Fantastic Mr. Fox
OPERAOMAHA
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!
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
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Kiley Freeman CHAIR
Barbara Person VICE CHAIR
Dr. Ali Khan SECRETARY
Linda Burt Rebrovic TREASURER
Dr. Jawed Bharwani ADVISORS CHAIR
Carrie Nath 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
EMERITUS BOARD
Terrence J. Ferguson
Robert E. Owen
Mary Ann Strasheim
ADVISORS
Linda Andersen
Jo Bartikoski
Dr. Jawed Bharwani
Nicholas Bjornson
Roger Blauwet
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
Allison Swenson
GENERAL DIRECTOR
ADMINISTRATION
Shannon Walenta
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Jenny Daggett
FINANCE CONSULTANT
April Hartman
HUMAN RESOURCES CONSULTANT
Cydnea Hoff
OFFICE MANAGER
Gwyn Williams
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
ENGAGEMENT
Lauren Medici
DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIPS & PROGRAMS
Wendy Kaiser
COMMUNITY OPERA FELLOWSHIP MANAGER
Rosemary Joyce
HOLLAND COMMUNITY OPERA FELLOW
Pat McEvoy
ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR
Aiden Poling
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
We are committed to giving back to the community. Our charitable giving supports o r g a n i z a t i o n s w i t h h i g h - i m p a c t p r o g r a m s that focus on alleviating food insecurity. E v e r y o n e D e s e r v e s t h e R i g h t t o H e a l t h y a n d N u t r i t i o u s F o o d
Conagra Brands Foundation is proud to invest in Omaha and its future.
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
Mammel Family Foundation
Firefly Scientists Foundation Giger Foundation Jetton Charitable Fund
Polina and Bob Schlott Betiana and Todd Simon Whitmore Charitable Trust
Adah and Leon Millard Foundation
Allan and Ann Mactier Charitable Foundation
Osaic Foundation
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.
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 bookCharlie 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.
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
Gil Rose
CONDUCTOR
Alison Moritz
DIRECTOR
Edward T. Morris*
SCENIC & PROPERTIES DESIGNER
Ashley Soliman*
COSTUME DESIGNER
Andy Manjuck*
PUPPET DESIGN & DIRECTION
Aaron Craig
LIGHTING DESIGNER
Ronell Oliveri
WIG & MAKEUP DESIGNER
CAST
Michael J. Hawk*
MR � FOX
Kelly Guerra
MRS FOX
Tim Mix*
FARMER BEAN
Aaron Short*
FARMER BUNCE
Allen Michael Jones*
FARMER BOGGIS
Karina Brazas
MISS HEDGEHOG
Mary Carrick
AGNES THE DIGGER
Lauren Paul
RITA THE RAT
Jaime Marie Webb
MAVIS THE TRACTOR
Jesse Wohlman
BADGER THE MINER
Brian Jeffers
BURROWING MOLE
Graham Brooks
PORCUPINE
Vi Westman*
BENNIE FOXCUB
Emma Morley*
LENNIE FOXCUB
Claudia Kammerer*
JENNIE FOXCUB
Adrieana Saucedo*
PENNIE FOXCUB
*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.
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
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!
Gil Rose Conductor
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 Director
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 Scenic & Properties Designer
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 Costume Designer
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.
Andy Manjuck Puppet Design & Direction
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 Lighting Designer
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
Wig & Makeup Designer
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 Composer
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.
Michael J. Hawk
Mr. Fox
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.
Kelly Guerra
Mrs. Fox
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
Farmer Bean
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.
Aaron Short Farmer Bunce
Allen Michael Jones Farmer Boggis
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
Karina Brazas
Miss Hedgehog
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
Agnes the Digger
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.
Lauren Paul Rita the Rat
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.
Jaime Marie Webb
Mavis the Tractor
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 Badger the Miner
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
Burrowing Mole
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.
Graham Brooks Porcupine
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.
Vi Westman
Bennie Foxcub
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 Lennie Foxcub
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
Jennie Foxcub
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!
Adrieana Saucedo
Pennie Foxcub
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.
