Night 2 - Silver Gilded Hand-mirror or Whispered Shell

Schedule

Fri Oct 24 2025 at 07:30 pm to 09:00 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

International Museum of Surgical Science | Chicago, IL

Advertisement
A surreal new opera of shifting vignettes, lush chamber music, and dreamlike characters, brought to life by Chicago’s motley orchestra.
About this Event

Silver Gilded Hand-mirror or Whispered Shell
October 24 2025
7:30-9:00pm

Doors at 7:00pm

Tickets:

EARLYBIRD

$25 GA

PRESALE

$25 Student - use code STUDENT at checkout

(Valid Student ID will be requested at the door)

$25 IMSS Members Presale - use code IMSSMEMBER at checkout

(Valid IMSS Membership card will be requested at door)

$15 GA Presale

DOOR

$30 Student & IMSS Members (With valid ID & Membership Card) at Door

$35 GA at Door


“A Silver Gilded Hand-mirror or Whispered Shell” is a new opera by composer, co-directed by playwright .

Told through a series of surreal vignettes, the work takes shape as an exquisite corpse—where each fragment adds to a strange, dreamlike whole. At its core are two enigmatic figures: Dr. Giunetti (Justin D’Acci) and The Green Lady (Vim Grace Hile), joined by a shifting ensemble of characters who emerge and dissolve between them.

The libretto was crafted to accompany seven chamber pieces Asplund began at Mills College in 2020. Once composed for string quartet, this iteration reimagines the music for a motley orchestra of Chicago-based musicians, blending diverse traditions and instruments. Among them: a hand-built Rebec by Alex Yelamos, performed by Andrew Seller.

Join us for an evening where past and present, the familiar and the uncanny, converge in an operatic experiment unlike any other.


Writer and Director - Lula Asplund 

Lula Asplund is an experimental composer and Chicago-based sound artist. Her work invokes voice as object and atmosphere—dislocated, refracted, tactile. Using spectral play, vocal manipulation, and fragmented sound poetry, she enters the nonlinear logic of dream and memory. Asplund has a BFA from Mills College and has performed at Center for New Music and Audio Technologies, The Lab SF, CalArts, Elastic Arts, Bohemian National Cemetery, and Experimental Sound Studio. 


Co-director - Allegra Harvard

Allegra Harvard (b.1999) is a Chicago-based artist, playwright, director, and curator. Her recent curatorial project was Unda.m.93 with collaborator Parker Davis. Her artwork has been shown at EXPO Chicago, House of Earth, Printed Matter, Weatherproof, and the late SULK CHICAGO. Her recent productions include Credentis, which premiered in January 2025 at the First Presbyterian Church of Chicago—the manuscript published by Grunts Rare Books x Veilance August 2025—and Pani & Anu alongside Fort Knox at Schoolhouse Chicago 2025. Her upcoming co-direction will be in collaboration with Lula Asplund’s new opera, A Silver Gilded Hand-Mirror or Whispered Shell, to be premiered on October 23rd, 2025, at The International Museum of Surgical Science.



Costuming - Ben Zumbrun & Caroline Chipala

Production Manager - Lizaveta Cecilia Ivanova

Movement Advisor - Justin D’acci

Choir

Morgan Peterson

Riley McPherson

Hannah Bernhardt

Dora Hewitt

Havadine Stone

Orchestra

Amy Lang

Andrew Seller

Lee Johnson

Don Lyons

Gerrit Hatcher

Peyton Rhodes

Whitney Johnson

Esther Espino

Ensemble

Vim Grace

Justin D’acci

Dorothy Carlos

Justin D’acci

Parker Davis

Andrew or maybe levi

Jocelyn Gray

Mary Amelia

Levi Dayan

Christa Baclia-an

Vik Tomic

Sarah Cassidy

Movement Ensemble

Christa Baclia-an

Sarah Cassidy

Vik Tomic


Advertisement

Where is it happening?

