Fantastic Mr. Fox Program Book

OPERAOMAHA

Fantastic Mr. Fox

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FANTASTIC MR. FOX JUNE 5-8, 2025

Letter from the General Director ���������������������������������������� 4 Board of Directors ����������������������������������������������������������������� 6 Opera Omaha Staff ���������������������������������������������������������������� 7 Major Contributors ���������������������������������������������������������������� 9 Director's Note ��������������������������������������������������������������������� 11 Title Page ������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 12 Synopsis �������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 14 Artist Biographies ��������������������������������������������������������������� 16 Production Staff ������������������������������������������������������������������ 22 Omaha Symphony ��������������������������������������������������������������� 23 Craftsman’s Guild ���������������������������������������������������������������� 24 Opera Omaha Guild ����������������������������������������������������������� 25 Cotillion Graduates ������������������������������������������������������������� 27 Holland Community Opera Fellowship �������������������������� 32 Education Programs ����������������������������������������������������������� 33 Opera Omaha Donors �������������������������������������������������������� 34 Memorials & Tributes ��������������������������������������������������������� 37 Fortissimo Society & Special Funds �������������������������������� 38 Corporate & Foundation Donors ������������������������������������ 39 Repertoire History �������������������������������������������������������������� 40 Get Involved ������������������������������������������������������������������������� 42

FROM THE GENERAL DIRECTOR

WELCOME TO OPERA OMAHA

DEAR FRIENDS: Welcome to Fantastic Mr. Fox, the inaugural production of our Family Opera Series! This new initiative features family-friendly productions that are as artistically rich as our mainstage operas, but more flexible in scale, length, and experience for younger audiences.

Fantastic Mr. Fox is a beloved fable by Roald Dahl, made even more popular by the 2009 Wes Anderson film adaptation. It is a classic tale of good vs. evil set in the natural world, complemented by our surroundings at Lauritzen Gardens. We are delighted to welcome the composer of Fantastic Mr. Fox, Tobias Picker, who will be attending performances this weekend.

Our cast features nationally known professional artists performing alongside 20 children from Omaha, including four in principal roles as Jennie, Bennie, Pennie, and Lennie, the four fox cubs. It is my great hope that Fantastic Mr. Fox will inspire a love of opera or live performances in children, not only because of the approachable story but because they can see themselves onstage.

This new production with sets, costumes, and puppets built specifically for Opera Omaha is a big undertaking and possible only because of the support and enthusiasm we received from the community.

In addition to Lauritzen Gardens, we are very grateful to Sing Omaha for providing and preparing the children’s chorus. Many individuals stepped forward to make special or increased gifts for Fantastic Mr. Fox, which allowed us to fully realize this whimsical world.

The Family Opera Series continues in 2026 with UnShakeable by Joseph Illick and Andrea Fellows Fineberg. Performances will take place June 5-7, 2026 at the Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center in Council Bluffs. We hope to see you there!

LEER EN ESPAÑOL

Subscriptions for our full 25/26 Season are available now. Please consider joining us for other Opera Omaha performances, including Rossini’s The Barber of Seville (also well-suited for families!), Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah, Handel’s Hercules, and Bartok’s Bluebeard’s Castle.

I hope you enjoy Fantastic Mr. Fox, and many thanks for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Allison Swenson GENERAL DIRECTOR

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OPERA OMAHA

BOARD OF DIRECTORS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

EMERITUS BOARD

Kiley Freeman

Terrence J. Ferguson

CHAIR

Robert E. Owen

Barbara Person VICE CHAIR

Dr. Ali Khan SECRETARY

Linda Burt Rebrovic TREASURER

Mary Ann Strasheim

ADVISORS Linda Andersen Jo Bartikoski

ADVISORS CHAIR

Dr. Jawed Bharwani Nicholas Bjornson

Carrie Nath

Roger Blauwet

Dr. Jawed Bharwani

COMMUNITY PANEL REPRESENTATIVE

Nicholas Bjornson Anne Bruckner Mihaela Kobjerowski Hillary Nather-Detisch David Offutt Jane Offutt Terri Sanders Joe Spitzenberger Jara Sturdivant-Wilson Jerry Syslo Tony Vargas

Sandra Bruns Dr. Karen Fannin Betty Foster Lauren Garcia Leslie Garth Dr. Fred Hanna Ryan Hansen Dr. Hamza Haqqi Lora Kaup Mark Allen Maser Sheila McNeill Patty Pandzik Deb Peterson Alysia Radicia Dr. Debra Reilly-Culver Dr. Jeffrey Robinson Karl Schwent Mary Ann Strasheim Jerry Syslo Dr. James Tracy Jim Winner Connie Kinnear OPERA OMAHA GUILD PRESIDENT

Chris Tombrello CRAFTSMAN’S GUILD PRESIDENT

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OPERA OMAHA

STAFF

Allison Swenson GENERAL DIRECTOR

ADMINISTRATION Shannon Walenta

ENGAGEMENT Lauren Medici

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIPS & PROGRAMS

Jenny Daggett

Wendy Kaiser

FINANCE CONSULTANT

COMMUNITY OPERA FELLOWSHIP MANAGER

April Hartman

Rosemary Joyce

HUMAN RESOURCES CONSULTANT

HOLLAND COMMUNITY OPERA FELLOW

Cydnea Hoff

Pat McEvoy

OFFICE MANAGER

ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR

Gwyn Williams

Aiden Poling

DEI, LEADERSHIP & ORGANIZATION CULTURE CONSULTANT

ARTISTIC Katrina Thurman DIRECTOR OF ARTISTIC ADMINISTRATION

Kai Song Chan ARTISTIC OPERATIONS MANAGER

Josh Quinn HEAD OF MUSIC & CHORUS DIRECTOR

Steven White PRINCIPAL GUEST CONDUCTOR

DEVELOPMENT Joe Prickett DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

Rebecca Ihnen ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

Laura Jaros DEVELOPMENT DATABASE & ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER

HOLLAND COMMUNITY OPERA FELLOW

Alejandra Sandoval-Montañez HOLLAND COMMUNITY OPERA FELLOW

MARKETING Kyle Thomas DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

Rachel Austin ART DIRECTOR

Howard Coffin AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT & SALES MANAGER

PRODUCTION Lara Marsh DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION

Grant Hilgenkamp TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

Chad Curran ASSISTANT TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

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Everyone Deserves the Right to Healthy and Nutritious Food We are committed to giving back to the community. Our charitable giving supports organizations with high-impact programs that focus on alleviating food insecurity.

Conagra Brands Foundation is proud to invest in Omaha and its future.

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WITH GRATITUDE

FOR OUR CONTRIBUTORS Opera Omaha honors Richard D. Holland and the Holland Foundation for unyielding major support over the years and the entire Simon family and Omaha Steaks for their sustaining generosity.

With our sincere gratitude, we acknowledge the following foundations and businesses that make our programming a reality. Opera Omaha would also like to recognize the institutions and corporations that provide operating support or sponsor our community engagement programs, which are designed to educate, uplift and enrich our community.

SEASON SPONSORS

PRODUCTION SPONSORS The Edgar Foster Daniels Foundation Anonymous Cindy and Mogens Bay Burlington Capital Foundation

Firefly Scientists Foundation Giger Foundation Jetton Charitable Fund

Polina and Bob Schlott Betiana and Todd Simon Whitmore Charitable Trust

ADDITIONAL SEASON SUPPORT Allan and Ann Mactier Charitable Foundation Mammel Family Foundation

Adah and Leon Millard Foundation Osaic Foundation

GENEROUS PUBLIC SUPPORT PROVIDED BY

The Nebraska Arts Council, a state agency, has supported this program through its matching grants program funded by the Nebraska Legislature, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment. Visit www.nebraskaartscouncil.org for information on how the Nebraska Arts Council can assist your organization, or how you can support the Nebraska Cultural Endowment.

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connected moved transported exhilarated affected Be Omaha together. curious human creative engaged transformed Since 1958, Opera Omaha has been led by devotion to two elements: Art and Community. To this day, our pride and purpose is to gather our city together to enrich and expand our common humanity.

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TO LEARN MORE, VISIT OPERAOMAHA.ORG

FANTASTIC MR. FOX

DIRECTOR'S NOTE I saw my first opera at age nine in my hometown of Saint Louis, and I was hooked from the moment the show started. The music was beautiful, the story funny, the designs eye-catching, and there was even a hot air balloon on the stage! I begged my parents to take me back as soon as possible. Opera Theatre of Saint Louis runs a wonderful summer festival, so, without doing too much research, my mother took me back to see a different show the next week. The performance was long, I couldn’t understand anything they were saying, and the entire production took place in front of a plain large brick wall. But still - I absolutely loved it. I was well and truly bitten by the opera bug.

Working in opera allows me to combine two of my childhood passions. I’ve always been a big reader, and spent many weekends snuggled with a stack of early chapter books in a big, poofy leather recliner in the corner of my dad’s office. As I read, I would imagine the characters, what they looked like, and how they felt. But I also loved to draw, and when people asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I always said I wanted to be an animator for Disney. Something about the way the images on screen matched to amazing songs imprinted deeply on me, and I could play the movies back in my mind’s eye in a way that felt as vivid as real life.

Fast forward to today - as incredible as it would seem to small Alison, my job is to imagine worlds onstage and to collaborate with amazing artists, performers, and musicians to bring them to life. Some days it’s a job, like any other. But most of the time, my life in opera feels like another fantastic Roald Dahl book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. When the curtain goes up on a show, I’m that child who grew up to run the candy factory. In researching this production, I learned that Mr. Dahl based the story of Charlie Bucket on his real life. As children, he and his schoolmates were actual taste testers for Cadbury chocolates. It just goes to show how incredible our everyday lives are, and the magic of imagination in transforming our stories into art.

Thank you for coming to the opera today - there will be no hot air balloons, but I hope we can find other ways to surprise and delight you.

—Alison Moritz DIRECTOR

PS. For the music nerds who are wondering what operas I am referring to above, my first opera was Offenbach’s La belle Hélène and I saw a performance of Hadyn’s Armida a week later.

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Fantastic Mr. Fox An opera in three acts by Tobias Picker Libretto by Donald Sturrock Chamber version for seven players arranged by Francesco Cilluffo Used by arrangement with European American Music Distributors Company, U.S. and Canadian agent for Schott Helicon Music Corporation, New York, NY, publisher and copyright owner.

