The Atlanta Opera | Annual Report 2019-20: An Opera In Three Acts

AN OPERA ... IN THREE ACTS 2019-20

MISSION & VISION In 2017, The Atlanta Opera board leadership and staff completed a revised strategic plan. The plan set multi-year goals for the company that fit its strong trajectory and growth. Yet, the organization had no idea how relevant this new mission and vision would become during the pandemic.

In one year, the organization has launched a digital streaming platform, filmmaking department, and engaged people all over the world through their digital devices. Tomer Zvulun presented at the Opera Europa virtual conference about the safe, live performances that happened in Atlanta. News coverage circled the globe.

WE ARE BUILDING THE MAJOR INTERNATIONAL OPERA COMPANY ATLANTA DESERVES. The Atlanta Opera is exploring the possibilities of our artform by performing in an open-air circus tent with tremendous innovations in staging and by embracing the medium of film to show an upclose-and-personal approach to our storytelling. The organization hired 18 stellar singers with connections to the southeast and founded The Atlanta Opera Company Players, providing support, benefits and work during this tremendously hard time for artists.

WE ARE REIMAGINING OPERA.

CHAIR OF THE BOARD Friday the 13th of March 2020 was the day the pandemic struck The Atlanta Opera. We were halfway through a triumphant production of Porgy and Bess and looking forward with great anticipation to that evening’s performance when we made the painful, but correct, decision to cancel the last two performances of Porgy and Bess, thus abruptly ending our 2019-20 season.

One year later, it is my great pleasure to share with you the truly astounding results achieved by The Atlanta Opera before and during the pandemic and some “sneak peeks” at the exciting future that lies ahead once this pandemic is behind us.

The first eight months of our 40th anniversary season were amazing! Just a few of the many highlights included: • We kicked off the season with Frida, which “Operawire” chose as one of the “10 Must See Operas” for Fall 2019.

Frida, part of our Discoveries series sponsored by The Molly Blank Fund of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, was previewed at the first annual Festival de la Cultura Latina presented by The Home Depot Foundation.

• We premiered our spectacular new production of Salome to rave reviews. As critic Stephanie Adrian noted, Salome featured “both a brilliant cast and an enviable creative team,” led by our Carl W. Knobloch, Jr. General & Artistic Director Tomer Zvulun.

• A world away, our production of Dead Man Walking debuted at The Israeli Opera – the first U.S. opera to be performed there.

• Performances of our Studio Tour of Hansel and Gretel in Atlanta area schools reached over 22,000 students through a total of 85 performances over nine weeks.

• Partnering with The Baton Foundation we presented Porgy and Bess: A Black Perspective at Auburn Avenue Research Library, led by Morris Robinson, Indra Thomas and Dr. Naomi André, professor and author of “Black Opera: History, Power, Engagement.”

In February 2020, we celebrated our 40th Anniversary at a glorious gala honoring Rosemary and John Brown.

Thanks to our incredible Gala Chairs, Cathy Adams, Ann Critz, and Victoria Palefsky, and our generous presenting sponsors, Ameris Bank and The Karina Miller Trust, the event was fun, inspiring and a huge financial success.

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On March 7, 2020, we opened Porgy and Bess to more rave reviews, particularly for the leads: “Atlanta native Morris Robinson’s interpretation of Porgy shows why he has become an international star.” “Amid a series of musical high points…, [Talise] Trevigne’s vocals in her duet with Morris Robinson, ‘Bess, You Is My Woman Now,’ is the pinnacle.”

(Stephanie Adrian, ArtsATL). It was on this high note – with two more performances of Porgy and Bess to come – that the curtain fell on The Atlanta Opera’s 2019-20 season.

“Adversity does not build character, it reveals it.” James L. Allen, in “Above Life’s Turmoil” (1910).

The pandemic revealed the character of The Atlanta Opera to be strong, resilient and creative. In response to the pandemic, we followed these guiding principles: 1. Protect the health and safety of our Atlanta Opera family 2. Protect The Atlanta Opera financially 3. Stay on course to our “True North” – Mission, Vision, Values & Strategic Plan While we canceled the final two performances of Porgy and Bess, we still paid the singers, orchestra and other artists for those performances. We offered full refunds to our patrons for tickets to the canceled Porgy and Bess performances, but were overwhelmed to see that so many of our loyal patrons offered to turn their ticket refunds into donations and that our Board and other donors stepped up with a matching fund to help encourage ticket donations.

Meanwhile, our beloved city and surrounding communities were fighting desperately against the pandemic. The Atlanta Opera decided to pitch in. Our idled costume shop went to work making critical PPE, like surgical gowns and masks, for the healthcare heroes at Grady Hospital. Next, we partnered with the Fulton County Library System to distribute digital programming to students stuck at home. Then, our Studio Artists began delivering singing telegrams to healthcare workers and residents at senior living facilities.

At the same time, we realized that the pandemic posed a threat to both the financial health of the company and to our plans for the 2020-21 season, which consisted of two Discoveries series productions and four mainstage productions, including a major new production. In April 2020 we formed a COVID-19 Task Force to determine the extent of this threat and our response.

After reviewing the scientific information available, interviewing epidemiologists and infectious disease specialists, and consulting industry experts, the Task Force completed its work in May 2020 with these two distressing conclusions: 1. We must plan for no performances in theaters 2. We must reduce expenses and preserve cash, at least until we can see the impact of the pandemic on our financial position In hindsight, the conclusion that we would not be able to produce opera in a theater before June 2021 may seem obvious – it was anything but obvious in May 2020. This was a very disappointing conclusion for our Board of Directors, but they unanimously supported it. For the Atlanta Opera staff, who had created detailed plans for production, community engagement, education, marketing, and development for the 2020-21 season, this decision was a bitter pill to swallow.

However, once everyone was over the initial shock, the next question was: “What will we do during the 2020-21 season?”

The Vision of The Atlanta Opera is “Reimagining Opera!”

With this in mind, we thought about staging high quality opera performances for live audiences that would be safe for artists, staff, and audiences. With the leadership and genius of Tomer Zvulun and our superb senior management team, The Atlanta Opera Company Players and the Big Tent Series were born.

Our staff pivoted from the prior plans and put together an entirely new 2020-21 season to be held outdoors under the Big Tent featuring our Company Players. Our good friends, Carlos del Rio, M.D. and John Haupert, CEO of Grady Health, generously helped us design and implement safety protocols.

By pressing forward in the face of the pandemic, we provided work to over 120 artists, built extraordinary relationships with some of the top singers in the world, kept opera alive in Atlanta for our loyal audiences, and did it all without any reported COVID-19 transmission. Hopefully, you attended one of these wonderful and safe performances, which have been the only live full opera productions in the country during the pandemic!

cash management, voluntary salary and bonus deferrals by the staff leadership and participation in the Paycheck Protection Program.

As our financial results show, we ended 2019-20 in a strong financial position with both significant cash reserves and a growing Endowment.

The pandemic was not the only crisis confronting The Atlanta Opera, our city, and our country in the Summer of 2020. The senseless killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and countless other Black Americans laid bare the wounds of racism. Our Board of Directors formed an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (“EDI”) Committee in 2019, and in response to the events of 2020, we also formed a staff EDI Task Force and issued a public statement condemning systemic racism and supporting social justice. We also outlined and began implementing a plan for addressing these issues. We have a long road ahead of us, but are committed to making The Atlanta Opera an inclusive, diverse and equitable arts organization.

“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.” Anne Bradstreet, in “Meditations Divine and Moral” (1664) With the end of the pandemic in sight, what lies ahead for us? This will be a rebuilding year – moving from the intimate productions in the Big Tent to performing before mainstage audiences; putting back together the full orchestra, chorus, and other artists needed for main stage performances; reviving our extensive Community Engagement and Education programs; growing our ticket sales and contributed revenue to cover these significantly larger expenses. We will be ready to take on the critical next steps in our Strategic Plan.

We reimagined opera in yet another way – with the generous support of the The Robert W. Woodruff Foundation, we invested in state-of-the-art technology to launch a digital platform, Spotlight Media. Have you gotten your subscription to this streaming service?

Thanks to the support and tireless efforts of our Atlanta Opera family, we survived the pandemic and the severest test of The Atlanta Opera’s character. Our Mission, Vision, and Values held true and our future has never been brighter.

With the pandemic behind us, we will return to building The Atlanta Opera into the major international opera company that Atlanta deserves and, with your continued support and encouragement, we will succeed.

Another remarkable achievement is that, while undertaking these new initiatives, we were able to cut our spending by over 30%.

Thankfully, we were able to retain most of our staff due to careful

Rhys Wilson

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THE CARL W. KNOBLOCH, JR. GENERAL & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR If I had to choose one word to sum up the past ten months, it would be “grit,” defined as courage, resolve, and strength of character. To set the stage, let’s go back to pre-pandemic Atlanta.

vocal ensemble—spontaneously circled around our second Porgy, Musa Ngqungwana, and sang “I’m on My Way.” After that, everyone scattered. And our lives were forever changed.

About a year ago, I sat down to write this report, and typed the words triumph, expansion and success. In FY19, we had hit high-water marks in just about every conventional measure: sales, attendance, students reached, reviews, fund-raising, firsttime attendees. The expansion continued through the third quarter of FY20, enabling us to grow our endowment.

Since that day, The Atlanta Opera has repeatedly found itself at a crossroads. Over the following months, we had to continually ask ourselves: who are we? Who and what are we going to protect, and what are we willing to risk? Often, I’ve reflected on a poem by Rudyard Kipling, who suggested one should “meet with Triumph and Disaster, and treat those two impostors just the same.”

The season opened with a “bold and provocative” [ArtsATL] production of Frida in Sandy Springs, a new venue for us which increased the Discoveries series capacity to 4,000 seats.

On the main stage we heard incredible performances from Emily Fons and Santiago Ballerini in La Cenerentola. Our new production of Salome, starring Frank van Aken, Jennifer Holloway, Jennifer Larmore, and Nathan Berg, was hailed as a “splendid, remarkably powerful and insightful effort” [EarRelevant]. Coverage in Opera News, which had eluded us for some years, had become routine. At long last, we had become competitive at booking major artists. And I was never so excited about a season lineup as I was in the fall of 2019, our 40th anniversary season.

Of course, we all know that this was just the opening act of 2020. Almost overnight, three years of planning and investing were toppled by a .12-micron invader. FY20 proved to be an epic saga, one which makes last year’s annual report seem like another lifetime.

Our saga began with the cancellation of the final two shows of Porgy and Bess. Porgy featured a stellar cast headlined by Atlanta-local Morris Robinson, who had sung the role at La Scala. For the dress rehearsal, we packed the house with students (including Morris’s own son). Using state-of-the-art technology, we transformed the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre into old Charleston, and tickets were scarce. But there was a steady drumbeat outside the theatre: COVID-19 was spreading in Atlanta. By March 13, we could no longer guarantee the health and safety of the people involved.

I think I will forever be haunted by our last time together at the Cobb Energy Centre. When I announced the cancellation to the cast and crew, there was dead silence in the room. And then an extraordinary thing happened. The Atlanta Opera Chorus—that famed

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With distressing news coming from every corner of the world, we were reminded that cultural organizations are more than the custodians of an art form; we are community leaders. We shoulder an obligation to unite people and leverage human resources for the common good—especially in times of crisis.

