Bum Phillips All-American Opera, written by composer Peter Stopschinski and playwright Kirk Lynn, commissioned and produced by Monk Parrots, Inc. in association with La MaMa, and conceptualized and directed by Luke Leonard, is about an icon of the National Football League and America: O.A. “Bum” Phillips, head coach of the Houston Oilers from 1975-1980. The portrait of this ’70’s football coach utilizes the autobiography, Bum Phillips: Cowboy, Coach, Christian to explore how a man finds resilience and faith in failure, and how a single passion fueled an entire city’s hope. All native Texans, this dynamic team seeks to push the boundaries of what opera can be, as well as both where and for whom it is staged.
Development2013
January: First draft due
February: Long Island University, Post Theatre Co. Workshop A: Act I
June: Second draft due
September: Workshop Performance at Dixon Place, New York
2014
World Premiere: March 12-30 at The Ellen Stewart Theater in New York
2015
Texas Premiere: TBD
Related articles
- Yes, This Crazy Concept Needs to Happen (houston.culturemap.com)
- ‘Bum Phillips Opera’ may head to Houston in 2014 (khou.com)
- Houston Oilers Legend Bum Phillips’ Life as an Opera? (nfl.com)
- Yes, You Can Support a Bum Phillips Opera (espn.go.com)
- Someone Wants To Make An Opera About Bum Phillips (kissingsuzykolber.uproxx.com)
bum phillips opera 
anxious to see this!! How / when??
Hi Nancy, the show premiered in NY in 2014 and in TX in 2015. We would love to present it in Houston in Feb 2017 around the time of Super Bowl LI, but presently there is no backing.