June 5, 6, 7 and 8, 2025 Lauritzen Gardens | Omaha, Nebraska First performance | Los Angeles Opera – December 9, 1998 Opera Omaha Premiere

CREATIVE

CAST

Gil Rose

Michael J. Hawk*

Jaime Marie Webb

CONDUCTOR

MR. FOX

MAVIS THE TRACTOR

Alison Moritz

Kelly Guerra

Jesse Wohlman

DIRECTOR

MRS. FOX

BADGER THE MINER

Edward T. Morris*

Tim Mix*

Brian Jeffers

SCENIC & PROPERTIES DESIGNER

FARMER BEAN

BURROWING MOLE

Ashley Soliman*

Aaron Short*

Graham Brooks

FARMER BUNCE

PORCUPINE

Allen Michael Jones*

Vi Westman*

FARMER BOGGIS

BENNIE FOXCUB

Karina Brazas

Emma Morley*

MISS HEDGEHOG

LENNIE FOXCUB

Mary Carrick

Claudia Kammerer*

AGNES THE DIGGER

JENNIE FOXCUB

Lauren Paul

Adrieana Saucedo*

RITA THE RAT

PENNIE FOXCUB

COSTUME DESIGNER

Andy Manjuck* PUPPET DESIGN & DIRECTION

Aaron Craig LIGHTING DESIGNER

Ronell Oliveri WIG & MAKEUP DESIGNER

*Opera Omaha Debut

MUSICIANS FROM THE OMAHA SYMPHONY CHILDREN’S CHORUS | SING OMAHA PIANIST | MANUEL ARELLANO* The performance runs approximately 80 minutes with no intermission.

The use of flash equipped cameras, audio recorders, video cameras or any other recording device during the performance is strictly prohibited.

FANTASTIC MR. FOX

SYNOPSIS Deep underground in a cozy, twisty burrow lives Mr. Fox with his clever wife, Mrs. Fox, and their four mischievous cubs—Lennie, Bennie, Jennie, and Pennie. Life is grand, filled with daring raids on the farms of the three most awful, greedy farmers in the land: Boggis (a chicken-devouring lump), Bunce (a goose-loving snob), and Bean (a cider-hoarding fiend).

But the farmers have had enough! Armed with shotguns, they plot to put an end to Mr. Fox’s thieving ways. As Mr. Fox prepares to go out and steal his dinner from the farmers, Mrs. Fox warns him to be careful. He sets off on another nighttime food run, but the farmers lie in wait. Boom! They fire—Mr. Fox escapes, but not without a battle wound. His gorgeous, fluffy tail? Gone!

Inside the burrow, Mr. Fox is heartbroken—what is a fox without his tail? Mrs. Fox and the cubs assure him of their love and admiration for him – tail or no tail. Mr. Fox cheers up.

There’s no time for self-pity! There are mouths to be fed and there are chickens and geese and cider to steal!

The farmers bring in a monstrous digging machine named Agnes to tear up the countryside and crush the foxes in their home. Meanwhile, in the burrow, Mrs. Fox comforts the lonely Miss Hedgehog. Mr. Fox, along with Badger the Miner and Burrowing Mole, announces his plan to raid the farmers. Suddenly, the very walls begin to shake and the earth around them rumbles. The three farmers, with their mighty machines are digging right into the Fox’s burrow. As trees topple and dirt flies, Mr. Fox rallies his family and friends to tunnel their way to safety.

After hours of unearthing, Agnes is exhausted. Likewise, Bunce and Boggis aren’t having fun anymore. All they’ve found is a fox’s tail, but no sign of the animal anywhere. But staunch in his evil excavating, Bean urges them on.

LEER EN ESPAÑOL

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After tunneling successfully away from the digger, the animals emerge into safety. With a sparkle in his eye, Mr. Fox hatches his most daring plan yet. While the clueless farmers distractedly dig deeper and deeper, he and his furry friends will tunnel straight into their farmyards to steal their chickens, geese, and barrels of cider.

Tired, and very hungry, Bunce and Boggis decide to sneak away from the preoccupied Bean, head back to their homes, get something to eat, then come right back. He won’t even notice they’re gone!

At the farms, the wonderfully eccentric Rita the Rat, a cider-loving philosopher, worries about a terrifying beast lurking in Bean’s cellar. When Mr. Fox arrives, she strikes a deal – if he can get rid of the beast in the cellar, she’ll let him have as much cider as he wants.

Ever the adventurer, Mr. Fox investigates and returns with a huge, harmless Porcupine.

With the unguarded farms around them, the animals chase and ravage chickens, geese, and cider to their hearts delight. Boggis and Bunce return only to find their farms ransacked. Inflamed with revenge, they scamper back to the devastated fox den.

Under the cider cellar, the animals feast and celebrate in their new den. Love blossoms between Miss Hedgehog and the dashing Porcupine, proving that even in the midst of adventure, romance is never far away.

Back at the crater it is raining. Hard. Boggis, Bunce, and Bean are still digging in the rain, waiting for Mr. Fox to surrender. Those dim-witted farmers might still be waiting to this very day.

The animals toast to Mr. Fox—because in the great battle of brains versus brawn, the Fantastic Mr. Fox always comes out on top!

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ARTIST

BIOGRAPHIES Gil Rose

Alison Moritz

Gil Rose returns to Opera Omaha after last conducting X: the Life and Times of Malcolm X. A global leader in American contemporary music, Mr. Rose is the founder of the performing and recording ensemble the Boston Modern Orchestra Project (BMOP), the founder of Odyssey Opera, and the Director of Opera and Sonic Exploration at Artpark in Lewiston, NY. Under his leadership, BMOP has won seventeen ASCAP Awards for Adventurous Programming, been selected as Musical America’s Ensemble of the Year in 2016, and in 2021 was awarded a Gramophone Magazine Special Achievement Award in recognition of its extraordinary service to American music of the modern era. BMOP/sound, the independent record label he founded in 2008, has released over 106 recordings of contemporary music by today’s most innovative composers, including world premieres by John Cage, Lukas Foss, Chen Yi, Anthony Davis, Lisa Bielawa, Steven Mackey, Eric Nathan, and many others. With Mr. Rose as executive producer, the label has secured 10 GRAMMY® nominations and a win in 2020 for Fantastic Mr. Fox.

Alison Moritz returns to Opera Omaha after last directing The Abduction from the Seraglio. After a decade of leading original productions in American regional opera houses, Ms. Moritz was recently named Artistic Director of Central City Opera. She is known for her exciting interpretations of the classic repertoire and her equally incisive takes on contemporary music theatre.

Her current projects include new productions of Don Giovanni at Opera Philadelphia, Aida at Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, The Knock at Central City, and Once Upon a Mattress at Central City. Her recent work includes the 50th anniversary production of Bernstein’s Mass at The Kennedy Center, and new productions of Faust at Wolf Trap Opera, Don Giovanni at Cincinnati Opera, Elizabeth Cree at The Glimmerglass Festival, and Candide at Atlanta Opera. Ms. Moritz led a semistaging of Sir John in Love at Bard Music Festival, Santa Fe Opera, and Juilliard.

She has served on the directing staffs at Santa Fe Opera, Seattle Opera, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, and Minnesota Opera.

Edward T. Morris

Ashley Soliman

Edward T. Morris makes his Opera Omaha debut with Fantastic Mr. Fox. Mr. Morris is a set and projections designer for live performance. He has designed 130+ stage sets for theaters across the country such as Martha Graham Dance Company, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, The Barrow Group, Goodspeed Opera House, Glimmerglass Opera, Cherry Lane Theater, TheatreSquared, Kansas City Rep, San Francisco Playhouse, Weston Playhouse, and Westport Country Playhouse. He also designed Halloween decorations for President Obama’s White House in 2015. Mr. Morris is passionate about conserving our environment and co-authored “The Sustainable Production Toolkit.” He has taught at Connecticut College and The New School and guest lectured on sustainability at numerous universities around the United States. He is a member of United Scenic Artists Local 829 and Wingspace Theatrical Design. He graduated from the University of Michigan and Yale School of Drama. He lives in New York with his wife Kelly and daughter Domino.

Ashley Soliman makes her Opera Omaha debut with Fantastic Mr. Fox. Ms. Soliman is a costume designer and visual artist based in New York City, selected as one of the Broadway Women's Fund's 2023 "Women to Watch on Broadway."

Upcoming: Bonnie & Clyde (Bay Street Theater), Carmen (Wolf Trap Opera). Selected credits: Rusalka (Manhattan School of Music), The Trojans (Loading Dock Theatre), I Am (Camille A. Brown & Dancers), Redeemed (59E59), Tornado Tastes Like Aluminum Sting (Contemporary American Theater Festival), David: A New Musical (AMT Theater), The Cunning Little Vixen (The Curtis Institute), Angel Island (BAM & Beth Morrison Projects), Double Helix (Bay Street Theater), The Rake’s Progress (Juilliard), Sweet Potato Kicks The Sun (Santa Fe Opera). ACD: Coal Country (The Public, des. Jessica Jahn). USA Local 829.

Conductor

Scenic & Properties Designer

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Director

Costume Designer

Andy Manjuck

Aaron Craig

Andy Manjuck makes his Opera Omaha debut with Fantastic Mr. Fox. Mr. Manjuck is a Brooklyn-based artist. He has designed puppets for The MUNY (Beauty & The Beast, Joseph...), co-created the award-winning Bill's 44th currently touring worldwide after selling out the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2023 and 2024, and is a company member of Wakka Wakka (Baby Universe, The Immortal Jellyfish Girl, Dead as a Dodo, etc.). He has worked with many artists, often in a devising capacity: Robin Frohardt (The Pigeoning, The Plastic Bag Store), Nick Lehane (Chimpanzee, and Fly Away – a collaboration with Derek Fordjour's SELF MUST DIE exhibition, Petzel Gallery), Unknown Mortal Orchestra (That Life, Double Solitaire), Doug Fitch (Petrushka with the NY Philharmonic Orchestra and Oregon Symphony), Apple TV+ (Hello Tomorrow!), BYUtv (9 Years to Neptune), and Betty Productions (4th Islamic Solidarity Games Opening Ceremonies, Baku, Azerbaijan, 48th National Day Celebration, Abu Dhabi, UAE). He has taught puppetry masterclasses at many institutions including Duke, NYU, and Dartmouth.

