Hailey McAvoy's Wholly Unwinding
National Sawdust80 North 6th Street, New York 11249
Hailey McAvoy brings Wholly Unwinding, her autobiographical chamber opera or new musical about living with cerebral palsy and moving toward healing and self-acceptance, to National Sawdust as part of the makemake festival. McAvoy is the work’s composer, lyricist, co-book writer, projection artist and lead performer. It has been described as part musical, part folk concert and part old-time roof-raising spiritual.
A performer across opera, concert and song, McAvoy has appeared with the Metropolitan Opera’s Opera Evolved series and in Sensorium Ex, Bon Appetit and Svadba. Broadway World called her a “gorgeous-voiced mezzo-soprano,” while the Portland Press Herald described Wholly Unwinding as a “genre-defying theater experience” with “extraordinary warmth and emotional depth.”
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.