International Museum of Surgical Science, 1524 North Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, United States

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

Tickets

USD 28.52 to USD 33.85

International Museum of Surgical Science

Host or Publisher International Museum of Surgical Science

It's more fun with friends. Share with friends

Discover More Events in Chicago

Anjelah Johnson Reyes at Vic Theatre
Fri, 24 Oct at 07:00 pm Anjelah Johnson Reyes at Vic Theatre

Vic Theatre

ART THEATRE
Nate Bargatze in Chicago
Fri, 24 Oct at 07:00 pm Nate Bargatze in Chicago

United Center

LIVE-MUSIC ART
Fri, 24 Oct at 07:00 pm IAMX in Chicago

Bottom Lounge

CONCERTS MUSIC
Kelsey Cook in CHICAGO
Fri, 24 Oct at 07:15 pm Kelsey Cook in CHICAGO

The Den Theatre

COMEDY ENTERTAINMENT
Penn & Teller: 50th Anniversary Tour
Fri, 24 Oct at 08:00 pm Penn & Teller: 50th Anniversary Tour

The Chicago Theatre

HEALTH-WELLNESS
MY MORNING JACKET "is" ON TOUR!
Fri, 24 Oct MY MORNING JACKET "is" ON TOUR!

The Salt Shed Indoors (Shed)

MUSIC
IAMX, Club Drugs
Fri, 24 Oct IAMX, Club Drugs

Bottom Lounge

MUSIC
My Morning Jacket at Salt Shed - Indoor Shed
Fri, 24 Oct at 08:00 pm My Morning Jacket at Salt Shed - Indoor Shed

Salt Shed - Indoor Shed

CONTESTS TRIPS-ADVENTURES
Trickery Chicago Magic Show
Thu, 24 Jan at 08:00 pm Trickery Chicago Magic Show

Trickery

ENTERTAINMENT
Hot 5 Comedy Show
Sun, 01 Aug at 07:00 pm Hot 5 Comedy Show

The Lincoln Lodge

COMEDY ENTERTAINMENT
Burdah
Thu, 30 Dec at 07:30 pm Burdah

Taleef Chicago

HEALTH-WELLNESS
Free Poetry Writing Workshop and Open Mic hosted by Audacious Don
Mon, 27 Feb at 04:00 pm Free Poetry Writing Workshop and Open Mic hosted by Audacious Don

Legler Regional Library, Chicago Public Library

ART LITERARY-ART
Red Lace Burlesque Show Chicago & Variety Show Chicago
Sat, 29 Apr at 06:00 pm Red Lace Burlesque Show Chicago & Variety Show Chicago

Red Lace Burlesque Austin

PERFORMANCES ENTERTAINMENT
3rd Fridays Free Admission Night with Museum Tour
Fri, 21 Jul at 05:00 pm 3rd Fridays Free Admission Night with Museum Tour

Heritage Museum of Asian Art

ART IT
Audible Edge Artist Showcase & Open Mic
Fri, 10 Nov at 06:30 am Audible Edge Artist Showcase & Open Mic

Lloyds Food

OPEN-MIC ART
Make Some Noise Open Mic
Mon, 15 Jan at 07:00 pm Make Some Noise Open Mic

Maria's Packaged Goods and Community Bar

OPEN-MIC ART
Expression Session: Open Mic Urban Luxe Cafe
Thu, 15 Feb at 07:00 pm Expression Session: Open Mic Urban Luxe Cafe

Urban Luxe Cafe, East 79th Street, Chicago, IL, USA

OPEN-MIC COMEDY
Gems of Chicago Comedy: Live Stand-Up Showcase
Sat, 09 Mar at 09:30 pm Gems of Chicago Comedy: Live Stand-Up Showcase

The Lincoln Lodge

COMEDY ENTERTAINMENT
Saturday Night Standup Comedy at Laugh Factory Chicago
Sat, 08 Jun at 07:00 pm Saturday Night Standup Comedy at Laugh Factory Chicago

Laugh Factory

COMEDY ENTERTAINMENT
Show & Tell for Grown-Ups: Audience Top Pick Presenters!
Sun, 07 Jul at 06:00 pm Show & Tell for Grown-Ups: Audience Top Pick Presenters!

The Lincoln Lodge

PARTIES ENTERTAINMENT

What's Happening Next in Chicago?

Discover Chicago Events