Aaron Craig returns to Opera Omaha after last designing the lighting for Opera Outdoors 2024. Mr. Craig started working with Opera Omaha as a lighting designer during the 20/21 Season bringing his creativity to the stage with Opera Outdoors and multiple Gala events. He currently works as the House Lighting Designer for the Steelhouse Omaha and throughout the Omaha Performing Arts organization. He also serves as Treasurer and Executive Board Member of IATSE 42, representing hundreds of professional Theatrical Stage Employees that work behind the scenes to help create entertainment events in this region. Prior to this work, he spent multiple years as a touring lighting designer working with musical artists Smokey Robinson, Sublime with Rome, AJ Lerman, and Primus, as well as a 25 year run as Lighting and Production Designer for the Midwest vocal group The Blenders. His work with the Bellator MMA organization has been seen around the globe via Paramount and multiple other streaming platforms.

Ronell Oliveri

Tobias Picker

Ronell Oliveri has been designing wigs and makeup for opera, theater, ballet, and film for the past 20 years for such companies as Minnesota Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, Central City Opera, and The American Repertory Theater at Harvard University. Currently, she is the resident wig and makeup designer for Opera Colorado and Opera Omaha. As a wig and makeup artist, her professional credits include engagements with Chicago Lyric Opera, LA Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, and Boston Ballet. She was a Prime-Time Emmy nominee as key makeup artist for her work in television. Her work can also be seen in several Broadway shows including Wicked, All The Way, and Waitress. Recent engagements include Opera Columbus’ Eugene Onegin, Pacific Symphony's La bohème, Central City Opera’s 2024 summer festival, and Opera Omaha’s The Rake’s Progress. Upcoming engagements include Boston Lyric Opera’s Mitridate and Opera Colorado’s The Daughter of the Regiment.

Tobias Picker has been commissioned to write operas for the Theater St. Gallen (Lili Elbe), Santa Fe Opera (Emmeline), LA Opera (Fantastic Mr. Fox), Dallas Opera (Thérèse Raquin), Opera Theatre Saint Louis (Awakenings), San Francisco Opera (Dolores Claiborne), and the Metropolitan Opera (An American Tragedy). He has also composed numerous works in other genres, including three symphonies, concertos for violin, viola, cello, and oboe, as well as four piano concertos and chamber music. His orchestral works have been commissioned and performed by the BBC Proms, Chicago Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Helsinki Philharmonic, Orchestre de Paris, Munich Philharmonic, National Symphony, New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, ORF Vienna Radio Symphony, and Tonhalle Orchester Zürich, among others. His honors include the 2020 Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording (Fantastic Mr. Fox), and a lifetime membership at the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He is married to Aryeh Lev Stollman, a novelist, neuroradiologist, and librettist. His works are published exclusively

by Schott Music.

Puppet Design & Direction

Wig & Makeup Designer

Lighting Designer

Composer

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ARTIST

BIOGRAPHIES Michael J. Hawk

Kelly Guerra

Michael J. Hawk makes his Opera Omaha debut in Fantastic Mr. Fox. For the past two seasons, Mr. Hawk has been part of the inaugural Resident Artist program with Seattle Opera, where his assignments have included Silvio in Pagliacci, Der Sprecher in Die Zauberflöte, and Fiorello in Il barbiere di Siviglia. This season, Mr. Hawk made his South Dakota Symphony Orchestra debut as Per Hansa in Douglas Moore’s Giants in the Earth which will be recorded through Pentatone. In 25/26, Mr. Hawk will sing the 4th Shepherd in a concert version of Daphne with Seattle Opera. He has performed with companies including Seattle Opera, Caramoor, Opera Saratoga, Buffalo Philharmonic, Los Angeles Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Bard Summerscape, Wolf Trap Opera, and the American Symphony Orchestra.

Peruvian-American mezzo-soprano Kelly Guerra returns to Opera Omaha after last performing in Suor Angelica. Mrs. Guerra achieved significant milestones in 2024 with house and role debuts at the Metropolitan Opera as Niña in Golijov's Ainadamar and Jo March in Adamo's Little Women at Fort Worth Opera. Her upcoming engagements include her debut as Isabella in L'Italiana in Algeri with Anchorage Opera and Opera in the Heights, as well as appearances in Il barbiere di Siviglia, María de Buenos Aires, Cruzar la Cara de la Luna, Zorro, Scalia/Ginsburg, the title role in Luisa Fernanda, and her role debut as Sesto in Giulio Cesare with Opera Santa Barbara. As a first-generation American and native Californian, Guerra is dedicated to promoting Spanish-language repertoire.

Tim Mix

Aaron Short

Finnish-American baritone Tim Mix makes his Opera Omaha debut in Fantastic Mr. Fox. Mr. Mix’s current season includes Dr. Bartolo in Il barbiere di Siviglia at Annapolis Opera, Sam in Trouble in Tahiti at Annapolis Opera, Marcello in La bohème at Opera Colorado, and Enrico in Lucia de Lammermoor at Nashville Opera. Recent successes include his debut as Alberich in Das Rheingold at Opera Santa Barbara (Jonathan Dove adaptation), Joseph de Rocher in Dead Man Walking at Opera Idaho, Tutor in Le comte Ory at Opera Southwest, Count Capulet in Roméo et Juliette at San Antonio Opera, the title role in Sweeney Todd at Opera Tampa, di Luna in Il trovatore at Opera Santa Barbara, Dulcamara in L’elisir d’amore at Annapolis Opera, and the title role in Gianni Schicchi at Amarillo Opera. Concert and recital work includes an American premiere of Alexander Zhurbin’s song cycle Tsvetaeva with the Russian Chamber Art Society where he also sang the title role in Eugene Onegin, and The Tempest in Danish with Los Angeles Philharmonic

Tenor Aaron Short makes his Opera Omaha debut in Fantastic Mr. Fox. Mr. Short has sung leading and featured roles with numerous national and international opera companies and symphonies including The Dallas Opera, Nashville Opera, Chicago Opera Theater, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Lyric Unlimited, Knoxville Opera, and the Festival Lyrique-en-Mer in France. He fulfilled young artist residencies with Portland Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, Chautauqua Opera, Lyric Opera Studio Weimar, and Florentine Opera in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Some of his favorite roles he has performed include Sam in Susannah, Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor, Bégearss in Corigliano’s The Ghosts of Versailles, and Jimmy Mahoney in Kurt Weill's Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny. He is an alumnus of Wichita State University and Manhattan School of Music and recently finished his Doctorate of Musical Arts at Northwestern University in December 2024.

Mr. Fox

Farmer Bean

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Mrs. Fox

Farmer Bunce

Allen Michael Jones

Karina Brazas

Allen Michael Jones makes his Opera Omaha debut in Fantastic Mr. Fox. Mr. Jones began his 24/25 Season returning to Atlanta Opera in La bohème as Colline. Other performances in the season include his return to Minnesota Opera in The Snowy Day as Billy/Ensemble and his role debut of Il Re in Aida with Dayton Opera. Highlights of his 23/24 Season included a debut with Dutch National Opera in the world premiere of Ellen Reid’s The Shell Trial as Laborer, a debut with the Neville Holt Festival as Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte, and his return to the role of Colline in La bohème with Florentine Opera. Mr. Jones began the 22/23 Season as Colline in La bohème for his company debut with Nashville Opera, a role he then reprised at Pensacola Opera. He was then heard as the Imperial Commissioner in Madama Butterfly with his hometown company, Atlanta Opera, and returned to Minnesota Opera as Il Commendatore in Don Giovanni. He ended his season at Des Moines Metro Opera in the role of Zuniga in Carmen.

Soprano Karina Brazas returns to Opera Omaha after last performing in The Marriage of Figaro. Ms. Brazas made her Opera Omaha debut in Stranger from Paradise. Other recent performances with Opera Omaha include Barbarina in Le nozze di Figaro and the Social Worker/ Reporter in X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X. In the 24/25 Season, Ms. Brazas was a featured soloist at the Shreveport Opera Gala and joined the Omaha Chamber Music Society for a program of Schubert Lieder. Prior seasons have seen her as Papagena in the Omaha Symphony’s 50th Anniversary Gala, as the soprano soloist in the Choral Collaborative program, and Stravinksy’s Pulcinella, all with the Omaha Symphony. Other highlights include performances as Young Alyce in Glory Denied with Union Avenue Opera and Pamina in The Magic Flute with Shreveport Opera. Ms. Brazas made her professional debut as Kitty Hart in Dead Man Walking with Central City Opera, where she also sang Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro.

Mary Carrick

Lauren Paul

Mary Carrick returns to Opera Omaha after last performing in The Rake’s Progress. Ms. Carrick is a dynamic performer who crosses a variety of genres and is a familiar face and voice across the Omaha metropolitan area. She has performed with many of the area’s major organizations, theaters, and venues, including Opera Omaha, The Rose Theater, Omaha Symphony, Holland Performing Arts Center, and others. A longtime member of the Opera Omaha company, she debuted the role of Old Catherine in Stranger from Paradise, an original opera in collaboration with the Great Plains Theatre Conference, sang the roles of Elle in the one-woman Francis Poulenc opera La Voix humaine, Giovanna in Rigoletto, Gertrude (cover) in Hansel & Gretel, and performed with the company’s Opera To-Go series. Ms. Carrick maintains an active schedule as a cabaret artist across the Midwest, performing with her jazz combo, and as a solo vocalist for private engagements. She’s a long-time touring artist with the Nebraska Arts Council.

Mezzo-soprano Lauren Paul returns to Opera Omaha after last performing in Opera Outdoors 2024. Ms. Paul is an emerging artist living in Omaha, Nebraska.

In 2025, Lauren will be making house debuts with Sarasota Opera and Opera Omaha. As a studio artist with Sarasota Opera, she made her company and role debuts as Mamma Lucia in Cavalleria rusticana and as Marcellina in Le nozze di Figaro.

Previously, Lauren has appeared on stage as Rossweisse in Die Walküre with TUNDI Productions, Zita Donati in Gianni Schicchi, Zia Principessa in Suor Angelica, and Bradamante in Alcina with University of South Dakota Opera.

In 2024, Lauren was a Gerdine Young Artist with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. There, she covered roles in Julius Caesar and Galileo Galilei. Lauren was a winner of the Nebraska District in the 2023–24 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition and advanced to the Upper Midwest region, where she received an Encouragement Award.

