Joseph De Rocher has been sentenced to death for murder. Armed with her faith, Sister Helen Prejean is accompanying him on his journey to execution. Faced with the raw pain of the victims’ parents and the despair of the murderer’s mother, Sister Helen’s faith is tested in ways she never could have imagined.

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the San Francisco Opera world premiere, Jake Heggie and Terrence McNally’s Dead Man Walking returns to the stage where it all began. Based on Sister Helen Prejean’s memoir of the same name, the opera is a searing portrayal of grief, anger, and compassion, hailed by the San Francisco Chronicle as “a masterpiece” in 2000. Since that auspicious premiere, Dead Man Walking has become the most widely performed new opera of the 21st century.

Heggie’s dramatic, lyrical score takes us deep into the humanity of an unthinkable reality. Leonard Foglia’s acclaimed production highlights the emotional nuance and moral complexity at the center of Sister Helen Prejean’s journey. Patrick Summers conducts.

Content Advisory: Dead Man Walking opens with a scene of sexual violence. The opera contains explicit language and mature themes.

Composer - Jake Heggie

Libretto - Terrence McNally

Conductor - Patrick Summers

Sep 14–28, 2025