Fort Worth Opera, Suicide Crisis Center of North Texas, and The Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation Announce Partnership to Address Youth Suicide Through “Romeo and Juliet” with Project: Opera

Fort Worth, TX — April 10, 2026 — Fort Worth Opera, Suicide and Crisis Center of North Texas, and The Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation are proud to announce a partnership dedicated to combating youth suicide by engaging high school students through the power of opera. At the heart of this collaboration is a special performance of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” designed to spark vital conversations around mental health, loss, and hope among today’s adolescents. Project: Opera will take place on Saturday, April 18 on the TCU Campus with students participating from Northside High School, I.M. Terrell Academy and Benbrook High School.   

This year’s production of “Romeo and Juliet” will bring together students, educators, and mental health professionals for an immersive experience that explores the play’s timeless themes of love, despair, and the consequences of isolation. By highlighting the continued relevance of Shakespeare’s work, the program encourages students and communities to confront difficult topics and seek support when facing emotional challenges. 

“As the Director of Programs for The Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation, I am honored to be a part of this important initiative,” said Kristi Wiley. “By partnering with Fort Worth Opera and the Suicide and Crisis Center of North Texas, we can reach students in new and meaningful ways. Sharing the story of Romeo and Juliet provides a unique opportunity to address the realities of youth suicide with compassion and hope. Our role is to ensure that every young person knows they are not alone and that help is always available.” Wiley will serve as moderator for the day’s student workshops.  

Fort Worth Opera presents Project: Opera 2026 

Youth suicide remains a critical issue in North Texas and across the nation. The tragic journey of Romeo and Juliet underscores the urgent need for open discussions about mental health and the impact of unaddressed emotional pain. By aligning classic art with contemporary struggles, the partnership aims to foster empathy, resilience, and awareness among young people.  

“Through Fort Worth Opera’s Project: Opera, we connect young people to the power of storytelling and music, using opera to explore timely issues that help them see their own stories reflected onstage,” explains Fort Worth Opera General and Artistic Director Angela Turner Wilson. “For many, this is an unexpected discovery that opens the door to processing emotions, building confidence, and forming meaningful connections.  We are proud to partner with The Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation, whose vital work supports the mental health of our community’s youth, especially in suicide prevention.” 

The collaborative program will feature a side-by-side study of Shakespeare’s original text and the operatic adaptation, facilitated discussions, and direct access to resources from leading experts. The initiative’s goal is to reduce teen suicides by destigmatizing mental health conversations, equipping students with coping strategies, and connecting them to ongoing support networks. 

“My involvement with the Suicide and Crisis Center of North Texas is deeply personal,” shared Lavida Davison, who currently serves as Executive Director and the Program Director for Teens Can Survive. “On February 18, 2024, my family experienced the heartbreaking loss of my nephew to suicide. That moment changed me in ways I am still discovering. Through this partnership, we strive to create a community where suicide is openly discussed, and resources are accessible to anyone in crisis. Every conversation, every act of compassion, and every effort to reduce stigma is part of our commitment.” 

Together, Fort Worth Opera, Suicide and Crisis Center of North Texas, and The Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation invite educators, parents, and community leaders to attend this year’s performance and join the movement to prevent teen suicide.  

Beginning at 9 AM, students will have the opportunity to participate in a TCU School Tour. At 1 PM, students will also take part in the Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation Workshop. The day will conclude with TCU’s “Anam the Witch” at 7 PM, followed by “Romeo and Juliet” at 7:45 PM.  

To purchase tickets, visit https://www.fwopera.org/romeo-and-juliet or call the Box Office at 817-731-0726.  

General Admission tickets are $20. Pay-What-You-Can tickets are also available in limited quantities to support access for students, families, and community members. About Fort Worth Opera  

Founded in 1946 by three visionary women — Eloise MacDonald Snyder, Betty Berry Spain, and Jeanne Axtell Walker — Fort Worth Opera is the oldest opera company in Texas, and one of the oldest opera companies in the United States. The organization has received local and national attention from critics and audiences alike for its artistic excellence, pioneering spirit, and long history of community-based cultural engagement. In addition to producing traditional repertoire with rising stars and inspirational young talents, the company is known throughout the operatic world as a champion of new American works. 

With a dedication to the community both on and beyond the operatic stage, Fort Worth Opera proudly supports opera education through the Hattie Mae Lesley Resident Artist program and a robust statewide initiative that brings in-school performances and educational programs to 16,000 schoolchildren each year across Texas. 

Fort Worth Opera is committed to producing opera of the highest possible artistic quality and integrity; to identifying and training talented young singers; to serving as a crucible for creating new American operas; to joining forces with other arts organizations in significant collaborations; and to enriching the community by stimulating cultural curiosity and creativity in people of all ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds. 

Visit fwopera.org for more information.