This meant that even as we were reeling from the collapse of our season, retreat was not an option.

One of the first actions of The Atlanta Opera board was to agree to pay the cast, crew, and musicians for the entirety of the Porgy and Bess run.

Next, we looked out into the community to see where the need was greatest. In March of 2020, it was all about PPE. Across Atlanta, healthcare professionals were risking their lives to care for COVID patients without the proper protective gear. N95 masks were in dangerously short supply. That’s when we put our costume shop to work turning out thousands of washable mask covers and gowns for our heroes in the hospitals. And this was not just the effort of our tireless costume team. It also involved a braintrust from the board and pro-bono attorneys from Carlton Fields and Troutman Sanders, who could work with Grady Hospital and our insurance company to hammer out a services agreement. Ultimately, our insurance company was so moved by the effort, they extended our coverage for the PPE at no extra cost.

What happened next came from a confluence of Kipling’s “Triumphs and Disasters.” If we wanted to consider live performance during the pandemic, here’s what we had to work with: 1. While our community was traumatized— illness, death, isolation and unemployment—our art form was uniquely suited to comfort people. 2. Although the very act of singing risks viral spread, we had access to some of the top epidemiologists in the world. 3. While we couldn’t perform

indoors, we could take advantage of our southern climes. 4.

Many Atlanta-based international opera stars were stuck at home and out of work.

HEALTH & SAFETY Before we could plan anything, we had to understand the risks. We enlisted the help of a health and safety task force headed by Dr. Carlos del Rio to study the problem.

He presented us with a 40-page report outlining a set of protocols which included having proper ventilation, health screenings, temperature checks, masks, physical isolation, and a staff person to monitor the situation on the ground.

I read the report several times and thought: we can work with this.

THE ATLANTA OPERA COMPANY PLAYERS It’s very possible that Atlanta has the highest per capita population of international opera stars in the United States.

In a normal year, these singers are performing on stages across the globe. In 2020, they were home and unemployed. As you can imagine, it didn’t take a lot of arm twisting to bring them on board. We offered 18 major artists health benefits, an opportunity to practice their craft, and a way to give something beautiful and uplifting to their community. They said yes.

DIGITAL PLATFORM For some time now, the performing arts have been increasingly incorporating digital content into their bag of tricks. 2020 accelerated that trend, especially for us. We invested heavily in our digital platform, procuring a suite of cameras and production equipment to export our work onto the digital stage. Already, these productions are beginning to hit the virtual marketplace. Stay tuned.

BIG TENT SERIES Commissioning an outdoor venue—the circus tent—was essential to any serious attempt at staging opera during the pandemic. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t savor the poetic implications of it. Historically, circus performers had a hard life. It took a certain amount of grit to push aside the hardship of life on the road and step into the arena night after night. The circus atmosphere was a fitting metaphor for the performing artists of The Atlanta Opera, and set the tone for our Big Tent shows Pagliacci and The Kaiser of Atlantis.

In the end our achievements were many—6,000,000 social media hits, $150,000 for ticket sales under the Big Tent; we served more than 4,000 Atlantans at a time when access to the performing arts has been almost completely relegated to the small screen.

Through it all, we’ve become a more nimble opera company, one capable of entering into a community to better connect. And we’ve forged a new business model to attract top artists.

Here, I must commend our socially distanced team—the board of directors, the Company Players, the Glynn Studio Players, our administrative staff, and the stage crew—the challenges were heroic. The virus did rear its head (although there was zero spread, thanks to our safety protocols). Our artists had to sing into masks, and in tiny cubicles. We had rain, trains, and helicopters.

And on October 29th, Hurricane Zeta blew through Atlanta, ripping the big tent, flipping the orchestra tent, and savaging our equipment. Undaunted, our stage crew returned the following morning (without reinforcements, due to safety protocols) to ready the site for a sold-out show the next night.

That’s grit.

Booker T. Washington wrote: “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life, as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.” I must admit, this has been an incredible life experience. Even as we shift preparations made for the 2021-22 season to 2022-23, we carry with us the many lessons of 2020, and like most everybody, are glad to turn the page on that fateful year.

We still have a tough road ahead. As we count on vaccines to lift us out of this international nightmare, we must continue to absorb the setbacks of the past ten months. But I now know something about the fiber of our people at The Atlanta Opera. We will come through this pandemic better and stronger. And we will continue to push the frontiers of our beloved art.

Sincerely,

Tomer Zvulun

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS CHAIR Mr. Rhys T. Wilson

VICE CHAIR Mr. Charles “Charlie” R. Yates, Jr.

IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR Ms. Cathy Callaway Adams

TREASURER Ms. Bunny Winter

VICE CHAIR Mr. John L. Hammaker

SECRETARY Mr. Michael E. Paulhus

MEMBERS Mrs. Elizabeth Adler Mr. Bryan H. Barnes Mr. Dante Bellizzi Mr. Montague L. Boyd, IV Dr. Harold J. Brody Mrs. Rosemary Kopel Brown Mr. Frank H. Butterfield Ms. Mary Calhoun Mr. Mario Concha Dr. Frank A. Critz Mr. Robert Dean *Ms. Martha Thompson Dinos Mr. Dieter Elsner Dr. Donald J. Filip Mr. Kevin Greiner Mrs. Joanne Chesler Gross Mr. Howard W. Hunter Mrs. Tiffany Kent Mr. Andrew R. Long Mr. James B. Miller, Jr. Mrs. Stephanie Morela Mrs. Sandra S. Morelli Mr. Howard Palefsky Mr. William E. Pennington Mr. Herbert J. Rosenberg Mr. Charles Sharbaugh Mr. Alex Simmons, Jr. Mr. William F. Snyder Mrs. Christine St.Clare Mr. G. Kimbrough Taylor, Jr. Mr. William E. Tucker Mrs. Marie Ward Mr. Tomer Zvulun, ex-officio

HONORARY MEMBERS *Mrs. Nancy Carter Bland The Very Reverend Samuel G. Candler Mr. Robert G. Edge Mr. Carl I. Gable, Jr. Mrs. Nancy Hall Green Mr. Gregory F. Johnson Mr. Carter Joseph Mr. Alfred Kennedy, Jr. Mr. Michael Keough Mrs. Emily C. Knobloch Mr. George Levert Mrs. Peggy Weber McDowell Mr. Harmon “Sandy” B. Miller, III Mr. Bruce A. Roth Mr. J. Barry Schrenk Mr. Timothy E. Sheehan Mr. Mark K. Taylor Mr. Thomas R. Williams Mr. Robert G. Woodward

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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE BOARD CHAIR Mr. Rhys T. Wilson

DEVELOPMENT CHAIR Mr. Howard Palefsky

VICE-CHAIR Mr. John L. Hammaker

INVESTMENT CHAIR Mr. G. Kimbrough Taylor, Jr.

VICE-CHAIR; NOMINATING & BOARD ENGAGEMENT CO-CHAIR Mr. Charles “Charlie” R. Yates, Jr.

NOMINATING & BOARD ENGAGEMENT CO-CHAIR Ms. Cathy Callaway Adams AT-LARGE MEMBER Mr. Howard W. Hunter

SECRETARY Mr. Michael E. Paulhus

AT-LARGE MEMBER Mrs. Christine St.Clare

TREASURER Ms. Bunny Winter

AT-LARGE MEMBER Mrs. Sandra S. Morelli

AUDIT CHAIR Mr. Bryan H. Barnes COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CHAIR Mr. Alex Simmons, Jr.

CARL W. KNOBLOCH, JR. GENERAL & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, EX-OFFICIO MEMBER Mr. Tomer Zvulun

ADVISORY COUNCIL Mr. Andrew J.M. Binns Mr. Kenny L. Blank Mrs. Inge Bledel Mrs. Sally Bland Fielding Mrs. Beth W. Glynn Dr. Thomas N. Guffin, Jr. Mrs. Erin Quinn Martin Mr. Paul Snyder

ARTISTIC ADVISORY COUNCIL Ms. Jamie Barton Mr. Kevin Burdette Mr. Michael Mayes Mr. Morris Robinson

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FRIDA OCT 5 – 13, 2019

MUSIC ROBERT XAVIER RODRÍGUEZ BOOK HILARY BLECHER LYRICS & MONOLOGUES MIGDALIA CRUZ CONDUCTOR JORGE PARODI DIRECTOR JOSE MARIA CONDEMI SCENIC COSTUME DESIGNER MONÍKA ESSEN LIGHTING DESIGNER BEN RAWSON CHOREOGRAPHER RICARDO APONTE

She survived a horrific accident, infidelity, miscarriages, famous lovers, all the while setting phantasmagoric images to canvas. Today her persona and work permeate American culture. What a fabulous bridge into the world of opera!

The Atlanta Opera opened the 40th anniversary season with the beguiling tale of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, brought to life in an arresting series of performances by the firebrand soprano Catalina Cuervo. This sizzling production combined elaborate projections, puppetry, dancers, and a set crafted by Moníka Essen to pull the audience into the surrealistic imaginings of this iconic figure. Bass-baritone Ricardo Herrera aptly sang the role of Mexican muralist (and Kahlo’s husband) Diego Rivera, and Atlanta’s own Maria Valdes was “stellar” [Opera News] as Kahlo’s sister, Cristina. This Discoveries series production brought The Atlanta Opera into a new and larger venue, the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center, for a series of sold-out performances. The production featured guest conductor Jorge Parodi.

“THE PERFECT STORY FOR OPERA” – composer Robert Xavier Rodríguez

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page 11 ACT I: FRIDA

ACT I: LA CENERENTOLA page 12

LA CENERENTOLA NOV 2 - 10, 2019

COMPOSER GIOACHINO ROSSINI CONDUCTOR DEAN WILLIAMSON DIRECTOR JOAN FONT ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR & CHOREOGRAPHER XEVI DORCA SCENIC & COSTUME DESIGNER JOAN GUILLEN LIGHTING DESIGNER ALBERT FAURA

Forget the wicked stepsisters, this Cinderella isn’t about to let anyone—including a fake prince—get in the way of her happiness. Mezzo-soprano Emily Fons kept it “real and endearing” [ArtsATL] while masterfully navigating Rossini’s bel canto lines.

Santiago Ballerini’s Ramiro played the good-natured suitor who wins the girl with “honeyed vocalism.” And baritone Thomas Glass (2019 Grand Prize Winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions) delivered the laughs as the clownish Dandini.

This production borrowed a page from “Alice in Wonderland,” fronting a cotton-candy color scheme and a cadre of human-sized mice to accompany our Cinderella through a fairytale farce. Perfect for younger audiences, The Atlanta Opera partnered with the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs and ArtsBridge Foundation to provide a free sold-out performance to middle- and high-school students at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.

The season opener for The Opera’s mainstage series, La Cenerentola was a co-production of the Houston Grand Opera, Welsh National Opera, Liceu Opera Barcelona and Grand Théâtre de Genève created by the Spanish director Joan Font. The production featured guest conductor Dean Williamson.

