Josh Gibson, played by Alfred Walker, hits a ball out of Yankee Stadium.

Daniel Sonenberg of Portland talks about the premiere of his opera, "The Summer King: The Josh Gibson Story," with Christopher Hahn, the general director of the Pittsburgh Opera, and Devin Elizabeth Yard of Portland, at the dress rehearsal at the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh on Thursday.

Gibson, played by Walker

Gibson, played by Walker, plays to the crowd.

Daniel Sonenberg checks his phone at the premiere of his opera.

Sonenberg gets a hug from Norman Ryan, with Charles Jarden.

Jan and Don Tagliaferi, both of Moon Township, Pa., wait at the premiere Saturday. Their granddaughter Kiara Clarit has a role in the opera.

Karen Romanowski, Lucas Quintero and Julio Quintero, all of Pittsburgh, ask fellow theater patrons to take their picture in front of the Benedum Center in downtown Pittsburgh on Saturday.

Patrons enter the Benedum Center in downtown Pittsburgh to see the premiere of "The Summer King: The Josh Gibson Story" on Saturday.

Josh Gibson of the Pittsburgh Crawfords poses for a season portrait. He played for the Crawfords from 1932-36.

Alfred Walker emotes as Josh Gibson.

Josh Gibson

Gibson, played by Walker, comforts his children.

Gibson, played by Walker, hugs his wife, Helen Gibson, played by Jacqueline Echols.

Josh Gibson

The cast of "The Summer King" performs a scene set in the famous Pittsburgh jazz club, the Crawford Grill, at the dress rehearsal.

Sonenberg focuses on the score.

Sonenberg reacts to seeing the full production of his opera for the first time at the dress rehearsal.

Sonenberg discusses the score of the opera with the music director of the Pittsburgh Opera, Antony Walker, at the dress rehearsal.