Wilde Nights (in New Mexico)

Illustration of Oscar Wilde Costume Design by David C. Woolard

Oscar Wilde's wit made him a legend, but less attention has been paid to the two years he spent in a Victorian prison for "gross indecency." Enter the Santa Fe Opera's Oscar, a brand new opera composed by Theodore Morrison about the iconoclast's trial and incarceration.

"I'm a gay man, and this deals with the persecution of a gay man, so it's arguably the highlight of my career," says countertenor David Daniels, who plays Wilde.

Walt Whitman serves as the "narrator," Wilde's lover shows up as an apparition (played by sexy dancer Reed Luplau), and the show's outdoor setting is known for its frequent lightning storms. In short, expect an otherworldly experience. Runs July 27, 31; Aug. 9, 12, 17.

Watch David Daniels discuss how