Farmer Boggis

Agnes the Digger

Miss Hedgehog

Rita the Rat

FANTASTIC MR. FOX | JUNE 2025

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ARTIST

BIOGRAPHIES Jaime Marie Webb

Jesse Wohlman

Soprano Jaime Marie Webb returns to Opera Omaha after last performing in La traviata. Mrs. Webb has performed leading roles across the U.S. and internationally, with recent debuts as Violetta Valéry at Teatro Ángela Peralta in Mazatlán, Mexico and at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Hall. Select performance credits include Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor, Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Norina in Don Pasquale, Musetta in La bohème, Hanna Glawari in Die lustige Witwe, and Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro. She has sung with renowned companies and festivals including Cedar Rapids Opera, Charlottesville Opera, Annapolis Opera, the International Summer Opera Festival of Morelia, Opera at Florham, and the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival. Passionate about representing diverse narratives, Ms. Webb founded queerPOPERA, a pop-up opera company dedicated to showcasing LGBTQ+ stories through the emotive power of opera. She is thrilled to return to her favorite company, Opera Omaha.

Jesse Wohlman returns to Opera Omaha after last performing in The Rake’s Progress. Mr. Wohlman is a singer, actor, and educator based in Omaha, Nebraska. He has had the pleasure of working with a variety of performing arts organizations including Résonance, The Omaha Symphony, BLUEBARN Theatre, The Rose Theater, Vesper Concert Series, The Ollie Webb Center Inc., and Salt Creek Song Festival. Most recently, he appeared as the soundscape artist for Dracula: The Journal of Jonathan Harker with BLUEBARN Theatre, Aldeano #1 in Opera Omaha’s production of El último sueño de Frida y Diego, the bass soloist in Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme with the Omaha Symphonic Chorus, the Beast in The Rose Theater’s production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, and Melchior in Amahl and the Night Visitors with Résonance. Mr. Wohlman is a faculty member of the Nebraska Wesleyan University Theatre Department where he teaches Musical Theatre Voice.

Brian Jeffers

Graham Brooks

Brian Jeffers returns to Opera Omaha after last performing in The Rake’s Progress. Mr. Jeffers is a New York City-based artist who has recently been seen with Knoxville Opera (Cendrillon) and made his Opera Omaha debut this season as Sellem in The Rake’s Progress.

His solo recital Songs of a Lark was produced by Vesper Concerts Omaha in 2023. He has also performed with Chautauqua Opera, Opera Saratoga, OnSite Opera, Bronx Opera, Mostly Mozart Festival, and American Opera Projects. He is a member of the NY Philharmonic Chorus (Maestro, Done Made My Vow), and was featured in the Gloria choir (Saturday Night Live) with Sam Smith and Sharon Stone. He is a native of Omaha, a proud alum of UNL Opera (BM), and is represented by Insignia Artists Management.

Tenor Graham Brooks returns to Opera Omaha after last performing in The Rake's Progress. This spring, Mr. Brooks was featured as Gherardo in Opera Roanoke's production of Puccini's Gianni Schicchi. Other named engagements with Opera Omaha include Aldeano #2 and Young Man in El último sueño de Frida y Diego, Gastone in La traviata, and Don Basilio and Don Curzio in The Marriage of Figaro. In the spring of 2024, Mr. Brooks sang the same roles in Opera Roanoke's production of The Marriage of Figaro. In the fall of 2023, Mr. Brooks was engaged as the Tenor Soloist in Hastings College's Messiah. Mr. Brooks spent the summer of 2023 with Central City Opera as a Young Artist where he sang in Roméo et Juliette, Kiss Me, Kate, and Rossini's Otello. In the Spring of 2023, he was featured as Dominique in Amy Beach's Cabildo as a Guest Artist with Simpson College.

Mavis the Tractor

Burrowing Mole

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FANTASTIC MR. FOX | JUNE 2025

Badger the Miner

Porcupine

Vi Westman

Emma Morley

Vi Westman makes her Opera Omaha debut in Fantastic Mr. Fox. Miss Westman is excited to work with Opera Omaha as Bennie the fox cub in her first opera. She is a sophomore at Concordia Lutheran High School and studies voice with Karina Brazas at the Omaha Conservatory of Music, where she is also a vocalist in Rock Lab, a rock music performance group.

Miss Westman began community theatre in 2017 as the Dutch Girl in a Circle Theatre production of Miracle on 34th Street. In 2023 she was in her first film, The Cross, by Bitter Hipster Films, currently showing on Amazon.

She loves to write suspense stories, tell jokes, and learn about new things.

She is an amateur banjoist with a broad taste in music.

Emma Morley makes her Opera Omaha debut in Fantastic Mr. Fox. With 6 years of vocal training and 9 years in choir, Miss Morley has worked hard for many accomplishments, including 2nd highest ranked Soprano 1 in the region and a solo finalist for the 2024 NMEA All-State Festival.

Emma is a part of a city-wide select acapella group called SNJ Singers and performs in various select school choirs. She has taken on featured roles including Yvette in Les Miserables, Sampson in Romeo and Juliet, and Clarisa in Little Women. In addition to these, Emma has earned notable understudy roles, including the female leads understudy in Les Miserables and Little Women. Miss Morley dreams of working at Disney, performing professionally, and sharing the power of music with others. She is known in her choirs as a ray of sunshine and loves bringing positive energy to everything she can! “I am beyond excited for this opportunity! Thank you to my parents for all the support!”

Claudia Kammerer

Adrieana Saucedo

Claudia Kammerer makes her Opera Omaha debut in Fantastic Mr. Fox. Miss Kammerer is an enthusiastic young performer who has a flair for singing, acting, and dancing. She will appear as a chimney sweep in Mary Poppins and has performed in Oliver!, Seussical, and Newsies at the Omaha Jewish Community Center. Claudia studies voice at the Omaha Conservatory of Music with Rachel Griggs and recently earned 1st place in Children’s Musical Theater and 2nd place in Children’s Classical at the 2025 Regional NATS Auditions. In addition to her vocal training, she studies Tap, Acro, and Hip Hop, and is currently learning French to further expand her artistic versatility. With a bright voice, a big heart, a love of learning and entertaining, Claudia is excited for every new performance!

Soprano Adrieana Saucedo makes her Opera Omaha debut in Fantastic Mr. Fox. Miss Saucedo has been an active vocalist for years, showcasing her passion and dedication through various musical ensembles and competitions. She has been a member of Millard West High School show choir for four years, refining her stage presence and vocal technique through group performances. Additionally, she has spent three years singing with the SNJ Singers Acapella group, where she has performed at events such as the Omaha Symphony’s Christmas Spectacular. To further her skills, Adrieana has taken private voice lessons for five years, focusing on expanding her vocal range, control, and expressiveness. Her dedication led her to compete in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competition, where she demonstrated her vocal ability in a competitive setting. This past year she placed 1st in Classical and 3rd in Musical Theater.

Bennie Foxcub

Jennie Foxcub

Lennie Foxcub

Pennie Foxcub

FANTASTIC MR. FOX | JUNE 2025

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OPERA OMAHA

ARTISTIC & PRODUCTION STAFF FOXCUBS COVER

Sadie DeSantis* STAGE MANAGER

Meha Majhail*

Edward Sturm*

SUPERS/PUPPET OPERATORS

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Jack Meister-Lopez ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER

Elaina Veasey ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER

+IATSE Local 42

Taylor Adams

Stagehand Services are provided by IATSE Local 42.

SUPER CAPTAIN AND HEAD PUPPETEER

Wardrobe Services are provided by IATSE Local 831.

Clint Beaver Zdenek Voprada

Katie Blice PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

Laura Peters PROPERTIES SUPERVISOR

Opera Omaha is a member of OPERA America.

Amanda Jones COSTUME SUPERVISOR

Gary Bosanek WARDROBE COORDINATOR

Maegan Roux WIG & MAKEUP ASSISTANT

Kori Archbold* YOUTH SUPERVISOR

Giada Gierhart* VOLUNTEER

Sing Omaha is a nonprofit organization founded in 2007 committed to growing people through premier music education and performance. We accomplish this mission through private voice, piano, bass, guitar, drum and string lessons, masterclasses, workshops, and summer camps via Sing Omaha Studios, and through ensemble singing instruction and performance in one of nine curriculum-driven, age-specific Sing Omaha Choirs in Douglas and Sarpy Counties.

CHILDREN’S CHORUS

Sing Omaha envisions a future where music education and performance are valued as cultural guideposts and necessary components of a well-rounded life experience for people of all ages, genders, ethnicities, creeds, and economic circumstances.

Learn more about the organization at SingOmaha.org.

Adam Balentine

Ephraim Earley

Angela Borchert

Kate Martin

Molly Brown

Kali Olson

Kaia Bush

Adele Ostdiek

Jade Coleman

Sophia Parr

Jenna Dimon

Katie Pribil

Nora Drum

Nataley Sidall

Creesen Drumheller

Hadley Williams

*Opera Omaha Debut

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FANTASTIC MR. FOX | JUNE 2025

OMAHA SYMPHONY

MUSICIANS Henry Jenkins VIOLIN

Thomas Kluge VIOLA

Paul Ledwon CELLO

Carmelo Galante CLARINET/BASS CLARINET

James Compton BASSOON

Paul Matthews PERCUSSION

ORCHESTRA OPERATIONS

Jennifer Boomgaarden Daoud, President & CEO Kyra Hansen, Chief Operating Officer & Director of Production Elliott Ward-Bowen, Associate Director of Operations & Production John Coate, Operations & Production Manager Emily E. Duffin, Orchestra Personnel Manager Erica Ostermiller, Operations & Personnel Coordinator Tracy Bass, Head Librarian Nicholas Buonanni, Librarian Tim Fogarty, Stage Manager

FANTASTIC MR. FOX | JUNE 2025

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Opera Omaha productions are made possible, in part, with significant support from the Craftsman’s Guild.

Cindy & Mike Baumer

Patty Pandzik

Betty Beach

Christine & Patrick Peters

Tom Burton

Hilarie Price

Gina Carusi

Valerie Proctor

Kate & Chris Gannon – Tombrello

Dick Serpan*

Bill Gaus

Margret Sexton

Melissa Gebauer

Toni Shelton

Nora Mae & John Gibson

Brendy Shishido

Patti Jaynes

Saprina Thiesen

Mark Kalal

Joe Torchia

Christine Lund

Leslie Vann

Dean Manternach

Annika Weber

Julie Mead

*Deceased

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FANTASTIC MR. FOX | JUNE 2025

The Opera Omaha Guild is a dedicated group of individuals who actively support Opera Omaha’s fundraising, community engagement, and education programs. Members plan and promote events such as Cotillion (etiquette classes for area sixth graders), social luncheons, educational activities, opera study groups, and pre-performance parties.

