GRAMMY-winning composer Steven Mackey and Obie-winning librettist Rinde Eckert have completed a new opera for the Opera Theater in Saint Louis.

The book was written in less than two months and will be called “Moon Tea”.

The work tells the story of the historic moment when Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, invited the Apollo 11 astronauts to Buckingham Palace for tea, fresh out of their triumphant landing on the moon in 1969.

Written in five scenes, “Moon Tea” is structured as a series of monologues and will be directed by Daniela Candillari. The opera will have its world premiere June 10-18 in four live performances with an in-person audience at an outdoor setting adjacent to Webster University. The performances will be part of the New Works, Bold Voices Lab and will also be recorded and made available for purchase.

Mackey noted, “Moon Tea is a ‘fish out of water’ story, which I have always loved. The astronauts have just completed this extraordinary historic mission, but find it difficult to navigate the visiting protocols of the Queen and Prince Philip, who themselves dream of reaching the heights of these men. I have personally been obsessed with the moon landing ever since Kennedy first launched the photo in 1962 as a kid living in England and then of course after watching it on TV in 1969. I was delighted to continue. the story of this calm, an offbeat event after being recalled a few years ago, on its 50th anniversary.