Commissioned and Produced by: Boston Lyric Opera
Produced in Association with: Long Beach Opera

The commission of Ellen Reid for desert in was funded, in part, by OPERA America's Opera Grants for Female Composers program, supported by the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation and the Fromm Music Foundation, with additional commissioning support from the Francis Goelet Charitable Lead Trusts.

Executive Production Sponsorship: Willa & Taylor Bodman

Creators: Ellen Reid, christopher oscar peña, James Darrah

Composers: Michael Abels, Vijay Iyer, Nathalie Joachim, Nico Muhly, Emma O'Halloran, Ellen Reid, Wang Lu, Shelley Washington

Librettists: Kirsten Greenidge, Ryan J. Haddad, Joy Kecken, Quentin Nguyen-duy, A. Rey Pamatmat, christopher oscar peña, Roxie Perkins, Jesse J. Sanchez

Music Director: David Angus

Music Supervisor: Vimbayi Kaziboni

Directors: James Darrah, Zackary Drucker, Joy Kecken, Raviv Ullman

Director of Photography: Yuki Izumihara

Lighting Designer/Gaffer: Pablo Santiago

​Costume Designer: Molly Irelan

World Premiere Cast:
Isabel Leonard (Cass)
Talise Trevigne (Sunny)
Justin Vivian Bond (The Lounge Singer)
Edward Nelson (Ion)
Jesus Garcia (Rufus)
Alan Pingarrón (Federico)
Davóne Tines (Old Man/Derek)
Brianna J. Robinson (Vapor)
Emma Sorenson (Vapor)
Neal Ferreira (Vapor)
Shauna Dacis (Vapor)
Jasmine Albuquerque (Vapor)
Veronica Taylor (Vapor)
Raviv Ullman (Ion - on screen)
Alexander Jon Flores (Rufus - on screen)
Anthony Michael Lopez (Federico - on screen)
Ricco Ross (Old Man/Derek - on screen)
Jon Orsini (Son)
Carlis Shane Clark (The Stranger)

Violin/Concertmaster - Annie Rabbat
Cello - Loewi Lin
Flute/Alto Flute - Linda Toote
Clarinet/Bass Clarinet - Jan Halloran
Percussion - Richard Flanagan
Percussion - Craig McNutt
Piano - Brett Hodgdon

2022 Opera America Awards for Digital Excellence in Opera
-Noteworthy Project (nomination)