If you are interested in joining the Opera Omaha Guild, please call (402) 346-7372 or visit operaomaha.org/guild for additional information. We appreciate your interest and look forward to hearing from you soon!

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Lora Kaup

Dana Carlton-Flint

PRESIDENT

VP SOCIAL

Connie Kinnear

Lisa Hagstrom

PRESIDENT ELECT

COTILLION LIAISON

Deb Peterson

Vivian Davis

PAST PRESIDENT

CORRESPONDING SECRETARY

Mark Maser

Connie Kinnear

VP EDUCATION

RECORDING SECRETARY

Kelly Sanford

April Nebel

VP FUNDRAISING

TREASURER

AT LARGE BOARD MEMBERS Lauren Garcia Christina Miller Mary Ellen Mulcahy Sherry Taxman Sara Young

Betty Foster VP MEMBERSHIP

FANTASTIC MR. FOX | JUNE 2025

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100 Bancroft Street LauritzenGardens.org FANTASTIC MR. FOX | JUNE 2025

OPERA OMAHA GUILD

COTILLION GRADUATES

Cotillion combines fundraising for Opera Omaha with lessons in social skills disguised as a dance class for sixth and seventh graders throughout Omaha. The primary purpose of each class is to provide the opportunity for each student to mature socially. Students learn the arts of dining, ballroom dancing, and how to be a proper guest as well as host/hostess in a formal setting. Learning how to meet new people and how to get along with others is emphasized; the dance steps are incidental.

2024 GRADUATES Ellie Agnew Connor Anderson Graham Anderson Caleb Armstrong Eleanor Arnold Nicholas Ayoub Evie Banks Georgia Bartling Cosette Bauer Maria Bautista-Lopez Adele Beltran Katherine Bender Lucy Beutler Ryan Bickford Alina Bolander Marlys Boyum Samuel Brons Nora Bryant Lucy Buresh Liam Campbell Rosario Caniglia Margot Carson Daniel Caskey Courtney Chandler Jack Cocozzella Brynn Cole Grant Compton Vivian Compton Maddie Corcoran Olivia Davenport

Nella Dieckman Riley Dorman Anna Dostal Jack Douglas Maura Drapa Thomas Dvorak Brianna Ellett Pippa Firestone Anna Gaines Andrew Gard Jaya Gardner Luna Garvey Thomas Gilbreath Ryker Grace Roslyn Graziano William Grosshans Emily Guy Gretchen Hansen Bennett Hartman Everett Havens David Hawk Ivy Hendrickson Oliver Henningsen Will Horgan Ella Houghton Tenley Joslin Chloe Kaiser Alexa Karimjee Andrew Karimjee Alexandra Karnes Fitz Kelley

Toby Kenny Gabriella King Evan Kuehl Campbell Kula Hannah Landmark Henry Laramey Davis Lauritzen Abigail Leach Augie Lee Henry Levy William Macdissi Cole Mackintosh Jake Massih Ashley Mead Brooklyn Miller Rohann Mukherjee Vivian Nebel Penelope Niebur Azlynn Nihsen Olivia OConnor Callum O'Neill Lauren Oswald Krish Pandya Ellis Pavlish Samuel Pedersen Brooke Pogge Lucy Posch Evan Poulos Simon Prenger Vada Preston

Graham Ricketts Kenzie Rocker Kenley Rocker Madeleine Rodriguez Samantha Ryan Phoebe Schroen Madeline Self Meredeth Self Elsa Sinclair Zahra Somasegaran Teagan Stanger Cooper Sualy Miles Sudbeck Asha Theobald Elise Thomas Maddie Torson Vinny Troia Hazel Troia Ryan Underwood Sofia Vaccaro Lydia Vander Vorst Claire Vetter John Henry Wageman Reid Walker Johnnie Walker Jamie Wallace Harrison Wegner Anna Weisenburger Addison Williams Eliza Williamson Mia Wrinkle

Cotillion will return in fall 2025. To receive updates, please email Rebecca Ihnen at rihnen@operaomaha.org.

FANTASTIC MR. FOX | JUNE 2025

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MORE PERFORMANCES. MORE VENUES. MORE OPERA.

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE

October 24 and 26, 2025 | Orpheum Theater Music by Gioachino Rossini | Libretto by Cesare Sterbini

Escape on a wild ride through the streets of Seville, where schemes unfurl, passions flare, and chaos occasionally reigns. Figaro, the mischievous barber, is at the center of it all, pulling strings and outwitting anyone who thwarts his plans to help Count Almaviva win Rosina’s heart.

SUSANNAH

January 30 and February 1, 2026 | Orpheum Theater Music and Libretto by Carlisle Floyd

Set in a stark Tennessee town, the young Susannah is targeted by suspicion and gossip that mounts in intensity. Floyd’s score is undeniably American and inspired by familiar folk melodies that underscore the complexity of human nature through Susannah’s search for beauty and one man’s lust for power.

HERCULES

March 13, 2026 | Orpheum Theater Music by George Frideric Handel | Libretto by Thomas Broughton

The English Concert returns to Opera Omaha, bringing Handel’s Hercules. Fresh from battle, Hercules returns home victorious, but his wife, Dejanira is consumed by fear that he has been unfaithful. With Handel’s soaring arias and powerful choruses, Hercules reminds us that the devastating consequences of mistrust can bring even the mightiest to their knees.

BLUEBEARD’S CASTLE

April 24 and 25, 2026 | Holland Performing Arts Center Music by Béla Bartók | Libretto by Béla Balázs

Opera Omaha and the Omaha Symphony join forces to produce Bluebeard’s Castle, where every shadow hides a secret, and every door unlocks a new terror. Bartók’s psychological thriller unfolds as Judith, newly wed to the enigmatic Bluebeard, dares to open his castle’s forbidden doors, drawing her closer to a horrifying secret.

UNSHAKEABLE

June 5-7, 2026 | Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center Music by Joseph Illick | Libretto by Andrea Fellows Fineberg

The Family Opera Series returns with the one-act opera, UnShakeable. Three years after a mysterious epidemic has left its survivors plagued by memory loss, Wyatt and Meridian reunite in a desolate theater using the only common language they can find: Shakespeare.

Explore the 25/26 Season at operaomaha.org/2526 Bluebeard’s Castle and UnShakeable not included in 25/26 Season subscription

SERVING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY Did you know that several of our community partners served through the Holland Community Opera Fellowship (HCOF) work with children and families?

The Learning Community Center (LCC) of South Omaha empowers parents to support their children by offering educational resources and opportunities for the whole family. They seek to reduce the achievement gap and help families thrive. HCOF has worked with LCC since 2018 leading workshops in early childhood classrooms with toddlers and preschool age children, as well as family programming. Recent workshops included Fellows reading books and engaging in a lively story time filled with music, movements around the classroom, and art projects!

HCOF has worked with Girls Inc. of Omaha since 2017. Girls Inc. provides girls with opportunities to be strong, smart, brave, and bold at their North Omaha and South Omaha centers. This season, Fellows worked at the Katherine Fletcher Center in North Omaha with a small group of 3rd grade girls through activities focused on positive peer relationships while learning about the elements of opera! The girls enjoyed creating their own character, building a world for her, and bringing her to life via visual art and drama games!

Nelson Mandela Elementary is a private, tuition-free school located in North Omaha serving scholars from early childhood through grade 5. The school focuses on family engagement, social-emotional learning, and play. Opera Omaha has collaborated with their staff and scholars since 2017 through programming including creating opera, supporting the choir, and Fellow-led workshops. This season Fellows focused on preparing 2nd grade scholars to be performance ready and helping them manage their nerves to take the stage with confidence.

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FANTASTIC MR. FOX | JUNE 2025

Top Left: Fellows Alejandra Sandoval-Montañez and Rosemary Joyce perform with Head of Music Josh Quinn at Gallery 1516, March 2025. Bottom Left: Fellow Alejandra Sandoval-Montañez and former Fellow Taylor Adams at LCC, November 2023. Right: Former Fellow Jaime Marie Webb works with scholars at Nelson Mandela Elementary, 2021.

24/25 COMMUNITY PARTNERS The Holland Community Opera Fellowship creates responsive programming that acknowledges the strengths of each participating individual and community partner.

Sarpy County Juvenile Justice Center

FIND MORE INFORMATION AT OPERAOMAHA.ORG/HCOF

FANTASTIC MR. FOX | JUNE 2025

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OPERA OMAHA

EDUCATION PROGRAMS

OPERA OMAHA EDUCATION PROGRAMS Each year, Opera Omaha's education programs serve over 1,200 students from early childhood to graduate school level at more than 50 partner schools and universities.

STUDENT DRESS REHEARSALS Student Dress Rehearsals are an immersive way for students to go beyond an ordinary field trip to get an intimate experience with the opera. This FREE program offers a rare opportunity for students to see the show before the public does, and without a large crowd for a more personal and meaningful experience.

ARTIST VISITS AND MASTERCLASSES Each season, Opera Omaha brings guest opera artists from our productions to classrooms and community partners across the city. Each artist visit is tailored to the needs of teachers and students to create a meaningful opera learning experience, and may include short performances, a masterclass, workshop, or Q&A.

OPERA 360 This immersive program takes the Student Dress Rehearsal experience and expands it for groups that want to learn more about the artisans that operate behind the scenes. Students get a backstage tour and speak directly with opera professionals, exploring areas such as costume design, hair and makeup, stage management, directing, and

conducting. These conversations give students extra insight into the jobs available within opera, allowing them to ask questions, and expand their aspirations for future involvement in opera production.

POETRY & MUSIC PROJECT The Opera Omaha Poetry & Music Project is a statewide program run in partnership with the Nebraska Writers Collective to amplify the voices of youth poets, both urban and rural, across Nebraska and Iowa. The project connects student poets and their words with professional composers to create original music and explore connections between poetry and music.

STUDENT RUSH TICKETS All students may take advantage of $10 rush tickets to Opera Omaha performances! One hour prior to performances, students can receive up to two tickets with a valid student ID. If you are bringing 10 or more students to an Opera Omaha production, you can take advantage of group student rush tickets! Call Howard Coffin at (402) 346-7372 x2 for more details.