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40TH ANNIVERSARY GALA The Atlanta Opera celebrated its 40th Anniversary with a spectacular gala, “The Mystery of Love,” on February 8, 2020, at Piedmont Driving Club.

Featuring stunning performances by Studio Artist Jouelle Roberson, contralto Meredith Arwady and baritone Nicholas Brownlee, and cocktail hour music by Atlanta Opera Orchestra associate concertmaster Helen Kim and pianist Julie Coucheron, along with a surprise appearance by members of the Auburn University Marching Band, it was an evening that looked toward the Opera’s next 40 years as much as it reflected on its first 40. This joyous evening was the most profitable gala in the Opera’s history, grossing over $700,000.

HONOREES The honorees for the 40th anniversary milestone event were Rosemary and John Brown, whose love of the arts and education has inspired philanthropic support that has transformed The Atlanta Opera.

The Browns continue to be tireless advocates for and supporters of the performing arts and education. Rosemary serves on the board of directors of The Atlanta Opera. A former teacher, she maintains a passion for education, serving on the board’s community engagement committee. John has been a key business mentor for Tomer Zvulun and supported him through the executive education program at Harvard Business School.

The Browns have made a number of artists’ performances with the opera possible, including Meredith Arwady (Eugene Onegin) and Santiago Ballerini (The Daughter of the Regiment and La Cenerentola). The Atlanta Opera is extraordinarily grateful to John and Rosemary Brown for their vital support and friendship.

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EDUCATION A core mission of The Atlanta Opera is to provide educational opportunities for students of all ages – we believe opera is for everyone. Our programs seek to inspire creativity, stimulate critical conversations, promote an enduring appreciation of the arts, and create audiences for the future.

During 2019-20, The Atlanta Opera’s education and community programs reached 42,596 community members and students. This season’s programs saw a 15% increase in total attendance and a 30% increase in total performances.

This season’s Studio Tour of Hansel and Gretel was sold out! The Tour reached 22,028 students during its Fall and Winter segments.

In partnership with Atlanta Public Schools and Fulton County Schools, Tapestry: A Historical Journey Through Song was presented in January and February as the Opera’s first ever arts-integration in-school residency program. Workshops, Masterclasses and residency programing reached over 4,000 students this season.

“OUR STUDENTS’ CONNECTION TO THE WORD ‘OPERA’ WILL CONJURE UP POSITIVE AND VIVID MEMORIES FOR A LIFETIME.” – T. Williams, Music Teacher, Finch Elementary

2019-20 Community Programs and Partnerships reached 13,626 people. Highlights included Holiday Favorites with The Atlanta Opera Chorus at Shakespeare Tavern; Porgy and Bess: A Black Perspective presented in partnership with The Baton Foundation featuring Dr. Naomi André, Morris Robinson, and Indra Thomas at Auburn Avenue Research Library; a preview performance of Frida at the first annual Festival de la Cultura Latina presented by The Home Depot Foundation at The Home Depot Backyard at Mercedes-Benz Stadium; and Soprano Angela Brown’s Opera... from a Sistah’s Point of View in partnership with Spelman College.

2019-20 STUIDO ARTISTS

The Atlanta Opera Studio provides talented emerging artists with valuable performance experience working alongside internationally acclaimed operatic professionals. The artists will participate in masterclasses and specialized instruction, enhancing and deepening their professional education through coaching in language, stage skills, and career development.

Members: baritone JONATHAN BRYAN (Dallas, Texas); stage director ELLEN JACKSON (Cleveland, Ohio); bass ISAAC KIM (Seoul, South Korea); pianist ÁLVARO CORRAL MATUTE (Jerez de la Fontera, Spain); soprano JOUELLE ROBERSON (Washington, DC); mezzo-soprano ELIZABETH SARIAN (Long Island, NY)

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SALOME JAN 25 - FEB 2, 2020

COMPOSER RICHARD STRAUSS CONDUCTOR ARTHUR FAGEN DIRECTOR TOMER ZVULUN SCENIC & PROJECTIONS DESIGNER ERHARD ROM LIGHTING DESIGNER ROBERT WIERZEL COSTUME DESIGNER MATTIE ULLRICH CHOREOGRAPHER AMIR LEVY

A dream cast for a biblical nightmare—this world-premiere Atlanta Opera production starred the incomparable Jennifer Holloway, a local to Atlanta, as the saucy teenage femme fatale. So riveting was her performance, Schmopera titled its review “A Love Letter to Jennifer Holloway.” And the cast just kept on giving: Opera News called Nathan Berg’s “Wo ist er” “simply gorgeous.” The same article hailed the international opera star and Atlanta native Jennifer Larmore as “a standout as the brazen Herodias,” opposite tenor Frank van Aken whose voice was “penetrating” and “relentless.”

The opera Salome is based on the Oscar Wilde play of the same name. At its premiere in 1905, the opera was a shock to polite society and quickly banned in many places due to its explosive combination of lust, incest, and treatment of the biblical figure John the Baptist. For Atlantans in early 2020, it was a “nonstop psychological thriller” (EarRelevant) magnified by opulent vocal and orchestral textures. These Atlanta Opera performances were led by music director Arthur Fagen.

“SALOME WAS SUPERCHARGED WITH ACOUSTIC POWER, KALEIDOSCOPIC VOCAL COLORS, SPELLBINDING INFLECTION, AND A CHARACTERIZATION THAT DEVELOPED THROUGHOUT THE ACT ...”

– Stephanie Adrian, Opera News

ACT I: PRE-PANDEMIC page 16

page 17 ACT I: PRE-PANDEMIC

ACT I: PORGY AND BESS page 18

PORGY AND BESS MAR 7 - 15, 2020

MUSIC GEORGE GERSHWIN LIBRETTO DUBOSE AND DOROTHY HEYWARD AND IRA GERSHWIN CONDUCTOR DAVID CHARLES ABELL ORIGINAL PRODUCTION DIRECTOR FRANCESCA ZAMBELLO STAGE DIRECTOR GARNETT BRUCE SCENIC DESIGNER PETER DAVISON COSTUME DESIGNER PAUL TAZEWELL LIGHTING DESIGNER MARK MCCULLOUGH ORIGINAL CHOREOGRAPHER ERIC SEAN FOGEL ASSOCIATE CHOREOGRAPHER EBONI ADAMS FIGHT DIRECTOR MICHELLE LADD WILLIAMS

George and Ira Gershwin’s American classic Porgy and Bess occupies a special place in The Atlanta Opera’s 40-year legacy. It’s always been a box-office hit and did much to bolster the company’s reputation internationally, thanks to the exceptional work of The Atlanta Opera Chorus.

This past season, Porgy’s special status in our collective memories acquired new meaning. With a phenomenal cast fueled by an electric chemistry, the production was at once an artistic triumph and an emblem of the 2020 tragedy. Indeed, tickets were nearly gone when the series was canceled mid-run.

Porgy opened on March 7 with opera star and Atlanta-native Morris Robinson singing the courageous male lead. The cast included others from Atlanta’s deep well of operatic talent, including Talise Trevigne (Bess) and Reginald Smith, Jr. (Jake). ArtsATL wrote of Trevigne: “to watch her onstage it’s as if she has inhabited the role for a lifetime.” And Robinson’s Porgy came with “a giftedness that can only be achieved with sincerity and, of course, a first-rate voice.” Guest conductor David Charles Abell led the massive ensemble from the orchestra pit.

A production of Francesca Zambello and The Glimmerglass Festival, The Atlanta Opera’s Porgy and Bess was scheduled to have a split cast with the role of Porgy shared by Robinson and the up-and-coming bass-baritione Musa Ngqungwana.

On March 13, the day Ngqungwana was to make his company debut, the remaining two shows were canceled due to the coronavirus.

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SHUTDOWN On March 11, the W.H.O. declared COVID-19 spread to be a global pandemic. On Friday, March 13, The Atlanta Opera canceled its remaining performances of Porgy and Bess at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.

Bass Musa Ngqungwana, who was to take the stage in the title role of Porgy in the second half of the run of performances, never made his Atlanta debut in the role. Instead, the cast, crew, creative team, and staff gathered for a bittersweet toast on the stage of the theater to say goodbye to each other.

The cast began to sing “I’m On My Way” from the end of the opera, in salute to Musa. Staring out into an empty hall, no one could have imagined that hall dark one year later.

The Atlanta Opera paid its musicians, cast, crew, and artisans for their work, and quickly made plans to act. Patrons were gracious despite their disappointment. The performances in May of Glory Denied and Madama Butterfly were postponed.

The staff began to ask poignant and soul-searching questions about what the company could do despite being unable to perform for the public.

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FLIPPED

By April, serious discussions about the future of the 20-21 season were happening daily. Many arts organizations continued to hold out hope that the pandemic might abate by the fall.

In preparation for the tough year, The Atlanta Opera made a bold decision. Live performance is the essence of what we do. We should be committed to finding a safe way to perform live in the next season. If outdoors was safer in terms of virus transmission, how do we become an outdoor opera company—at least as long as the virus is part of our daily lives?

The company cut its budget by 35%. With grit and determination, the smaller staff that remained created a brand-new kind of opera – with safeguards for artists and audience. The Big Tent Series was born.

page 21 ACT II: OPERA FLIPPED

COMMUNITY INITIATIVES & EDUCATION The Atlanta Opera acted early in the pandemic in a variety of community-focused projects that utilized the specific skills of the company to contribute to the effort.

The costume department, led by Atlanta Opera veteran Joanna Schmink, created thousands of masks and gowns, and the word “PPE” came into our vocabulary. The opera worked with Grady hospital’s Director of Supply Chain to get these valuable pieces of equipment to frontline workers within months of the shutdown. At the time, masks, especially, were in very short supply. Ultimately, this became a collective effort with the Alliance Theatre and the Atlanta Ballet’s costume shops, too.

The company kept its Studio Artists on contract through the end of June, and these talented young artists designed digital “Singing Telegrams” that were sent to nursing homes, essential workers, and others who needed a musical lift. The opera even created a request form where anybody could select a song and have a personalized message sent to a friend or family member in need.

Studio Tour productions and in-person Workshops for the school year could not happen as originally planned. The Atlanta Opera worked with local teachers to pilot learning opportunities for virtual classrooms and field trips. Virtual Workshops and Masterclasses were held with members of The Atlanta Opera Studio and staff.

The Opera’s education team also curated virtual activities and resources hosted on our website for educators, parents, and students to conveniently learn about opera from home.

In May, the touring artists worked with director Brenna Corner to create a new immersive virtual Studio Tour show for distance learning. Story Time with Hansel and Gretel was recorded live and produced for virtual classrooms, and debuted as a Facebook watch party with the Fulton County Library. By the end of the season, virtual programming had reached 6,536 community members and students with 19 performances at nine schools and five community venues.

All of these community-focused programs, plus the innovation of the Big Tent Series meant that The Atlanta Opera generated fantastic press coverage in national and international media outlets.

ACT II: COMMUNITY INITIATIVES page 22

PRESS

“THE TELEGRAMS PROVIDED THESE LOVELY, POTENT SOUNDS, LIKE HEARING A RAINBOW! LISTENING TAKES YOUR TROUBLES AWAY, EVEN IF JUST FOR A LITTLE WHILE. IT FILLS YOU WITH HOPE AND GOOD FEELINGS.”

