2003, its first workshop was presented at the Mill Street Playhouse in Trenton, NJ. The evening was the culmination of one week of intensive rehearsals by the 8 vocalists (Thai Soprano, Coloratura Soprano, Lyric/ Dramatic Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, High Tenor, Lyric Tenor, Lyric/ Dramatic Baritone, Bass) and 8 instrumentalists (string quartet, flute, piano, contrabass, and percussion) who performed excerpts of the work with scores in hand. Produced by June Ballinger, Executive Director of the Passage Theatre, and conducted by renowned Cuban composer and conductor, Tania Leon, the showing received a standing ovation and extremely positive audience response.

Prior to the Spring production at The Kitchen, another opera workshop and residency focusing on music development took place at Union College in Schenectady, NY on February 3rd, 2005. This performance featured the entire cast of the opera with a reduced score.

Summary
Shangri-La, is an innovative piece, combining new contemporary ideas from the media, music, libretto, staging, and choreography and it has inspired the creation of a musical language that both complements and integrates western classical music, blues, Thai classical and Thai folk music, as well as contemporary experimental techniques. The balance and the creative vision of the work is powerful and brings to the opera world a completely revolutionary language.

The intended audience is the general public who may be interested in new music, performance art, opera, theatre, as well as those interested in global social and political issues.