TO LEARN MORE VISIT OPERAOMAHA.ORG/EDUCATION 32

FANTASTIC MR. FOX | JUNE 2025

AUTISM ACTION PARTNERSHIP CELEBRATES OPERA OMAHA’S COMMITMENT TO INCLUSION Opera Omaha is proud to be an Autism Action Partnership COMPASS Partner, making an organization-wide commitment to inclusion and efforts to welcome individuals and families affected by autism.

This partnership creates ongoing opportunities for individuals on the autism spectrum to engage with the arts in a meaningful and supportive environment, enriching their lives and strengthening our community.

WHAT IS A COMPASS PARTNER? It is the mission of Autism Action Partnership to improve the quality of life of persons on the Autism Spectrum and their families. To achieve this mission, AAP relies on partners who embrace the idea of inclusion so that individuals with autism and their families feel a sense of belonging and can thrive in all the places they live, work, learn, and play.

COMPASS Partners collaborate with Autism Action Partnership to transform physical, sensory, and social community spaces into welcoming, enriching environments that individuals with all abilities can enjoy.

WHY BECOME A COMPASS PARTNER? Opera Omaha is delighted to be an Autism Action Partnership COMPASS Partner. We are proud to have worked with AAP and many community partners and participants with autism and sensory needs for many years in our community programs. Opening the doors of inclusion at our opera performances is an exciting step. Ensuring opera is accessible and enjoyable for everyone in a way that suits their needs aligns closely with Opera Omaha's human-centered values. Experiencing art, especially experiencing art together, is exhilarating, and we’re thrilled to partner with AAP to make that possible for more members of our community.

RELAXED PERFORMANCE Fantastic Mr. Fox is Opera Omaha’s first production that will feature a relaxed performance. A relaxed performance means there are no changes to the opera or production elements, but there are adaptations to the audience experience and front of house space to make it more accessible for those with sensory needs, including autistic individuals and their families.

FANTASTIC MR. FOX | JUNE 2025

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OPERA OMAHA

DONORS We are immensely grateful for our incredible community of supporters. Through their remarkable generosity in support of Opera Omaha’s Annual Fund, our donors empower us to produce world-class opera and deliver groundbreaking, free community engagement and education programming for the tens of thousands of audience members, artists, and neighbors we serve.

This listing reflects gifts received between September 15, 2023 and April 10, 2025

CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE

$100,000+

Richard Holland* Constance B. Meunier Trust Mary and Richard Parrish Annette and Paul Smith Joan Gibson* and Donald Wurster

PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE $50,000- $99,999

Cindy and Mogens Bay Carol E. and David A. Domina Steve Menzies Jane and David Offutt Robert E. Owen Linda Burt Rebrovic and John Rebrovic The Carl Rohman Trust Julie M. Schroeder

PRODUCER $25,000-$49,999

Anonymous (2) Catherine and Terry Ferguson Janet and H. Frederick Kuehl Polina and Bob Schlott Todd and Betiana Simon Katie Weitz, PhD and Tim Wilson Kate and Roger Weitz

BACKER

$10,000-$24,999

Roger Blauwet Barbara Person and Scott Burger Tina and John Cherica Anna-Karin and David Dillard Carol L. Dworak Estate

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Frances and David Ertel Betty Foster Kyoko and Jonathan Fuller Vivian and Allen Hager Dr. Ali Khan Vicki and David Krecek Susan F. Morris Sharee and Murray Newman Silvia Greene Roffman Jean and Eugene Stark Jr. Janet and Jerry Syslo Dr. and Mrs. James Tracy Charese E. Yanney Gail and Mike Yanney

BENEFACTOR $5,000-$9,999

Anonymous Dr. Betty L. Beach Sara and Jawed Bharwani Sharon and Randy Blackburn Devin J. Fox, MD and Rob Block Dr. Anne and Stephen Bruckner Sandi and Bill Bruns Dr. Debra Reilly-Culver and Robert Culver, Jr. Linda and David Gardels Anne Gardner Jerry C. Gose Belle and Ryan Hansen Vernie and Carter Jones Joanne and David Kolenda Paul Ledwon and Mark Maser Sheila McNeill Ann and Paul O'Hara Connie Osborne Pauline Quinn Constance Ryan Howard B. Silberg Revocable Trust Donna and Coyner* Smith Kara and Joe Spitzenberger Mary Ann Strasheim Ellen and Robert Vladem Jo Bartikoski and Don Westling

FANTASTIC MR. FOX | JUNE 2025

Mary Beth and James Winner

GUARDIAN $3,500-$4,999

Linda Matson Andersen Mary Jetton Ruth Keene Deb and Eric Peterson Jacqueline Sorrels and Alex Ritter Marika and Peter Stone

SUSTAINER $1,500-$3,499

Laura and Bryan Alexander Sarah Baker Hansen and Matthew Hansen Sarah Billinghurst Solomon Nicholas Bjornson Janet and Samuel Cohen Joan Desens and Simon CarrEllison Dawn and Sid Dinsdale Brian Eaton Kate and Chris GannonTombrello Leslie Garth Bill L. Gaus Judy and George Haecker, Jr. Carol and James Healy Janeanne and Joseph Heidenreich Megan and Thomas Heidenreich Anne M. Hubbard Susan Thomas and Steven Hutchinson Jeffrey Johnston John Yost and Wade Leak Deana Liddy Sharon McGill Matthew Messner and Neil Sechan Karen and Larry Nelsen Stephen Novick Rita and Donald Otis Lora Kaup and Michael Pray

Kelly and Mark Sanford Shirley and Michael* Sorrell Jill Steinberg Anne Stoddard Sherry and Jeff Taxman Dr. Terry Tomcsik Gail and Irving Veitzer Verne Weber

PATRON

$750-$1,499

Anonymous Yoko and Thomas Arthur Kathleen Joan Bradley Nancy Ward and Toby Bright Ann and David Burkholder Murray Joseph Casey Kris Vikmanis and Denny Creighton Carolyn and David Diamond Gloria Dinsdale* Marlene and Larry Domina Rebecca and Brian Duncan Andrea and Donald Fineberg Christine and Mauro Fiore Joan Flesch Lisa Hagstrom Sylvia Jones Constance Heiden Kammandel and Henry Kammandel Sandra and Jon Kayne Alfred G. Kelley Molly Burns and Thomas Klein Leslie Kuhnel Dominique Laffont Dr. Alan Langnas Katie and Craig LeDoux Deana Liddy Lara Marcon Marilyn and Robert Marion Martin Karen and Paul Mullen Kevin Murray Ana Lopez Shalla and Stephen Osberg Polly and Frank Partsch

*Deceased

Samuel M. Bierner and Joseph Pinson John Reed Barbara and Gordon Reisinger Greta Vaught and John Ritland Bruce Ross Sissy Katelman Silber Donald Slaughter Lisa Sock Shelby VanNordstrand Paul Vladem Amy and Tony Volk Verne Weber Cindy Weil Kate Rahel and Dennis Ward Ann and John Williamson Laura Wilwerding Timothy Held and Jay Worden Melanie and John Wright Shirley Young

ADVOCATE $300-$749

Anonymous Cheryl Arends Eileen and Timothy Arkebauer Denise Arnold Paula Ashen Kelli and Brian Bello Ang Bennett Mayrene Bentley Teri and David Black Bruce Chemel Eleanor Shirley and Daniel J. Cox Eileen M. Crinklaw Mallory Schulte and Ryan Cwach Mary and Hal Daub Rosemary J. Pauley and Timothy F. Daugherty Vivian and Spencer Davis Sandy and Paul Epstein Karen and Richard Everett Bev and Dick Fellman Mary and Ronald Ferdig Mary Fieber Andrew Frost Elizabeth and John Fullerton Jeffrey Grinnell and Daniel Gallagher Patrick Galvin Barbara Glauber John K. Green Cathy and Guy Gronquist Joan Squires and Dan Hamann Allison Hardy Katrina Thurman and Robert Hawkey

Shari Hofschire Stanton Hoppe Dr. Linda Matson and Mr. Michael Howland Susan and Craig Ihnen Gayle and Marlin Jeffers Barbara Johnston Donna and James Kalar Ruth Ann Keene Marilyn and Mark Kirchhoff Barbara and Marshall Kushner Ronna and Joseph Kutlas Julie and Joseph Lecci Lourdes Secola and Sheldon Lerner Helen and William Little Kathleen and John Lohr Dorothy* and Daniel McKinney Christine and Jim Medici Ann Jansen Michelson and Brent Michelson Cindy Miserez Donald Moran April and Jonathan Nebel Mary Helms and Kenneth Olson Ashley Olson Judy Pfeifer Elizabeth and Jerry Powell Abigail Kutlas-Prickett and Joseph Prickett Lisa and Dan Prickett Silva Raker Tom Richter Debra J. Romberger Kathleen Crawford-Rose and Robert Rose David Sampson Libby Murphy and Ray Schueneman David Sontag Ginger Talbot Kiley and James Thiele Pia Ulrich Ann Stephens and John Vasilades Patricia Victor Sarah Watson Kimberly Hastie and Timothy Welch James Wink Brad Woolbright Bruce McKeefry and Geoffrey Yeomans Mary* and Anthony Yonkers Sara and John Young

FRIEND $1-$299

Anonymous (2) Gay and Steve Abraham Rebecca Noble and Keith Allerton Deisy I. Andrew Barbara Antonides Ronald Bailey Marco Ballarin Joshua Bassan Susan Baumert Erna Beach Laila Berre Eric Bildt Dawn Ann Boll Lyn and Stephen Bouma Shelia G. Brantley Katie and Corey Broman Shawntae Brown Michelle C. Bruckner Rob Buckley Janice and Mario Buda Valerie Bullock Janet* and Donald Bumgarner Frank Burnham Erin and Bob Busch Karen and David Campbell David Campbell Thomas Carr Elizabeth Case Felicia Cervantes Edward Chaperon Melanie and Jeffrey Chapman Susan Chenoweth Christine and Bob Chilcoat Donna Christian Grace Chu Julie Clawson Tiffiny Clifton Diane and Howard Coffin Elizabeth A. Collins Cora and Maurice Conner Caitlin F. Copenhaver Carmelita Cox Clifford Davis Carole DeBuse Michael Del Core Susan and Stephen Dolezal Mark Draper Joan Ellingson Karla Ermel Chelsey Erpelding Karen and Micah Fannin Michael Faust Sarah Ferneding Beverly Fleckten Patrick Fortney