– Bernie Goldstein, Lenbrook Retirement Community Resident

page 23 ACT II: COMMUNITY INITIATIVES

THE COMPANY PLAYERS In July, the company created an ensemble of company players to help it deliver a reimagined season.

Led by Jamie Barton, Morris Robinson, Kevin Burdette, and Michael Mayes, the Atlanta Opera Company Players consists of 12 singers drawn from the incredible pool of world-class talent living in Atlanta or within a few hours’ drive. The opera was inspired by Shakespeare’s theater troupe, The Kings Men, which operated at a time when plague regularly shuttered London’s theaters, as well as the modern, critically acclaimed Steppenwolf Theater Ensemble in Chicago.

JAMIE BARTON KEVIN BURDETTE JASMINE HABERSHAM DANIELA MACK MEGAN MARINO MICHAEL MAYES RYAN MCKINNY MORRIS ROBINSON ALEK SHRADER RICHARD TREY SMAGUR REGINALD SMITH, JR. TALISE TREVIGNE

ACT II: THE COMPANY PLAYERS page 24

THE GLYNN STUDIO PLAYERS Shortly thereafter, the Company Players were joined by the Glynn Studio Players, an impressive group of six early career professional with significant stage experience, some with lead performances and major concert appearances on their resume.

This ensemble builds on The Atlanta Opera’s commitment to provide opportunities for performers at all stages in their careers.

Every singer receives salary and benefits from the company.

In return, the players perform during the season and the Company Players serve as mentors and coaches to the Studio Players.

GABRIELLE BETEAG SUSANNE BURGESS JOSHUA CONYERS CALVIN GRIFFIN JOSEPH LATTANZI BRIAN VU

page 25 ACT II: THE GLYNN STUDIO PLAYERS

ACT II: THE BIG TENT page 26

THE MOLLY BLANK BIG TENT SERIES Oglethorpe University provided a home, literally beside home plate, on Anderson Field at Hermance Stadium on their campus in Brookhaven.

On September 28, the tent was constructed, and pandemic opera rehearsals began. The Company and Studio Players jumped into their roles.

Opening nights at both Pagliacci and The Kaiser of Atlantis were electric. Though masked and distanced from one another, the energy between singers and audience was electric. At that point, it had been eight months since anyone had seen a live performance.

We were so happy to be back.

HEALTH & SAFETY

The opera’s primary and unwavering commitment to safety while performing and operating during the year led to the formation of the Health and Safety Advisory Committee. Leading epidemiologists like Dr. Carlos del Rio of Emory, healthcare experts like John Haupert of Grady Hospital, and others joined a group that specifically codified and approved the opera’s 37-page back-to-work manual.

The opera hired epidemiologist Kylie Saunders to become a part of the team, onsite at all events and ensuring a high standard was achieved in practice.

Thanks to this committee, Kylie and the dedication of the entire Atlanta Opera team, there were no outbreaks of COVID-19 at any stage in the live performance process.

page 27 ACT II: THE BIG TENT

PAGLIACCI OCT 22 - NOV 13, 2020

COMPOSER RUGGIERO LEONCAVALLO CONDUCTOR ROLANDO SALAZAR STAGE DIRECTOR TOMER ZVULUN SET DESIGNER JULIA NOULIN-MERAT COSTUME DESIGNER JOANNA SCHMINK LIGHTING DESIGNER BEN RAWSON

The Atlanta Opera’s Pagliacci “felt safe and actually kind of normal,” wrote the Atlanta Journal Constitution—high praise tinged with irony, considering this production was staged during one of the most distressing and disruptive times in recent memory. In October of 2020, it was all about maximizing impact and safety in the service of our community.

The Atlanta Opera Company Players debuted the Molly Blank Big Tent Series with a COVID-era telling of Pagliacci (“Clowns”).

Complete with face masks and isolation chambers, this dystopian clown show gave added poignancy to Leoncavallo’s gritty melodrama.

The intimacy of the circus tent not only provided proper ventilation for the audience and performers, but “essentially [made] the audience into the story’s crowd of villagers” (EarRelevant), lending immediacy to the opera experience.

Assembling a company of players was a departure from the preCOVID Atlanta Opera business model which typically draws singers from around the world. Utilizing the truly exceptional pool of Atlantabased talent, the Company Players model brought performers on staff to support artistic goals while helping to sustain these artists through the worldwide shutdown. Pagliacci featured Reginald Smith, Jr., Richard Trey Smagur, Talise Trevigne, and Megan Marino, as well as two performers from the Glynn Studio Players (The Atlanta Opera young artist program), Joshua Conyers and Joseph Lattanzi. The Big Tent stood in Hermance Stadium at Oglethorpe University. These performances were led by guest conductor Rolando Salazar, and was captured in a multi-camera video production for the virtual stage.

During 20 performances under the Big Tent, there was no known transmission of the COVID-19 virus.

ACT II: PAGLIACCI page 28

page 29 ACT II: PAGLIACCI

ACT II: THE KAISER OF ATLANTIS page 30

THE KAISER OF ATLANTIS OCT 23 - NOV 14, 2020

COMPOSER RUGGIERO LEONCAVALLO CONDUCTOR ROLANDO SALAZAR STAGE DIRECTOR TOMER ZVULUN SET DESIGNER JULIA NOULIN-MERAT COSTUME DESIGNER JOANNA SCHMINK LIGHTING DESIGNER BEN RAWSON

Living through the COVID crisis served to heighten the poignancy of this production. Yet another Big Tent dystopian tale, The Kaiser of Atlantis was composed by Victor Ullmann at the Theresienstadt Ghetto, just months before he was murdered at Auschwitz. The show is loaded with irony as the character “Death” goes on strike, protesting the excesses of “Emperor Overall.”

In The Atlanta Opera production, masked harlequins, jugglers, and circus artists performed before a large pile of old shoes. Those that were not masked were entombed in vinyl enclosures.

“IN ‘KAISER,’ WHICH BEGS FOR AN EXPERIMENTAL PRESENTATION, THE CONSTRAINTS SEEMED COMPLETELY NORMAL; THIS WAS AVANT-GARDE THEATER DONE WELL.” – John Ross, Atlanta Journal-Constitution The production highlighted the world-class talents of The Atlanta Opera Company Players headlined by Michael Mayes, Daniela Mack, Alek Shrader, Kevin Burdette, and Jasmine Habersham with Glynn Studio Artists Brian Vu and Calvin Griffin. These performances were led by guest conductor Clinton Smith.

On October 6, 2020, The Atlanta Opera partnered with the Breman Museum for a virtual discussion focusing on Viktor Ullmann and Peter Kien’s critically acclaimed chamber opera, The Kaiser of Atlantis, which was written in 1943 at the Theresienstadt concentration camp. Lois Reitzes, host of WABE’s City Lights moderated the discussion between Carl W. Knobloch, Jr. General & Artistic Director Tomer Zvulun and Carl & Sally Gable Music Director Arthur Fagen, which was hosted on Zoom and free to the public.

page 31 ACT II: THE KAISER OF ATLANTIS

ACT II: THE BIG TENT CONCERT SERIES page 32

THE BIG TENT CONCERT SERIES One of the goals of The Atlanta Opera Company and Studio Players is to create a sense of community and belonging to singing artists. So often, performers in the United States travel from “gig to gig,” racking up airline frequent flyer miles and living in hotel rooms. During the pandemic, many of our artists remained at home, and the organization was determined to provide multiple opportunities for performance under the Big Tent.

The Big Tent Concert Series was born—a Player-led initiative, where singers were encouraged to program and design short concerts in a variety of styles in October and November. The series opened with mezzo soprano Megan Marino, tenor Brian Vu, and soprano Jasmine Habersham, all previous winners of The Kurt Weill Foundation for Music’s prestigious Lotte Lenya Competition. They were joined by Susanne Burgess, Gabrielle Beteag, Joshua Conyers and Richard T. Smagur for an evening of Kurt Weill’s songs.

The second performance featured the four acclaimed mezzo sopranos of The Atlanta Opera Company and Studio Players, Jamie Barton, Gabrielle Beteag, Daniela Mack, and Megan Marino.

The final performance explored America’s musical Crossroads, with a concert spanning multiple genres and featuring Michael Mayes, Jamie Barton, Morris Robinson and Megan Marino in both singing and instrumental roles. These Players shared their favorite bluegrass, gospel, blues, and other American standards.

page 33 ACT II: THE BIG TENT CONCERT SERIES

The Atlanta Opera embraced technology to better serve and broaden its audiences in 2020. In December, the company launched Spotlight Media, its filmmaking and digital media production and distribution platform.

After hiring a resident filmmaker in August, the opera captured its fall Big Tent productions with an eye towards bringing audiences literally closer to the art from (on stage!) through the medium of film. After weeks of post-production, the film versions of Pagliacci and The Kaiser of Atlantis were shared via the streaming Spotlight Media platform.

... THE COMPANY’S NEW SPOTLIGHT MEDIA PLATFORM DEMONSTRATES HOW IMAGINATIVE DIRECTION CAN HARNESS COVID RESTRICTIONS FOR ARTISTIC EFFECT. – Heidi Waleson, Wall Street Journal

Tomer Zvulun curated a series designed specifically for Spotlight called “Love Letters to Atlanta,” featuring the Company Players, each singing songs in places woven into the fabric of Atlanta’s musical history. A short interview, led by Zvulun, introduced the first three letters, which debuted at the close of 2020. Jamie Barton and Morris Robinson recorded at the historic Fox Theatre. Kevin Burdette sang on the stage of the Atlanta Civic Auditorium.

Company Player Ryan McKinny was also present during the fall Big Tent performances and adapted and created new footage for a new series, Orfano Mondo. Released in early 2021, this surreal art documentary captured McKinny’s take on performing during a pandemic.

The platform has received numerous compliments and plaudits, notably from the Wall Street Journal, and film versions of the spring 2021 productions are expected in summer/ fall 2021.

ACT II: SPOTLIGHT MEDIA page 34

EQUITY, DIVERSITY, & INCLUSION In the Spring of 2020, as the pandemic was rising across the country, killings of unarmed Black people including Ahmaud Arbery here in Georgia, Breonna Taylor in Louisville, and George Floyd in Minneapolis sparked a series of protests seeking justice and understanding.

In light of those protests, members of the Opera’s staff collectively engaged in conversations, wanting to take specific action to support people of color in our community and move The Atlanta Opera to be a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive organization, consciously more reflective of the community to which we belong.

Conversation led to a justice statement posted on our website and a series of concrete steps the company is now undertaking, including • Continuing the foundational work we have done in our educational programming to intentionally create programs of, for, and by marginalized communities • Carrying on town hall meetings among the staff where we encourage all voices to be heard • Convening and expanding the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee of the Board of Directors • Forming a staff task force to work with the Board committee to implement thoughtful company strategy in this arena • Engaging a third-party EDI and anti-racism consultant, now guiding us through this hard reckoning through training and education ... Adding additional steps as they emerge from our learning.

