FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
World’s First AI Christmas Rock Opera “Santa and the Last Quagga” Premieres September 26, 2026
New Musical Adventure Brings Awareness to Wildlife Extinction, African History, and the Spirit of Christmas
BOYNTON BEACH, FL — Following the release of The Impossible Dream: A Rock Opera, the world’s first AI-generated rock opera, creator, songwriter, and producer Lee Elman announces the premiere of Santa and the Last Quagga, the world’s first AI Christmas rock opera, debuting September 26, 2026.
Produced by Eternal Holdings, the premiere event will be held in Boynton Beach, Florida, with the exact venue to be announced soon.
Featuring more than 25 original songs written and produced by Lee Elman, Santa and the Last Quagga combines music, storytelling, history, and artificial intelligence to create a Christmas experience unlike any other. Blending holiday magic, adventure, humor, and heart, the film introduces audiences to one of history’s most fascinating extinct animals while telling a timeless story about hope and purpose.
Set in 1878, the story begins when Santa Claus discovers that children in the young nation of Liberia are preparing to celebrate Christmas. There is only one problem: Santa and his reindeer have never traveled there before. In an era before modern navigation and detailed maps of Africa, Santa has no reliable way to guide his sleigh across the vast continent on Christmas Eve.
Determined not to disappoint the children of Liberia, Santa and his trusted elf Cliff travel to London in search of Riley, the world’s last quagga. Once common across the plains of southern Africa, Riley possesses a unique knowledge of the continent that makes him the perfect guide for Santa’s journey.
Unfortunately, Riley lives in the London Zoo, where the stubborn owner, Mr. Wilcox, refuses to let him leave. As the zoo’s most famous attraction, Riley is far too valuable to lose. With Christmas Eve rapidly approaching, Santa, Cliff, and Riley must hatch a daring plan to outwit Wilcox and save Christmas for the children of Liberia.
More than a holiday adventure, the film brings awareness to two fascinating and often overlooked historical subjects: the extinction of the quagga and the history of Liberia during the late nineteenth century. Through music, storytelling, and adventure, audiences learn about one of history’s most famous extinct animals while experiencing a unique chapter of African history.
What Is a Quagga?
The quagga was a unique subspecies of the plains zebra that once roamed the grasslands of South Africa. Distinguished by its striking appearance, the quagga had bold zebra-like stripes on the front half of its body while its hindquarters were mostly solid brown, giving it the appearance of both a horse and a zebra. During the nineteenth century, quaggas were hunted extensively for their hides and meat while expanding livestock farming reduced their habitat. Their population declined rapidly, and by the late 1870s the quagga had disappeared from the wild. The last known quagga died in captivity at Amsterdam’s Artis Zoo on August 12, 1883. Today, the quagga remains one of the world’s most famous examples of human-caused extinction and serves as an important reminder of the importance of wildlife conservation.
“The Impossible Dream proved that artificial intelligence could be used to create an entire rock opera,” said creator Lee Elman. “Santa and the Last Quagga takes that vision a step further by creating the world’s first AI Christmas rock opera. At its heart, it is a story about friendship, purpose, hope, and discovering that even someone who feels forgotten can change the world.”
The production features more than 25 original songs spanning rock, ballads, ensemble numbers, and holiday anthems, making it the first full-length AI Christmas rock opera ever produced.
Members of the media are invited to view a press screening copy of the film, available now in the Press Section of the official website. Media members may access the screening using the password: Quagga.
Visitors to the website can also view the official trailer, explore the history of the quagga, learn more about the music, and follow updates leading up to the September premiere.
The film is part of the growing library of original productions from Eternal Holdings, a company dedicated to preserving stories, history, and human experiences through innovative entertainment and educational projects.
Following the release of Santa and the Last Quagga, Eternal Holdings plans to release Summer of ’77 in 2027, commemorating the 50th anniversary of one of the most unforgettable years in New York City history. The upcoming rock opera will revisit the summer of 1977, including the historic heat wave, the citywide blackout, the Son of Sam murders, and one of the year’s brighter stories—the resurgence of the New York Yankees as they began their return to championship glory.
For more information, trailers, press materials, and screening access, visit:
lastquagga.com
About Santa and the Last Quagga
Santa and the Last Quagga is the world’s first AI Christmas rock opera, produced by Eternal Holdings and created by Lee Elman. Set in 1878, the film follows Santa Claus, his trusted elf Cliff, and Riley, the world’s last quagga, on an unforgettable journey from London to Africa to bring Christmas to the children of Liberia. Featuring more than 25 original songs, the film combines holiday magic, history, conservation awareness, adventure, and hope into a timeless story for audiences of all ages.
About Eternal Holdings
Eternal Holdings develops original entertainment, educational, and legacy-preservation projects that combine storytelling, music, history, and artificial intelligence. Its productions include The Impossible Dream: A Rock Opera, the world’s first AI-generated rock opera; Santa and the Last Quagga, the world’s first AI Christmas rock opera; and the upcoming Summer of ’77, scheduled for release in 2027.
Media Contact:
Lee Elman
Creator and Producer
Eternal Holdings
Website: lastquagga.com