Terry and Mollie Foster Sandra Franklin Karen Gahl-Mills Rose Glock Mary Green Mr. Robert Griffin Jan Grimes Jacqueline and Douglas Grote David Gunn Cindy Hadsell Erik Hanson Ellen Hargus Darrel Harris William and Gretchen Harvey Mary Jo Havlicek Jane and Edward Hawks Cheryl and Joe Hazel Linda Henslee Ms. Marilyn Hoegemeyer Don Horn Ann and Don Hosford Connor Howard Annette and Steven Huff Rebecca Ihnen Xavier Jackson Bonnie and David Jaros Marti Baumert and Richard Jeffrey Debra and Byron Jensen Vibeke Jensen Jerry Johnson John Johnson Neil Jouvenat Vanessa Kalil Gina D. Keplinger Mary and Thomas Kerr Piotr Andrzej Kissel Julia Kleinschmit Mike Klug Michele and Thomas Kluge Geri Knight Maria Knudtson Mihaela and Brett Kobjerowski Stacy Kozisek Mary J. Krance Morgan Kreiser Adam Kucirek Barbara Kuhn Jane Stieren Heike and Adam Langdon Mathew Leaf Elaine Leise Sherryl and Hiram Lilley Douglas Little Lori D. Liu Billie D. Logan Gerald Lohman III Jeffrey B. Loomis Lorraine Beadell and Greg Love

*Deceased

FANTASTIC MR. FOX | JUNE 2025

35

Christine Lund Meredith Fuller and James Luyten Kathryn and William Lydiatt Charles MacKay Maria C. Magana Karla* and John Marburger Cliff Mason Mary Mattingly Catherine and Marcus Maydew Ali R. McBride Jim McGough Laura McLean Ann Meschery Richard Morris Dorothy Davis Morrow and Jim Morrow Fred Mytty Ann and Kevin Naylor Diana Nevins Rodney Nordeng Robert Nordt Tirimba Obonyo Neil O'Donnell Douglas Olson Erin and Rob Owen Chris Pantuso Jessica and Dennis Pate

36

Diane and Robert Peabody Jacob Pearson Lois Pesek Jean Ann Ballinger and Ward Peters Glen Peterson Sabrina Potterpin H. Margo Prentiss Natalie Prescott Kathleen Doak Pyper James Pyrzynski Patricia and Robert Ranney TaTanisha Ranney Paula and William Rasmussen Toni Reese Victoria and Edward Roche Jheam Rodriguez Noyes W. Rogers Courtney Rudick Rev. David Rykwalder Dawn B. Salsman Marissa Sanford Tom Chandler and Bill Schaffer Rita and Dean Schechinger Susan Scherl Nancy Schultz Margret Sexton Lori and Scott Shaddy

FANTASTIC MR. FOX | JUNE 2025

Joan and Charles Shapiro Kay M. Shilling, M.D. Janelle Siffring Tom E. Simmons Edward Cohn Alexia Kniska and Bo Smith Kim Smith-Ferguson Neil Solomon Kim Sosin Eric Spruth-Janssen Sandra Squires Glenda and George Steinsberger Del Stites Mike J. Stodden Lisa and Jeff Strohmyer Jara and Kenley SturdivantWilson Anna and Rock Sumner Greg Sutton Monte and Duane Thompson Mitch Treu Jerry Tyrrell Barbara Van Dyke Deidre Vasquez Caitlin Volz Shannon and Michael Walenta

Kathleen A. Ward Theresa and Edward Watson Marilyn Watson Carolyn B. Weber Kevin Wetzel Mathew Whitlock Wendi and Curtis Wilson Nicholas Wilwerding Shelli Wingett Patricia Wise Wendy Wiseman Kathleen Wittbrot Kimberly and Michael Wohlwend Sarah Woodhouse Edith and Robert Zahniser Susan and John Zeilinger Inna Zevakina

*Deceased

OPERA OMAHA

MEMORIALS & TRIBUTES Donors who made gifts to the Annual Fund in honor or in memory of a loved one are recognized below.

This listing reflects gifts received between September 15, 2023 and April 10, 2025

IN MEMORY OF: HARRIET BECKENHAUER

Opera Omaha Craftsman’s Guild

FRANK A. "SKIP" BLAZEK

Giger Foundation

MORRIS JAMES “JIM” BRUCKNER Mary Beth and Jim Winner

ANN GANYARD Mary Ann Strasheim

GLORIA DINSDALE Linda Matson Andersen

ELSA GRIESBACH

Geri Knight

CHERYL SANWICK

Betty L. Beach Clare and Thomas Burton Opera Omaha Craftsman’s Guild Annika and Allen Weber

DR. MICHAEL SORRELL Mary Ellen Mulcahy

ELOUISE SQUIRES Sandra Kay Squires

PAUL TRANISI

Gina Tranisi

BROTHER WILLIAM WOEGER

Bill Gaus Opera Omaha Craftsman’s Guild

BILL AND MASAKO LOGAN Billie D. Logan

MARK MASER

Joanne and David Kolenda Wendy Wiseman

MARK MASER AND PAUL LEDWON Ray Schueneman and Elizebeth Murphy

MILES MYKKENAN Stephen Novick

MARY PARRISH Kelli and Brian Bello

MARY AND RICHARD PARRISH Betty L. Beach

SUE PEARSON

RHONDA HALL

IN HONOR OF:

JOHN HUTZLER

SANDI BRUNS

JOE PRICKETT

Joanne and David Kolenda

Allan and Karen Dennis

SCOTT BURGER AND BARBARA PERSON

JAMES PYRZYNSKI

Opera Omaha Craftsman’s Guild Christine and Jim Medici

JODY KERSSENBROCK Sandra Kay Squires

MR. AND MRS. BILLIE F. LOGAN Billie D. Logan

SANDY MATTHEWS Heike and Adam Langdon Mary Ellen Mulcahy Kate and Roger Weitz

TOM ROGERS

Rebecca Noble and Keith Allerton Debra Reilly-Culver and Robert Culver, Jr. Gloria Dinsdale* Paul and Sandy Epstein Mr. Mike Klug Mark Maser and Paul Ledwon Mrs. Sharon L McGill Jim Morrow and Dorothy Davis Morrow Mary Ellen Mulcahy Jean Ann Ballinger and Ward Peters Pauline Quinn Tom Chandler and William Schaffer Mary Ann Strasheim Greg Sutton Shannon and Michael Walenta

Samuel M. Bierner and Joseph Pinson

CALEB JOHN CLIFTON

Tiffiny Clifton

ANTHONY ROTH COSTANZO

Jill Steinberg

CAROL DOMINA’S BIRTHDAY

Joan Desens and Simon Carr-Ellison

CAROL DOMINA

Joan Desens and Simon Carr-Ellison Patrick Galvin Connor Howard Ann Meschery Sabrina Potterpin Caitlin Volz

MALLORY HAYS Howard Coffin

HOLLAND COMMUNITY OPERA FELLOWS

Tiffiny Clifton

RUTH AND JAMES* KEENE Ruth Ann Keene

Jacob Pearson

Bill Gaus

LINDA BURT REBROVIC AND JOHN REBROVIC Carolyn and David Diamond Mary and Tom Kerr

MARK AND KELLY SANFORD Marissa and Mitchell Sanford

ALLISON SWENSON

Joan Desens and Simon Carr-Ellison Rebecca Duncan Andrea Fineberg Connor Howard Neil Sechan and Matthew Messner Caitlin Volz Brad Woolbright

ALLISON AND HUNTER SWENSON Charles MacKay

KATIE WEITZ

Ana Lopez Shalla and Hassan Shalla

GAIL AND MIKE YANNEY

Heider Family Foundation Constance Ryan The Walter Scott Family Foundation

DR. ALI KHAN

Anne Marie Hubbard Jessica and Dennis Pate FANTASTIC MR. FOX | JUNE 2025

37

A tangible legacy – investment in the future of both Opera and Omaha Members of Opera Omaha’s Fortissimo Society have made arrangements to support Opera Omaha and its innovative role in the cultural vibrancy of our region for generations to come. By establishing bequests, gifts of life insurance, IRAs, trusts, and other estate plans, Fortissimo Society members demonstrate their commitment to the transformative power of opera in our community. Their legacies are tangible investments in our cutting-edge, humancentered work that is leading and redefining the future of opera.

We proudly and gratefully acknowledge our Fortissimo Society members: Peppy* and Norman* Bahr Jo Bartikoski and Don Westling Betty L. Beach, PhD Kathleen Joan Bradley Sandra L.E. and William C. Bruns Dr. Debra Reilly-Culver and Bob Culver Carol L. Dworak* Ike and Roz Friedman Foundation Linda and David Gardels Geof* Heiden and Connie Heiden Kammandel Mary* and Charles* Heider Mary* and Richard* D. Holland Aline Hosman* Sally and Gary* Kaplan Joanne and David Kolenda Graham Lusk* Charles MacKay and Cam McCluskey Ann* and Allan* Mactier Constance B. Meunier*

Sharee and Murray Newman Ephraim L. Marks* and David M. Rice* Mark Allen Maser Joan F.* and Richard* L. O’Brien Ann and Paul O'Hara Mr. and Mrs.* Robert E. Owen Rev. David Pace Mary and Richard Parrish Thompson H. Rogers* The Carl Rohman Trus Ruth and William* Scott Eve and Fred* Simon Dr. and Mrs. Michael* and Shirley Sorrell Dr. Judith Stoewe* Mary Ann and Jerrold* Strasheim Janet and Jerry Syslo Gina Tranisi Bruni and Roy* Thylin Mary Beth and James Winner

We are grateful to the following individuals who designated a portion of their estate to support Opera Omaha, upon their passing.

Rabbi Myer S.* and Dorothy Kripke* Pauline D. Nelson* The Carl Rohman Trust Howard Silberg* Margaret Wiltse* Annie F. Zinn*

SPECIAL FUNDS

We thank the donors who have established restricted funds to honor a family, friend, and loved one. These named funds provide important ongoing support through Opera Omaha’s endowment.