These action points are not enough, but they are a start. The Atlanta Opera is committed to joining those who demand equity and will apply our mission as a cultural institution to work towards peace and justice.

page 35 ACT II: EQUITY, DIVERSITY, & INCLUSION

ORCHESTRA VIOLIN

VIOLA

OBOE

TROMBONE

Peter Ciaschini The Loraine P. Williams Orchestra Concertmaster Chair

William Johnston Principal

Diana Dunn Principal

Mark McConnell Principal

Elizabeth Derderian-Wood Assistant Principal

Christina Gavin Alexandra Shatalova Prior†

Richard Brady Bass Trombone

Ryan Gregory Julie Rosseter Karl Schab Joli Wu* Catherine Price Allain† Tania Clements† Josiah Coe† Robert Rieve† Patrick Shelc† Meghan Yost†

CLARINET

Ed Nicholson†

David Odom Principal

TUBA

Helen Kim Assistant Concertmaster Fia Durrett Principal Second Violin Adelaide Federici* Assistant Principal Second Violin Edward Eanes Felix Farrar Robert Givens Patti Gouvas Lisa Morrison Shawn Pagliarini Anastasia Petrunina Virginia Respess-Fairchild Patrick Ryan Angèle Sherwood-Lawless Jessica Stinson Rafael Veytsblum Katie Gardner† Sally Gardner-Wilson† Alice Hong† Alison James† Jeanne Johnson† Kathryn Koch† Serena Scibelli† Mayu Sommovigo† Elonia Varfi†

CELLO Charae Krueger Principal Hilary Glen Assistant Principal David Hancock Mary Kenney Cynthia Sulko Harrison Cook† Barney Culver† Sarah Kapps† Joyce Yang†

BASS Lyn DeRamus Principal Emory Clements Christina Ottaviano Maurice Belle† Adam Bernstein† Robert Henson†

FLUTE James Zellers Principal Kelly Bryant Erica Bass-Pirtle†

John Warren Jeanne Heinze† Justin Stanley† Luke Weathington†

BASS CLARINET John Warren

BASSOON Ivy Ringel* Principal Debra Grove Stephanie Patterson† John Grove†

ALTO SAXOPHONE John Warren Jan Baker† Luke Weathington†

TENOR SAXOPHONE John Warren

HORN David Bradley Principal

TIMPANI John Lawless Principal

PERCUSSION Mike Cebulski Principal Karen Hunt† Jeff Kershner† Courtney McDonald† Scott Pollard†

HARP Susan Brady Principal

PIANO Seann Alderking† Paul Schwartz†

CELESTA Valerie Pool†

ACCORDION Henry Doktorski†

BANJO

Jason Eklund Eric Hawkins† Edward Ferguson† Andrew Sehmann†

GUITAR

TRUMPET

John Huston†

Yvonne Toll Principal

PERSONNEL MANAGER

Hollie Lifshey Aaron Norlund† Paul Poovey†

ACT III: ORCHESTRA page 36

Donald Strand Principal

Bill Hatcher†

Mark McConnell *core musician on leave † non-core musician

CHORUS SOPRANO Stefayne Dunn Kelly Goodson Kayla Harriott Alicia Jayourba Jouelle Roberson* Shala Whitehead Tiffany Uzoije Minka Wiltz

ALTO

BASS

Kimberly Blue

John Alston

Ebony Collier

Phillip Bullock

Yasmin Edwards

Christopher Connelly

Chamblee Graham

Samuel Ferreira

Valeie Hamm

Antoine Griggs

Shanta Johnson

Gus Godbee

Kimberly Milton

Samy Itskov

Amber Tittle

Jarrod Lee

TENOR

Timothy Marshall

Martin Bakari

Jahi Mims

Robert Banks

Stephen McCool

Kyle Barnes

Rhane McQuain

Michael Lindsay

Jose Caballero

Sheldon Michael

Ramon Centeno

Taylor Miller

James Douglas

LeRell Ross

William Green

Jason Royal

Larry Hylton

Wendel Stephens

Ernest Jackson Grant Jones Rick Mallory Tim Miller Timothy D. Parrott Demetrious Sampson Michael Vavases Tyrone Webb Daniel Weisman Lloyd White

*2019-20 Studio Artist

page 37 ACT III: CHORUS

STAFF EXECUTIVE CARL W. KNOBLOCH, JR. GENERAL & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Tomer Zvulun

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Micah Fortson

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Chamberlynn Shelton

ARTISTIC CARL & SALLY GABLE MUSIC DIRECTOR

Arthur Fagen

DIRECTOR OF ARTISTIC ADMINISTRATION

Lauren Bailey

ASSOCIATE CONDUCTOR / CHORUS MASTER

Rolando Salazar

ARTISTIC SERVICES & STUDIO MANAGER

Wade Thomas

ARTISTIC COORDINATOR & ORCHESTRA LIBRARIAN

Katie Ude

ORCHESTRA PERSONNEL MANAGER

Mark McConnell

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION

Kevin G. Mynatt

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Meggie Roseborough

ASSOCIATE TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

Joshua Jansen

ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER

Marisa Brink

ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER

Renée Varnas

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & EDUCATION DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & EDUCATION

Jessica Kiger

EDUCATION COORDINATOR

Alexandria Sweatt

COSTUME COSTUME DIRECTOR

Joanna Schmink

INDIVIDUAL GIVING OFFICER

Lauren Allmeyer

Camille Cordak

WORK ROOM MANAGER

DATABASE MANAGER

Kelly Isaac

FIRST HAND

L. Elizabeth Payne STITCHER

Hauzia Conyers

STITCHER

Brandon T. Thompson

STITCHER

Brianna Wiegand

WIG & MAKEUP MANAGER

Frandresha “Brie” Hall

FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

Kathy J. White

CONTROLLER

Inga V. Murro

PROPERTIES ARTISAN

BOOKKEEPER

ACT III: STAFF page 38

Paul Harkins

Jonathan Blalock

LIGHTING SUPERVISOR

Christopher Moneymaker

CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER

ASSISTANT COSTUME SHOP MANAGER / WARDROBE SUPERVISOR

HUMAN RESOURCES & FACILITIES MANAGER

Marcella Barbeau

DEVELOPMENT

Kenneth R. Timmons Ruth Strickland

INSTITUTIONAL GIVING OFFICER

Steven Bras

OPERATIONS & INDIVIDUAL GIVING COORDINATOR

Elizabeth Root

EVENTS & VOLUNTEER MANAGER

Sandy Feliciano

MARKETING & AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT CHIEF OF MARKETING & AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT

Ashley Mirakian

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF MARKETING

Rebecca Danis

MARKETING MANAGER

Laura Lucas

SENIOR MANAGER, TICKETING SERVICES

Renee Smiley

CREATIVE SERVICES MANAGER

Matt Burkhalter

page 39 ACT III: STAFF

DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE Cathy & Mark Adams Mr. & Mrs. Ronald R. Antinori Mr. & Mrs. Paul Blackney *Nancy & *Jim Bland Laura & Montague Boyd Dr. Harold Brody & Mr. Donald Smith Ms. Janine Brown & Mr. Alex J. Simmons, Jr.

Mr. John Haupert John & Rosemary Brown & Mr. Bryan Brooks Mr. & Mrs. John L. Connolly Mr. Howard W. Hunter Ann & Frank Critz - Gramma Fisher Foundation *Martha Thompson Dinos Triska Drake & G. Kimbrough Taylor Donald & Marilyn Keough Foundation Carl & Sally Gable Mr. & Mrs. Michael L. Keough Beth & Gary Glynn *Mr. & Mrs. Carl W. Knobloch, Jr. Dr. & Mrs. Alexander Gross Mary Ruth McDonald John L. Hammaker

ANNUAL GIVING DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE $1,000,000+ John & Rosemary Brown *Martha Thompson Dinos

$200,000+ Dr. Harold Brody & Mr. Donald Smith Ann & Frank Critz Mr. Howard W. Hunter - Gramma Fisher Foundation *Mr. & Mrs. Carl W. Knobloch, Jr. Mr. James B. Miller, Jr. Jerry & Dulcy Rosenberg

James B. Miller, Jr. Victoria & Howard Palefsky Mr. William Pennington Jerry & Dulcy Rosenberg Mr. William F. Snyder Judith & Mark Taylor Rhys T. & Carolyn Wilson The Mary & Charlie Yates Family Fund

Received between 7/1/19 and 6/30/2020

PATRON’S CIRCLE $15,000+ Julie & Jim Balloun Mr. David Boatwright Carl & Sally Gable Candy & Greg Johnson Ms. Bunny Winter & Mr. Michael Doyle The Mary & Charlie Yates Family Fund

GOLD $10,000+

Elizabeth & Jeremy Adler Anonymous John & Wendy Anzalone Bryan & Johanna Barnes $100,000+ Dr. & Mrs. Asad Bashey Anonymous Mr. & Mrs. C. Duncan Beard Mr. & Mrs. Paul Blackney Mr. Frank Butterfield Beth & Gary Glynn Mr. Mario Concha The Karina Miller Trust Mr. Robert P. Dean $50,000+ & Mr. Robert Epstein Mr. & Mrs. Ronald R. Antinori *Heike & Dieter Elsner Laura & Montague Boyd Mr. Alfred D. Kennedy Triska Drake & G. Kimbrough Taylor & Dr. Bill Kenny Dr. & Mrs. Alexander Gross Stephanie & Gregor Morela Mr. William F. Snyder Household Rhys T. & Carolyn Wilson Sandra & Peter Morelli Clara M. & John S. O’Shea $25,000+ Mr. & Mrs. Michael E. Paulhus Cathy & Mark Adams Milton J. Sams *Nancy & *Jim Bland Katherine Scott Ms. Janine Brown Charles T. & Donna Sharbaugh & Mr. Alex J. Simmons, Jr. Christine & Mark St.Clare Mr. & Mrs. John L. Connolly SILVER $5,000+ John L. Hammaker Anonymous Mr. & Mrs. Michael L. Keough Dr. Florence C. Barnett Mary Ruth McDonald Natalie & Matthew Bernstein Victoria & Howard Palefsky Jean & Jerry Cooper Mr. William Pennington Mr. & Mrs. Robert G. Edge Judith & Mark Taylor

ACT III: SUPPORT page 40

Received between 7/1/19 and 12/30/2020

Mr. & Mrs. Lance Fortnow Ms. Rebecca Y. Frazer & Mr. Jon Buttrey Mr. Ethan Garonzik Mr. & Mrs. Edward J. Hardin Mr. L. D. Holland Mrs. Gail G. Johnson Mr. & Mrs. Michael A. Klump Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Long Dr. & Mrs. James Lowman Mrs. Polly N. Pater Mr. & Mrs. Timothy E. Sheehan Baker & Debby Smith John & Yee-Wan Stevens Mr. & Mrs. Bill Vance Larry & Beverly Willson Mrs. Wadleigh C. Winship Bob & Cappa Woodward Charitable Fund Mr. Tomer Zvulun & Mrs. Susanna Eiland

