Des Moines Metro Opera Vivace Winter 2023

WELCOME TO BRIDGET ANDERSON

Last September Des Moines Metro Opera welcomed Bridget Anderson to the full-time staff as its Assistant Production Manager. Originally from Massachusetts, Bridget joins DMMO after serving as Associate Production Manager for Chamber Theatre Productions in Boston where she oversaw three national tours. Bridget, who received her BFA in Stage Management from Syracuse University, is looking forward to working with DMMO year-round and helping to build and expand the summer internship program.

AMERICAN APOLLO TAKES NEXT STEPS

In late December the creative team for Damien Geter and Lila Palmer’s American Apollo braved the winter weather to spend three days at the Lauridsen Opera Center reading the expanded libretto and text to Damien and Lila’s new American opera.

AMERICAN APOLLO WORKSHOP: (back, L to R) David Neely, William Burden, Jovon Eborn, Damien Geter, Lila Palmer, Isaiah Feken, Justin Austin, Mary Dunleavy, Karen Slack, Michael Egel (front) Napoleon Douglas, Kate Pitt, Ariana Wehr, Clementé Love, Allen Perriello

American Apollo, which was introduced to audiences last summer in its original chamber-length version, is the untold story of Thomas Eugene McKeller, Black model and muse of American portraitist John Singer Sargent. DMMO has commissioned the composer and librettist to expand this story into a fulllength opera, which will have its world premiere as a part of the 2024 Season. Next steps include a musical workshop with voices and piano scheduled for late July.

NEW BOARD MEMBERS WELCOMED

Acclaimed bass-baritone and Iowa native, Simon Estes, who made his DMMO debut last season as Lawyer Frazier in Porgy and Bess, has been inducted into Des Moines Metro Opera’s Honorary Board of Directors.

“I’m grateful to Des Moines Metro Opera for their invitation to serve amongst an esteemed group of opera trustees on the DMMO Honorary Board of Directors,” Estes said. “It was a true highlight to retire from the opera stage at DMMO, and I look forward to continuing the stewardship of great opera here in Iowa in this honorary capacity.”

Additionally, this past September DMMO was pleased to welcome two new members to the organization’s Board of Directors: Eric Nemmers and Nick Renkoski.