Hailey McAvoy's Wholly Unwinding
Hailey McAvoy
National Sawdust80 North 6th Street, New York 11249
Hailey McAvoy brings Wholly Unwinding, a new autobiographical chamber opera and multi-genre musical about growing up with cerebral palsy and finding healing and acceptance through the Alexander Technique. The work has been described as part musical, part folk concert and part old-time roof-raising spiritual, and appears as part of the makemake festival, centered on disability-led design and imagination.
McAvoy is an American composer-performer and mezzo-soprano whose work spans opera, song and concert performance, with disability and accessibility central to her artistic and advocacy practice. Her recent operatic work includes Paola Prestini’s Sensorium Ex, Lee Hoiby’s Bon Appetit with Opera Praktikos, and Svadba with Hogfish Regenerative Arts.
National Sawdust offers a unique evening where music and innovation meet in a thoughtfully designed space that once housed a sawdust factory. The main hall, seating up to 185 guests with flexible arrangements, features a cutting-edge Meyer spatial sound system that immerses you in every note. The room’s raw brick walls and crystalline architectural elements create a striking contrast, enhancing the focus on the performance. A full bar is available, inviting you to enjoy a drink while fully engaging with the diverse range of genres presented by both emerging and established artists. Shows are ticketed, and purchasing ahead is recommended to secure your spot in this intimate yet spacious venue. The experience is centered on listening and discovery, making for an evening that feels both special and thoughtfully curated.