The Barbara Willson Fund The Jane Hill Education Fund The William Randolph Hearst Fund

For more information about ways to give, sample language for bequests, or to inform us of your inclusion of Opera Omaha in your estate plans, please reach Joe Prickett, Director of Development at (402) 346-7372 x201 or jprickett@operaomaha.org. *Deceased

OPERA OMAHA

CORPORATE, FOUNDATION & GOVERNMENT DONORS CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE

BACKER

ADVOCATE

Anonymous Applied Underwriters, Inc. Douglas County Board of Commissioners The Edgar Foster Daniels Foundation Holland Foundation Weitz Family Foundation

Adah and Leon Millard Foundation Baxter Conagra Brands Foundation Giger Foundation HDR, Inc. Heider Family Foundation Iowa West Foundation Jetton Charitable Fund Kiewit Mammel Family Foundation Mutual of Omaha Opera Omaha Craftsman's Guild Opera Omaha Guild University of Nebraska - Omaha

Amphion Foundation Backer Family Charitable Trust Baird Foundation Inc. Burlington Capital Foundation Cobank Edward and Lida Robinson Charitable Trust Fraser Stryker Heritage Omaha Humanities Nebraska Koley Jessen P.C., LLC Lincoln Financial Foundation, Inc. Nebraska Tourism Commission Omaha Symphony OPERA America Osaic Foundation Pledgeling Foundation Soener Foundation Strauss Charitable Fund Streck, Inc. Lind Family Foundation Fund at The Dallas Foundation The Fred and Sally Bekins Foundation The Pepsico Foundation US Bank

$100,000+

PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE $50,000-$99,000

Anonymous (2) Allan and Ann Mactier Charitable Foundation FNBO National Endowment for the Arts Omaha Steaks Peter Kiewit Foundation

PRODUCER

$25,000-$49,999

Anonymous Nebraska Arts Council Nebraska Cultural Endowment Omaha Magazine University of Nebraska Medical Center Valmont Industries, Inc.

$10,000-$24,999

BENEFACTOR $5,000-$9,999

CL Werner Foundation Husch Blackwell LLP Rose Blumkin Foundation Inc Security National Bank The FS Foundation Inc Union Pacific Corporation University of Nebraska Foundation Walter Scott Family Foundation Wintrust Financial Corporation Whitmore Charitable Trust

$1-$4,999

FANTASTIC MR. FOX | JUNE 2025

39

OPERA OMAHA

REPERTOIRE HISTORY 1958-59

Madama Butterfly Tosca Oklahoma!

Hansel and Gretel

1959-60

Carousel Pagliacci/Quivera

1960-61

1971-72

Rigoletto The Tales of Hoffmann

1972-73

Madama Butterfly Romeo and Juliet Un ballo in maschera

1973-74

Die Fledermaus La traviata

Tosca The Marriage of Figaro The Elixir of Love

1961-62

1974-75

The Merry Widow La bohème

1962-63

Carmen La Périchole

1963-64

Aida The Barber of Seville

1964-65

Lucia di Lammermoor The Marriage of Figaro

1965-66

Rigoletto Madama Butterfly

La bohème Lucia di Lammermoor La Périchole

1975-76

1969-70

Faust Cavalleria Rusticana/ Pagliacci

1970-71

Aida Die Fledermaus

1977-78

The Barber of Seville Werther La bohème

1979-80

Die Fledermaus* La traviata* The Pirates of Penzance

1980-81

Così fan tutte Susannah Rigoletto

1981-82

The Daughter of the Regiment Carmen The Magic Flute

40

1984-85

Tosca Falstaff Gianni Schicchi/Pagliacci

1985-86

Turandot Lucia di Lammermoor The Marriage of Figaro

1987-88

Aida The Merry Widow Don Pasquale Don Giovanni

1978-79

La traviata Carmen

Aida* The Tales of Hoffmann Don Giovanni

1976-77

1967-68

1968-69

1983-84

1986-87

Il trovatore The Ballad of Baby Doe Tosca La bohème

Don Pasquale Faust Madama Butterfly

La traviata Manon Bilby’s Doll The Barber of Seville

Madama Butterfly The Abduction from the Seraglio* The Bartered Bride

1966-67

1982-83

FANTASTIC MR. FOX | JUNE 2025

La traviata The Barber of Seville Porgy and Bess The Turn of the Screw* The Juniper Tree* Where’s Dick?

Amahl & the Night Visitors* Carmen La bohème

1988-89

Oklahoma!

Partenope+ The Diary of One Who Vanished White Rose A Celebration of Bel Canto Rigoletto Manon

1989-90

Plácido Domingo in Concert Show Boat Madama Butterfly Romeo and Juliet*

1990-91

Carousel Angelina Reaux in “Stranger Here Myself” Maria Padilla+ The Golem+ Il trovatore* The Magic Flute

1991-92

My Fair Lady Tosca Don Giovanni*

1992-93

Ermione+ The Gardens of Adonis*** Autumn Valentine*** Eugene Onegin* The Flying Dutchman

1993-94

Vive Toulouse!

Requiem Variations*** Fidelio The Pirates of Penzance

1994-95

The Merry Widow La traviata Carmen

1995-96

The Daughter of the Regiment* Turandot The Barber of Seville

1996-97

Così fan tutte* La bohème Faust

1997-98

Don Pasquale Madama Butterfly La Cenerentola Opera Omaha 40

1998-99

Eric Hermannson’s Soul***† Aida The Marriage of Figaro

1999-00

2008-09

Samuel Ramey in “A Date with the Devil” Samson et Dalila Tosca*

The Blizzard Voices***† The Pirates of Penzance La bohème

2000-01

Amahl & the Night Visitors* Carmina Burana/Pagliacci Falstaff Man of La Mancha

Night for American Song Pagliacci Brundibár The Marriage of Figaro So in Love with Broadway*

2001-02

2010-11

All-American! Concert Amahl & the Night Visitors Otello Little Women Don Giovanni

2002-03

Richard Rodgers’ America Concert Carmen The Turn of the Screw* H.M.S. Pinafore Bloodlines***†

2003-04

La bohème Lucia di Lammermoor Cold Sassy Tree*

2004-05

The Threepenny Opera* The Tender Land* Dream of the Pacific***† Turandot La traviata

2005-06

Paul Bunyan Madama Butterfly* The Abduction from theSeraglio*

2006-07

Tosca Wakonda’s Dream***† The Barber of Seville

2007-08

All The King’s Men* The Tragedy of Carmen* Aida*

2009-10

Opera for the Cure* Don Giovanni Madama Butterfly

2011-12

This is Opera!* Hansel and Gretel* The Marriage Contract* The Mikado

2012-13

La traviata The Magic Flute* Bluebeard’s Castle*

2013-14

Opera Outdoors* Carmen Agrippina* La Cenerentola

2014-15

Opera Outdoors* Rigoletto* A Flowering Tree* Fidelio

2015-16

Opera Outdoors* The Barber of Seville La fanciulla del West Semele*

2016-17

Opera Outdoors* La bohème Così fan tutte* Flight* Stranger from Paradise***†

2017-18

Opera Outdoors* Tosca* Falstaff* Medea* Proving Up*† ONE Festival***

2018-19

Opera Outdoors* Pagliacci The Elixir of Love Les Enfants terribles* Faust*+ ONE Festival***

2023-24

Opera Outdoors* Don Pasquale El Niño: Nativity Reconsidered La traviata El último sueño de Frida y Diego

2024-25

Opera Outdoors* Don Giovanni The Rake's Progress Giulio Cesare Fantastic Mr. Fox*

2019-20

Opera Outdoors* Madama Butterfly The Abduction from the Seraglio

2020-21

Opera Outdoors Broadcast dwb++ Miranda++ MODULATION++ Concert with the Omaha Symphony: Bizet, Mahler and Chausson Opera Under the Stars* La boheme++

* New production + American Premiere *** World Premiere † Commissioned Work ++ Film/Digital Premiere

2021-22

Opera Outdoors* The Capulets and the Montagues* Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street* Eugene Onegin*

2022-23

Opera Outdoors* X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X* Suor Angelica The Marriage of Figaro

FANTASTIC MR. FOX | JUNE 2025

41

OPERA OMAHA

GET INVOLVED Without the dedication and perseverance of outstanding volunteers and support groups, our productions would not be as beautiful, our bottom line would not be as sound, and our sense of community would not be as strong. For these, and many other reasons, we extend a heartfelt thank you to the following organizations.

We invite you to get involved and become a volunteer or member of one of our support groups. For more information about the following opportunities, please visit: operaomaha.org/get-involved or email opera@operaomaha.org.

OPERA OMAHA GUILD

The Opera Omaha Guild is a dedicated group of individuals who actively support Opera Omaha’s fundraising and community engagement and education activities.

Members plan and promote events such as Cotillion (etiquette classes for area sixth graders), social luncheons, educational activities, opera study groups and pre-performance parties.

If you are interested in joining the Opera Omaha Guild please call us at (402) 346-7372 or visit our website for additional information.

CRAFTSMAN’S GUILD

Integral to Opera Omaha’s success since 1962, the Craftsman’s Guild members donate stagecraft skills in the areas of wardrobe, makeup/wigs, concessions, and parties. Focused on meeting the backstage needs of guest artists and the production, members enjoy the camaraderie and reward of helping to create top notch performances for the Omaha community.

VOLUNTEERS

Volunteers help Opera Omaha complete essential tasks like assisting with community events, ushering at concerts, or providing additional office support. It is clear without their help, Opera Omaha would not be able to bring world class opera to Omaha stages or the community.

Students can also fulfill required community service hours for groups like National Honor Society by volunteering with Opera Omaha.

For more information, please fill out the inquiry form at shareomaha.org/ nonprofit/opera-omaha.

SUPERNUMERARIES

OPERA OMAHA CHORUS

The Opera Omaha Chorus is comprised of professional singers from Omaha, Lincoln and surrounding communities. Please contact the company for the next audition date. Prospective candidates will be assigned a time slot and asked to present two selections; one in a foreign language, one in English, and neither selection can exceed five minutes in total. Arias, art songs, or church solos are all acceptable as audition pieces. Please provide printed music for the accompanist, who will be available at no cost.

Supernumeraries appear on stage in non-speaking, non-singing roles, much like being an extra in a movie.

Being a “super” takes some time and patience, but is a lot of fun and a great learning experience. Super roles are varied but might include servants, soldiers, peasants, priests and priestesses, dancers, bartenders, waiters, ragamuffins, pickpockets, and sometimes even animals! All ages, including children, are needed.

ADVERTISING

For Opera Omaha program book advertising, please contact:

LEER EN ESPAÑOL

42

FANTASTIC MR. FOX | JUNE 2025

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