Leland & Silas is an opera in 3 Acts taking place in a rural town. It focuses on the story of Leland, a golden boy high school soccer player and Silas, a ballet dancer with a turn for photography. In Act 1 we see Leland and Silas fall in love. Yet Leland struggles with guilt brought on by his abusive priest, Father, and Madison, his cold-hearted girlfriend. 

In Act 2 Leland’s life is changed as he breaks his shoulder in a major game leading to an HIV diagnosis being revealed while at the hospital. Madison rejects him cruelly. Silas appears and professes his love and support but Leland runs away. 

Act 3 solidifies the tragedy of the opera as Silas, looking for Leland, is instead raped and murdered by Father.  When Leland discovers this he throws himself from the church bell tower to his death. Their deaths twisted into a murder suicide, Father presides over the funeral as the opera ends with a children’s choir singing of loss and the death knell of a rattling bass drum.