BRONZE $2,500+ Mr. & *Mrs. Shepard B. Ansley Dante & Zayra Bellizzi Dr. John W. Cooledge Col. & Mrs. Edgar W. Duskin Dr. & Mrs. Donald J. Filip Mr. James Flanagan Mr. Michael Golden & Dr. Juliet Asher Kevin Greiner & Robyn Roberts Judge Adele P. Grubbs Dr. Thomas N. Guffin, Jr. Eda Hochgelerent MD & Bruce Cassidy MD Linda L. Lively & James E. Hugh III Ms. Salli LeVan Belinda & Gino Massafra Shelley McGehee Mr. Conrad Mora

Mr. & Mrs. Richard P. Nicholas III Mr. James D. Powell Lynn & Kent Regenstein John & Barbara Ross Morton & Angela Sherzer Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas Shreiber Lynne & Steven Steindel Mr. & Mrs. George B. Taylor, Jr. Dr. & Mrs. Nicholas Valerio III Peter J. Stelling & Jody C. Weatherly Mrs. Hugh Tarbutton

FRIEND’S CIRCLE INVESTOR $1,000+ David Abell Scott & Betsy Akers Ms. Teresa Bailey Mr. & Mrs. Harris P. Baskin Ms. Kris Christy Mr. & Mrs. Edward S. Croft III Mrs. Overton A. Currie Maureen & Michael Dailey Mr. Richard H. Delay & Dr. Francine D. Dykes Drs. Morgan & Susan Horton Eiland Mr. Thomas Emch Rita Evans Dr. Mary M. Finn Ms. Louise S. Gunn Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Hantula Deborah & Paul Harkins Mr. George Hickman, III Mr. & Mrs. Harry C. Howard Mr. & Mrs. David C. Huffman Mr. & Mrs. Gert Kampfer Mrs. Treville Lawrence Mrs. Dale Levert & Mr. George W. Levert Samantha & William Markle Dr. & Mrs. Steven Marlowe Mr. & Mrs. Allen P. McDaniel

Mary & Wayne James Cliff Jolliff & Elaine Gerke Mrs. Peter G. Kessenich Ms. Eleanor Kinsey Joan & Arnold Kurth Chris & Jill Le Antionesha N. Lee Livvy Kazer Lipson Allan & Veneesa Little Richard Lodise & Valerie Jagiella James Madsen Mr. & Mrs. Paul Manno Ms. Deborah A. Marlowe Mr. Thomas L. McCook Mr. & Mrs. M. Sean Molley Mr. Frank M. Monger Terri & Stephen Nagler Mr. Denis Ng & Mrs. Mary Jane Panzeri Ng Mr. & Mrs. William A. Parker, Jr. SUPPORTER $500+ Mr. Darryl-Christopher Payne Dr. Raymond Allen Mr. Lawrence F. Pinson Paula Stephan Amis Dan Pompilio & Lark Ingram Anonymous Walter O. Pryor Mr. & Mrs. Robert O. Banker Mr. Stephen L. Rann Colonel & Mrs. John V. Barson, D.O. & Ms. Dytre Fentress Drs. Tatiana & Igor Bidikov Danny & Quennie Ross Ms. Mary D. Bray Sandra & Ronald Rousseau Stanford M. Brown Dr. & Mrs. William M. Scaljon Dr. & Mrs. Harold L. Chapman, Jr. Mrs. MaryEarle Scovil Mrs. Carol J. Clark Mr. Robert Sidewater Mr. N. Jerold Cohen Mr. & Mrs. Milton W. Shlapak & Ms. Andrea Strickland Mr. Paul Snyder Mr. Lawrence M. Cohen Judge Mike & Mrs. Jane Stoddard Aaron Coley Steve & Christine Strong Mr. & Mrs. Newt Collinson Kay Summers Ms Lillianette Cook & Ms. Carol Uhl Carolyn & Robert Swain Mr. & Mrs. Michael J. Curry Alan & Marcia Watt Amy & James Davis Dr. & Mrs. Sam Williams Jim & Carol Dew Kiki Wilson Denis & Sandra DuBois Dr. & Mrs. Ben Zinn Ms. Ariana B. Fass Dr. & Mrs. David J. Frolich CONTRIBUTOR $250+ Dr. & Mrs. Joseph D. Giovinco Judith M. Alembik James C. Goodwyne Ms. Suzanne Aloisio & Christopher S. Connelly Mr. & Mrs. James Anderson Mr. & Mrs. Richard P. Grodzicki Mr. & Mrs. David S. Baker Mr. & Mrs. Sam Hagan Kelly Baker Fink Ms. Donna Hall Ms. Jamie Barton Ms. Marilyn M. Hall Mr. Albert E. Bender, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Steven Hart Mr. Matt Blackburn Donna & Richard Hiller Mr. Jonathan Blalock Wayne Hoffman Dr. Ian Bond Mrs. Pearl B. Hollis Ms. Evelyn L. Bolden Douglas Hooker Sharon S. Brando & Patrise Perkins Hooker James & Nancy Bross Richard & Linda Hubert Dr. & Mrs. W. V. Brown Robert & Barbara Jackson Dr. Christine Bruno

Ms. Priscilla M. Moran Mr. & Mrs. John L. O’Neal Mr. & Mrs. Steve Paro George Paulik Lucy S. Perry Mrs. Betsy Pittman The Reverend Neal P. Ponder, Jr. Richard Restagno Dr. & Mrs. William E. Silver Mr. Fred B. Smith Gail & Barry Spurlock Dr. Jane T. St. Clair & Mr. James E. Sustman Dr. & Mrs. Kenneth G. Taylor Ms. Virginia S. Taylor Mrs. Rebecca Warner Ms. Betsy K. Wash Dr. & Mrs. James O. Wells, Jr. *Dr. & Mrs. R. Craig Woodward

Mark & Peg Bumgardner Drs. Brenda & Craig Caldwell Dr. & Mrs. W. Jerry Capps Anne Carson Mrs. Nita Chambless Lori & David Chastain Mr. John Chickering Dr. Earle D. Clowney Mr. Michael Colbruno Carol Comstock & Jim Davis T. Dennis Connally Mr. Anthony Coulter Mr. & Mrs. David Courtney Mr. David D’Ambrosio Dr. & Mrs. Albert De Chicchis Mr. & Mrs. Harold T. Daniel Jr. Laura E. Davidson Michael H. Davis Mr. Philip D. Dawson Mrs. Sally Dean Mr. Stephen H. Dirkes Dr. & Mrs. Hamilton S. Dixon Ms. Barbara B. Dowd Mr. Mark du Mas Ms. Margaret Eisenhauer Mrs. Joyce H. Evans Mr. & Mrs. Steve Feldman Sally & Hank Fielding Ms. Lora Fitzgerald Mrs. Catherine Fox Dr. Linda Fraser Mr. Glen Galbaugh Ms. Mary Anne F. Gaunt Byron Gibbs Dr. & Mrs. Martin Goldstein Ms. Jane Fenwick Goodwin Charita Gray Mr. William Green Mr. John Greer Col. & Mrs. Donald M. Gilner Helen C. Griffith Dr. & Mrs. Bannester L. Harbin Mr. Ronald L. Harris & Mrs. Jacqueline Pownall Dean & Vivian Haulton Steven Hauser Ms. Sharon E. Hill Ms. Jan W. Hughen Mr. John Iacovelli Stuart Jackson & Robyn Jackson Lillie Jenkins Lou & Tom Jewell Mr. Richard P. Johnson Ms. Susan Johnston & Mrs. Shannon Motley Mr. & Mrs. Thomas E. Johnston Mr. J. Carter Joseph

Mr. & Mrs. Edward Katze Mr. Scott H. Kaplan John & JoAnn Keller William W. Kelly, Jr. Matthew Kent Kevin Kinsey Dr. Rose Mary Kolpatzki Michelle M.S. Lee Suzanne Lehman Mrs. Laura Leon Hamm Paulette & Matthew Levin David & Kathy Linden Ms. Katharine Mackie Dr. Robert & Judge Stephanie Manis Katherine B. Maxwell & Michael J. Maxwell Mrs. Rachel Miller Mr. Simon Miller Mr. Pierre P. Mouyal Ms. Mollie W. Neal Ms. Carol Niemi Mr. John Owens Leah Partridge Mr. & Mrs. John Payan George & Libba Pickett Ms. Jody Pollard & Mr. Sean Finneran Mr. Robert Quish *Sharon & Jim Radford Mary Lou Rahn Mr. Ira Ralph Mr. James L. Rhoden Ms. Lisa Richardson Sidney & Phyllis Rodbell Weslyn A. Samson Dr. Anne Saravo Ms. Regina Schuber Mr. Karin Schwerd Jane Shaw Dr. & Mrs. Steve M. Shindell Dr. & Mrs. Stanley J. Smits Ms. Virginia E. Spector Mr. & Mrs. Robert Stansfield Dr. Susan Y. Stevens Doug Steward Fred & Linda Stewart Sarah & David Sutherland Barbara & Jon Swann Ms. Stephanie Talley Mr. Fred Tuck Ms. Mary Ellen Vian Joseph D. & Lisa Gandy Wargo Jone Williams Mr. & Mrs. Kennedy Williams , Jr. Dr. & Mrs. David Wingert Ms. Ann D. Winters Mrs. Loretta C. Wolf Mrs. Mary S. Wright

page 41 ACT III: SUPPORT

$100+ Mr. Ahmed Abdalla Ms. Alicia Adams Ms. Sarah Adkins Mr. George A. Adriaenssens Sharon Alexander Mrs. Pierce Allgood Mrs. Virginia Almand Dr. Robert & Mrs. Lynne Alpern Mr. William F. & Joan M. Amideo Mr. Mostafa Ammar Dr. Ann J. Anderson Mr. Paul Anderson, Jr. Anonymous (2) Ms. Vernon Apperson & Mr. David Ruskin Mr. & Mrs. James F. Appleby Mario Armstead Tyrez Armstead Mrs. William B. Astrop Maria Avdonina Mr. & Mrs. Randall T. Bailey Mrs. Elizabeth Bair Ms. Bonnie Bambinelli Ms. Barbara M. Bantivoglio & Mr. Willliam W. Middleto Claire Barker Mrs. Lynne Beals Mr. Walter Beamer Christine M. Beard Carol J. Belay Claire & Bryan Benedict Ms. Helen Benford Mrs. Elizabeth Tufts Bennett Mr. Martin Bennett Mr. Edward S. Berkoff Mr. Barry Berlin Mr. & Mrs. Sid Besmertnik Ms. Jane Beylouny Mrs. Barbara Bingham Nancy Bivins Cynthia & Albert Blackwelder Ms. Barbara Blankenbeker Dr. & Mrs. Jerry Blumenthal Ms. Martha Bobo Dr. Olivia Boggs Amanda Bolster Mr. & Mrs. Stuart Bondurant Mrs. France Boney Mr. & Mrs. William C. Borland Mr. & Mrs. George Boulineau Mr. Joel M. Bowman Ms. Louise Bray Ms. Allison Brown Corregan Brown Ms. Jeannine K. Brown Melodye G. Brown Mr. Richard Brownlee Mr. Ian Buchanan Susan Buchholz

