Steven Mackey: MEMOIR

Saturday, April 18, 2026 @ 7:30pm

McCarter Theatre Center (Berlind Theatre)
91 University Place, Princeton, NJ 08540

In Partnership with the Department of Music at Princeton University 

Performed by arx duo 

String quartet TBA

Natalie Christa Rakes, narrator 

Memoir is a theatrical musical work by GRAMMY® Award-winning composer Steven Mackey and director Mark DeChiazza, exploring the tumultuous 20th century through the eyes of a first-generation American woman in pursuit of the American Dream.

Inspired by the unpublished memoir of Mackey’s mother, Elaine Mackey, Memoir is a visually and sonically captivating reflection on resilience, identity, and the power of storytelling. Scored for the unique combination of string quartet, percussion duo, and narrator, the piece traverses a diverse musical landscape—by turns witty, playful, rich, and profound.