The modern opera "Sanctuary Road" will be presented by Penn Square Music Festival on Friday, Feb. 3, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 5, at 3 p.m. at the Gardner Theater on the campus of Lancaster Country Day School, 725 Hamilton Road, Lancaster.

The Feb. 3 performance will be preceded by a panel discussion at 6:30 p.m. in partnership with LancasterHistory, featuring Fergus Bordewich, author of "Bound for Canaan." The book was selected as one of the American Booksellers Association's 10 Best Nonfiction Books in 2005, the Great Lakes Booksellers' Association's Best Nonfiction Book of 2005, one of Austin Public Library's Best Nonfiction Books of 2005; and one of the New York Public Library's 10 Books to Remember in 2005.

Joining Bordewich on the panel will be scholar Leroy Hopkins Jr., composer Paul Moravec, and librettist Mark Campbell.

"Sanctuary Road" is based on the writings of William Still, an Underground Railroad conductor who helped nearly 800 enslaved people as they made their escape to freedom. It tells the story of freedom seekers and illuminates the secret network of people, routes, and safe houses used by enslaved peoples to escape into free states and Canada during the early to mid-1800s. "Sanctuary Road" was first staged in March 2022 by the North Carolina Opera, and the Lancaster performance will be only the second full staging of the opera.

Tickets may be purchased at https://pennsquaremusicfestival.com/.