ACT III: SUPPORT page 42

Mr. Donald C. Buenger & Ms. Felice Margol Lechi Bui Donna C. Burchfield Mrs. & Mr. Natalia Burdette Ms. Anne Burnett Dr. J. Bricker Burns Ms. Julianna Burrall Mr. John Burton Kelly L. Busbin Michael J. & Debra M. Caldwell Ms. Hope Caldwell-Foster Naarah Callender Ms. Tanya Canup Steve Carmichael Ms. Suzanne Carter Ms. Maureen Cartoon Ms. Anne Chance Mr. Thomas J. Chapel & Ms. Jennifer L. McCoy Mr. & Mrs. Raymond H. Chenault Ms. Diana Chia Natalia Chopova Mr. & Mrs. Robert B. Church Joseph Cirou Ms. Alice Sue Claeys Mrs. Maggie L. Clavier Mr. & Mrs. William A. Clineburg, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Charles Cohn Dr. Elizabeth Collins, M.D. Ms. Sally Combs Charles Connell Mr. & Mrs. Terry L. Connelly Mr. & Mrs. Matt Cook Ms. Susan Coppedge Mr. Bruce W. & Mrs. Kate Cotterman Mr. John F. Cranshaw Mrs. Eleanor Crosby Ms. Delia T. Crouch Ms. Margaret O. Crow & Mrs. Kaye M. McCall Ms. Ann Cummings Connie Cusick Mr. James M. Datka & Ms. Nora P. DePalma Betty Davis Mr. Jose G. Del Canto Dr. Anna Dobretsova & Dr. Irina Grigorieva Mr. Todd Domangue Ms. Judy Donnahoo Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Dorage Mr. James S. Dorsey Ms. Judy A. Dougherty Mr. Draper & Ms. Duryea Mr. & Mrs. John Drucker Rev. James D. Duffy Ms. & Mr. Lisa Duke Ellis Duncan

Debra & Greg Durden Ms. Adriane Durey Mr. & Mrs. David R. Dye Mr. & Mrs. Robert R. Eckardt Mr. & Mrs. Louis Ederington Ms. Hyacinth Edwards Ms. Marcia P. Edwards Janice & Charles M. Edwards III Ms. Mara Eglitis Mrs. Teresa Elbel Mr. Anthony Elder Ms. Paula L. Ellis Mr. Mark Engel Mrs. Robin Engleman Nancy Etheredge Ms. Elizabeth R. Etoll Beverly O. Faubion Mr. & Mrs. Joe Federer Dr. Shoshana Felman Allison Fichter Mrs. Arnoldo Fiedotin Judy & Stan Fineman Ms. Martha Fineman Ms. Carol Finkelstein Mr. & Mrs. John Floyd Mrs. Michael L. Franchot Gil Frank & Jackie Koplowitz Stacy Fredrich Jacquelyn Frey Mr. & Mrs. Michael E. Friedman Mr. & Ms. Neal Ford Mr. & Mrs. Ronnie C. Foster Mr. & Ms. Alan H. Garber Ms. Anne Garrison Mr. James Gary Cheryl Gavin R. Derril Gay, Ph.D. Mr. Warren Genett & Mr. William Duncan Sherry Gentry Ms. Vasha Giannakopoulos Mrs. Judy Gibson Dan & Harriet Gill Mr. Wayne Godfrey & Dr. Jerry Brooks Candace Goldberg Mr. & *Mrs. Leon C. Goldstein Mr. Richard Goodjoin Mrs. Alfred Goodman Ms. Susan Goodman Ms. Theresa A. Goriczynski Marie Graham Mr. Stephen Granger Ms. Barbara A. Green Ms. Anne L. Grossman & Dr. Leonard Berger Mrs. Noel F. Haeberle & Mr. Kenneth Jones Jim & Virginia Hale Mr. & Mrs. Abel Hamid

Mr. & Mrs. George M. Hayes Cheree Herbert Cristina & Carlos Herrera Dr. Thomas High Cathy & Mark Hill Mr. Robert Hillyer Dr. Mary Ann Hindes Mr. & Mrs. William Hinson Mr. Joseph Ho Dr. Robert G. Holland Mr. William Holland Mr. & Mrs. Douglas M. Holly, Jr. Ms. Teresa Hopkin Pearlann & Jerry Horowitz Pam Houser Julie & Marc Howard Hjoertur Hreinsson Mr. David Hubbell Andrew Hudson Ms. Sally Hull Irmgard S. Immel Mr. Andrew Immerman Susan Ingber Mr. Rolf Ingenleuf Mr. & Mrs. Leonardo Inghilleri Ms. Dianne Inniss Mrs. Kyra Isaksen Ms. Christel N. Jackson Mrs. Louise Jackson Joey Jacques Dr. Denise Jamieson & Dr. Tracee Treadwell Ms. Rebecca T. Jarrett Jacqueline Jenkins-Waters Ms. Brenda D. Jennings Ms. Meredith Johnson Anna G. Joiner Helaina Jolly Ms. Beth Jones Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Juchelka Julie Kamenetzky James M. Kane & Andrea Braslavsky Kane Dr. Louise Katainen & Mr. Larry G. Gerber Mr. David Keller Rose Kelly Tiffany Kent Jane & Bob Kibler Mr. Tom Kifowit Donna Jane Kilgore Ann Kingsley Gayla Kirkland Ms. Gail G. Kitchens Lyudmyla Kompaniyets Mr. Melvin Konner Mr. Richard Kranzmann Dr. Andrew R. La Barbera & Mr. Craig B. Highberger Christina Lachenmeyer

Mr. Robert J. Lange Mrs. Emma Lankford Mr. & Mrs. Steven Lari Ms. Nancy R. Law Mary P. Leary Ms. Alina Lee Mr. & Mrs. William Lee Lucy R. & Gary Lee, Jr. Richard Lemay Ms. Kristin Lewinski Dr. Arthur Lewis Ms. Susan Liang Ms. Elizabeth Lilly Luann Linnebur Mr. Sidney E. Linton Mr Roy Locklear Dr. Carlos E. Lopez Mr. & Mrs. Fred Lopez Valerie C. Lowder Professor & Mrs. John W. Lowe Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Luettgen Donna & Trevor Lumb David & Katherine Lydon Mr. & Mrs. William J. MacKenna Mr. Urs Maire Ms. Alyssa McElrone Cynthia McGill Paul R. McGraw Dr. Chalam Mahadevan Ross Maiwand Jack Manning Ruth A. Mantooth Ms. J. Mariolis Ms. Nancy Martin Jeanie & Albert Marx Adair & Joe Massey Mimi & Dan Maslia Dr. & Mrs. Walter D. Mayfield Mr. & Mrs. Francis A. Mazzocchi Michael McDaniel Rhonda McDaniel Mr. Michael McDavid Patricia & Laughlin McDonald Ms. Robin McDonald Peggy Weber McDowell & Jack McDowell Kenneth J. McElroy Mr. John W. McIntosh Mr. David C. McKinney Mr. & Mrs. Knox McMurry Nancy Meacham Ms. Arina J. Meeuwsen Dr. Paula J. Mellom Mr. James Mengason Ms. Patricia L. Merchant Mr. Edward Merves James & Kathleen Meucci Ms. Amy Michalove Anna Miettinen Bradley Miller

Mrs. Vinny Miller Dr. Erin L. Mock Mr. Roger Moister, Jr. Dr. & Mrs. T. A. Moore Ms. Audrey Morgan Harold Morgan Mark Morley Terry Morris Mr. & Mrs. William L. Morris Mr. Albert M. Morrison Catherine Moser Ned R. Murray Deborah Musser Laura Najarian Ms. Nancy A. Naucke Ms. Sandra Neal Dr. Joshua Neumann Mr. Marek Neyman & Ms. Ludmila Gwiazdzinska Mr. & Mrs. David Norris Ms. Alice Nunley Ms. Debra Nuyan Ms. Mary H. O’Phelan Dr. & Mrs. Terry O’Shea Kathleen O’Toole Benjamin Olivers Lynn Overall Ellen Overstreet Ms. & Mr. Sandra S. Owens Mr. Joseph M. Pabst Mr. & Mrs. Richard D. Parry Rev. Louisa T. Parsons Laura I. Patterson Sarah Patton Ms. Mary Percy Mr. Albert Perkins Mr. Robert & Mrs. Pam Peterman Ms. Sophia B. Peterman Mr. & Mrs. John H. Petrey Joanne Picardi Mrs. Judy Pincus Marilyn S. Pipkin Mr. Leonard Ponich Catherine Popper & Noah Eckhouse Alaina Powell Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Powers Tom Presley Stephen Preston Linda N. Pruett Virginia Puckett Mr. Michael Quinlan & Ms. Mollie Quinlan-Hayes Mr. & Mrs. Peter Quinones Mrs. Karin Radosta Mr. Jackson P. Rainer Ms. Catherine Rakestraw Julie Ramirez Thomas E. Ramsay Mr. & Mrs. Robert Ratonyi

Mr. & Mrs. James M. Redovian Sarah Richards Tanya Richburg Mrs. Maria Richmond Carol Riggs Ms. Kristin S. Rinne LM Rogers Mr. Christopher Rouse Ms. Clare Rovin Ms. Berta Platas Rowe & Mr. Gary Rowe Mr. & Mrs. Howard Rubenstein Mr. & Mrs. Michael Ryan Dr. & Mrs. Bruce Sabatino Mildred Salomon Mr. Douglas A. Samuels & Mrs. Candace B. Edgeworth Thomas R. Saylor Dr. & Mrs. Joseph M. Scanlan Crista & Glenn D. Schaab Ms. Joyce Schemanske Mr. & Mrs. Donald Schmidt Mr. Robert M. Schneider Mr. Redd Schoening Mr. Donald Schreiber & Ms. Barbara Seal Shana M. Scott Mr. Shawn F. Scott Mr. Andrew J. Sebor Miriam Segura-Totten Ms. Jillian Seladi-Schulman Mr. Mark Shaver Mr. Scott Sheridan Mr. Jeffrey Shoap Dr. & Mrs. William O. Shropshire Mr. Joshua Shubin Scott T. Shupe Sharon Silvermintz Mr. & Mrs. David L. Sjoquist Leslye SmallsWatkins Jamison Smallwood Mr. Alexander Smith & Ms. Cathy Morton Mr. Christopher Smirl Mr. & Ms. Philip Smith Susan & Roy Smith Lisa Snyder W. Sparrow Elizabeth Morgan Spiegel Mr. Philip Stadter Ellen Stebbins Kathleen Steele Roberta H. Stevens Mr. & Mrs. Joe Stich Mr. Raymond A. Strikas Mr. John Sumrall Ms. Katharine Suttell Michelle K. Tanner Mr. & Mrs. John Tanzola Alfia Tarassenko

