition), this production invites audiences to question systems of control—and rediscover the power of imagination, resistance, and the human spirit.