Mr. & Ms. Rodger Tatum Mr. Jeffrey K. Taylor Mr. & Mrs. Frederick C. Taylor Robin G. Terrell Mr. Bill Thorneloe & Ms. Ellen Smith Amy Thropp Dr. & Mrs. Joel D. Todino Carol B. & Ramon Tome Ms. Helen Tritschler Mr. & Mrs. Joshua Tropper Marilyn M. Tucker-Marek Mr. & Mrs. Charles D. Tuller Ms. Brianne Turgeon Mr. & Mrs. John Valastro Mrs. Lee Harper Vason Mr. Dwayne C. Vaughn Dr. & Mrs. James H. Venable Carollee Vernon Mr. & Mrs. Gudmund Vigtel Ms. Linda Vitti Ms. Betsy Wade Ms. Daisy G. Waldrep & Ms. Kathy Young John Wallace Lisa K. Walraven-Jones Aisha Walth Gretchen Walton Mr. John Ward Mr. Fred Warshofsky Ms. Jennifer Webster Rae & George Weimer Anne G. Weltner Mr. & Mrs. Robert P. White Miss Katherine S. White Mrs. Elaine Wilco Ms. Mary Beth Wiles Mr. Evan Williams Ms. Lola V. Williams Ms. Beth Williamson Mr. & Mrs. Ed Willingham Mr. Russell F. Winch Sara Winkle Georg Winter Ms. Karen K. Wise Jerrie S. Woodward Mrs. Peggy Woodward Ms. Carole Wooten Mr. & Mrs. William D. Wright Mrs. Jeanne S. Wynne Stephen J. Yanczura Ms. Elizabeth K. Yarbrough Mr. Herb Yoon & Ms. Colleen M. Payton Ms. Meghan Yost Mr.* & Mrs. John Zellner

*deceased

page 43 ACT III: SUPPORT

CORPORATE PARTNERS $100,000+ The Coca-Cola Company Ameris Bank Anonymous

$50,000+ Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta

$10,000+ Batdorf & Bronson Coffee Roasters The Capital Group Companies Charitable Foundation CIBC Gas South

Legendary Events PricewaterhouseCoopers SAP Success Factors Stryker Corporation The Hilbert Law Firm, LLC WarnerMedia

$2,500+ Delta Community Credit Union McMaster-Carr Supply Company National Distributing Co., Inc. UBS Financial Services Inc. Wallace Graphics

FOUNDATIONS & GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOUNDATIONS $225,000+ The Gable Foundation Donald & Marilyn Keough Foundation Livingston Foundation, Inc. The Molly Blank Fund of The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation

$50,000+ Atlanta Music Festival Fund of The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta The Sara Giles Moore Foundation The Zeist Foundation, Inc.

$20,000+ The Jim Cox, Jr. Foundation Roy & Janet Dorsey Foundation J. Marshall & Lucile G. Powell Charitable Trust

$10,000+ Auburn University Foundation George M. Brown Trust Fund JBS Foundation The Ray M. & Mary Elizabeth Lee Foundation, Inc. Norfolk Southern Foundation Wells Fargo Foundation

$5,000+ Camp-Younts Foundation Nordson Corporation Foundation Frances Wood Wilson Foundation, Inc.

ACT III: SUPPORT page 44

$1,000+ Atlanta Beltline Partnership, Inc. Cobb EMC Community Foundation Mary Brown Fund of Atlanta, Georgia The Hills Family Foundation, Mr. & Mrs. Thomas D. Hills, Trustees Kennesaw State University Foundation Kiwanis Foundation of Atlanta Charles Loridans Foundation, Inc.

GOVERNMENT FUNDING $50,000+ City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs National Endowment for the Arts

10,000+ Fulton County Arts & Culture Georgia Council for the Arts

TRIBUTES & MEMORIALS In memory of Dr. Joseph C. & Ruth P. Barnett Dr. Florence C. Barnett In memory of Mrs. Barbara Bastin Avondale Estates Woman’s Club

Received between 7/1/19 and 6/30/2020

In honor of Mr. Carl Gable Mr. Barry Berlin Mr. & Mrs. Mark Taylor

In honor of Mr. Jonathan Blalock Mr. Michael Colbruno

In memory of Mr. Thomas Gregory Ms. Virginia Puckett Ms. Patricia Stone Mr.* & Mrs. John Zellner

In honor of Mrs. Nancy Bland Sally & Hank Fielding

In memory of Mr. Kenneth Bryan Horton Dr. & Mrs. Morgan Eiland

In honor of Mr. John Brown Mr. & Mrs. David S. Baker

In memory of Mr. Charles Johnston Robert & Nancy Johnston Mr. Joseph R. Stabile & Mr. Michael W. Dunkelberger

In honor of Mr. Jerome Cooper Mr. & Mrs. Mark Taylor In memory of Mrs. Mot Dinos Anonymous (2) Mr. & *Mrs. Shepard B. Ansley Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, Inc. Mrs. Betty Davis Mr. Robert P. Dean & Mr. Robert Epstein Allison Fichter & Phillip O’Brien Thomas & Wallis Hills Ms. Meredith Johnson Mr. Alfred D. Kennedy & Dr. Bill Kenny Mr. William E. Pennington Mr. Tom Presley Carol Riggs Mrs. Katherine Scott Mrs. Laura S. Spearman In honor of Mr. Robert G. Edge Mrs. Eleanor Crosby

In honor of Mr. James B. Miller, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. James Edenfield In honor of Mrs. Karen Morley Mr. Mark Morley In honor of Mr. Rolando Salazar Mr.* & Mrs. John Zellner In honor of Mr. G. Kimbrough Taylor, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Bill Vance In honor of Mrs. Rae Weimer The Reverend Neal P. Ponder, Jr. In honor of Mr. Charles R. Yates, Jr. Mr. Robert Quish Ms. Sarah Sutherland In honor of Mr. Tomer Zvulun & Mrs. Susanna Eiland Mr. John Greer *deceased

page 45 ACT III: SUPPORT

BARBARA D. STEWART LEGACY SOCIETY Individuals who have shared with us their plans for a gift to The Atlanta Opera through their estate.

Anonymous (3) Cathy Callaway Adams & Mark Adams Mr. & *Mrs. Shepard B. Ansley Mrs. Wallace F. Beard The Bickers Charitable Trust Mr. Jonathan Blalock Mr. Montague L. Boyd, IV Ms. Mary D. Bray Mr. Robert Colgin *Martha Thompson Dinos The Roy & Janet Dorsey Foundation Arnold & Sylvia Eaves Ms. Dorothy E. Edwards *Heike & Dieter Elsner Ms. Melodi Ford Carl & Sally Gable Ms. Anne Marie Gary Peg Simms Gary Mr. & Mrs. Sidney W. Guberman Ms. Judy Hanenkrat The Hilbert Family Trust Mr. L. Don Holland Mr. Hilson Hudson *Mrs. Joseph B. Hutchison Mr. J. Carter Joseph Mr. Alfred D. Kennedy *Mrs. Alfred D. Kennedy, Sr Mrs. Isabelle W. Kennedy Mr. & Mrs. Michael L. Keough Ms. Corina M. LaFrossia Dr. Jill Mabley

ACT III: SUPPORT page 46

Mr. & Mrs. John G. Malcolm Mr. Robert L. Mays Mr. & Mrs. Allen P. McDaniel Peggy Weber McDowell & Jack McDowell Mr. & Mrs. Craig N. Miller Miss Helen D. Moffitt Mr. J. Robert Morring Clara M. & John S. O’Shea Mrs. Polly N. Pater Mr. James Paulk Mr. William E. Pennington Mr. Bruce Roth Ms. Hazel Sanger Mr. D. Jack Sawyer, Jr. Anita & J. Barry Schrenk Elizabeth Morgan Spiegel Christine & Mark St.Clare *Ms. Barbara D. Stewart Dr. Jane T. St. Clair & Mr. James E. Sustman Mr. Tarek Takieddini Mr. & Mrs. Thomas H. Teepen Dr. & Mrs. Harold Whitney *Mrs. Jane S. Willson Rhys T. Wilson Ms. Bunny Winter & Mr. Michael Doyle Mr. Charles R. Yates, Jr. & Mrs. Mary Mitchell Yates *Mr. & *Mrs. Charles R. Yates, Sr.

*deceased

IN MEMORIAM MARTHA “MOT” THOMPSON DINOS Once described as a petite powerhouse, Martha “Mot” Thompson Dinos shared her passion and commitment to making good things happen at The Atlanta Opera for over 35 years. As an active board member, she always shared her ideas for strengthening one of the many art forms that she dearly loved, so that future generations can derive as much joy from music as she did. Mot’s mother shared her love of opera with their family when she was young and sparked an interest in singing. This love grew as Mot and her two sisters sang as a trio at community events.

As an aspiring singer, she had hopes of becoming an opera singer. As often happens, our passions lead us in new directions, and she changed her college major to science, which she described as “easier” and earned degrees in zoology and chemistry.

Mot’s generosity has benefited many institutions in addition to The Atlanta Opera: her beloved University of Georgia, the Georgia Museum of Art, Kennesaw State University, and Project Open Hand.

Opera, education, and relieving hunger are some of the causes that touched her heart. She once said, “It’s everyone’s responsibility to keep good things going. There are so many bad things going on out there.

We need to help the good things along.”

Mot had a twinkle in her eye and a quick wit, and her ambitions for The Atlanta Opera were always very high. She will always be an important part of our history and we will miss her dearly.

NANCY BLAND “Nobody loved the opera more than Nancy,” recalls one Atlanta Opera patron. Everyone who knew Nancy would agree—she shared her lifelong love of opera with her family, friends, and the Atlanta community.

Nancy once said that when her husband Jim Bland took her to La bohème on their first date in college, it “sealed the deal” as far as she was concerned. The two opera-lovers married in 1958 and, over their 58-year marriage, were devoted patrons of The Atlanta Opera.

Nancy cared deeply for Atlanta, where she grew up and raised her family.

She attended E. Rivers Elementary, North Fulton and Northside High Schools, and earned her bachelor of arts degree from Emory University.

She gave back to her community by teaching at The Lovett Schools, volunteering. Nancy also supported cultural, historical, and social service organizations including the Atlanta Junior League, the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, and the Whitefield-Murray Historical Society.

Nancy was a part of The Atlanta Opera since its inception, serving as a long-time board member and benefactor. Her love of opera touched the lives of everyone she knew, including her daughter, Sally Fielding, who now serves on The Atlanta Opera’s Advisory Board. Nancy believed in the Opera’s capacity to make a difference in the lives of others, and her support has made that possible. Nancy wanted everyone to share the experiences she so cherished: spectacular live music, inspired theatrical productions, and the incomparable feeling of living those moments amidst an audience.

page 47 ACT III: IN MEMORIAM

FY20 OPERATING EXPENSES: $8,629,385 Studio Artist Program $192,873

Administrative $1,554,366

$8,629,385

Audience Development & Community Engagement $120,150

Fundraising $1,047,839

Artistic Programming $4,925,637

ACT III: FINANCIAL page 48

Marketing $788,520

FY20 OPERATING REVENUE: $9,986,646

Endowment Distribution $442,920

$9,986,646

Earned Revenue $1,286,873 Ticket & Merchandise Sales $1,111,679 Other Income $175,194

Contributed Revenue $8,256,853 Annual Fund $6,623,725

Foundation $685,691

Special Events $449,187

Government $86,750

Corporate $411,500

page 49 ACT III: FINANCIAL

photos by: Felipe Barral, Ken Howard, Parada Photography, Raftermen, Jeff Roffman, Joanna Schmink performer headshots by: Dario Acosta, Bree Ann Clowdus, Arielle Doneson, Kristen Hoberman, Lauren Hurt, Shervin Lainez, Simon Pauly, Peter Schaff, Kingmond Young

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