ARTISTIC & PRODUCTION STAFF
Sadie DeSantis* STAGE MANAGER
Edward Sturm* ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Jack Meister-Lopez
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
Elaina Veasey
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
Katie Blice
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Laura Peters
PROPERTIES SUPERVISOR
Amanda Jones
COSTUME SUPERVISOR
Gary Bosanek
WARDROBE COORDINATOR
Maegan Roux
WIG & MAKEUP ASSISTANT
Kori Archbold*
YOUTH SUPERVISOR
Giada Gierhart* VOLUNTEER
+IATSE Local 42
Stagehand Services are provided by IATSE Local 42.
Wardrobe Services are provided by IATSE Local 831.
FOXCUBS COVER
Meha Majhail*
SUPERS/PUPPET OPERATORS
Taylor Adams
SUPER CAPTAIN AND HEAD PUPPETEER
Clint Beaver
Zdenek Voprada
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.
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.
CHILDREN’S CHORUS
Adam Balentine
Angela Borchert
Molly Brown
Kaia Bush
Jade Coleman
Jenna Dimon
Nora Drum
Creesen Drumheller
Ephraim Earley
Kate Martin
Kali Olson
Adele Ostdiek
Sophia Parr
Katie Pribil
Nataley Sidall
Hadley Williams
*Opera
Opera Omaha is a member of OPERA America.
Omaha Debut
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
Opera Omaha productions are made possible, in part, with significant support from the Craftsman’s Guild.
Cindy & Mike Baumer
Betty Beach
Tom Burton
Gina Carusi
Kate & Chris Gannon – Tombrello
Bill Gaus
Melissa Gebauer
Nora Mae & John Gibson
Patti Jaynes
Mark Kalal
Christine Lund
Dean Manternach
Julie Mead
Patty Pandzik
Christine & Patrick Peters
Hilarie Price
Valerie Proctor
Dick Serpan*
Margret Sexton
Toni Shelton
Brendy Shishido
Saprina Thiesen
Joe Torchia
Leslie Vann
Annika Weber
*Deceased
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
PRESIDENT
Connie Kinnear
PRESIDENT ELECT
Deb Peterson
PAST PRESIDENT
Mark Maser
VP EDUCATION
Kelly Sanford
VP FUNDRAISING
Betty Foster
VP MEMBERSHIP
Dana Carlton-Flint VP SOCIAL
Lisa Hagstrom COTILLION LIAISON
Vivian Davis
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY
Connie Kinnear RECORDING SECRETARY
April Nebel TREASURER
AT LARGE BOARD MEMBERS
Lauren Garcia
Christina Miller
Mary Ellen Mulcahy
Sherry Taxman
Sara Young
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
RHONDA HALL
Opera Omaha Craftsman’s Guild
JOHN HUTZLER
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
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
IN HONOR OF:
SANDI BRUNS
Joanne and David Kolenda
SCOTT BURGER AND BARBARA PERSON
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
DR. ALI KHAN
Anne Marie Hubbard
Jessica and Dennis Pate
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
Jacob Pearson
JOE PRICKETT
Allan and Karen Dennis
JAMES PYRZYNSKI
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
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
CORPORATE, FOUNDATION & GOVERNMENT DONORS
CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE
$100,000+
Anonymous
Applied Underwriters, Inc
Douglas County Board of Commissioners
The Edgar Foster Daniels Foundation
Holland Foundation
Weitz Family Foundation
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
BACKER
$10,000-$24,999
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
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
ADVOCATE
$1-$4,999
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
REPERTOIRE HISTORY
1958-59
Madama Butterfly
Tosca
Oklahoma!
Hansel and Gretel
1959-60
Carousel
Pagliacci/Quivera
1960-61
Die Fledermaus
La traviata
1961-62
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
1966-67
Il trovatore
The Ballad of Baby Doe
1967-68
Tosca
La bohème
1968-69
La traviata
Carmen
1969-70
Faust
Cavalleria Rusticana/ Pagliacci
1970-71
Aida
Die Fledermaus
1971-72
Rigoletto
The Tales of Hoffmann
1972-73
Madama Butterfly
Romeo and Juliet
Un ballo in maschera
1973-74
Tosca
The Marriage of Figaro
The Elixir of Love
1974-75
La bohème
Lucia di Lammermoor
La Périchole
1975-76
La traviata
Manon
Bilby’s Doll
The Barber of Seville
1976-77
Aida
The Merry Widow
Don Pasquale
Don Giovanni
1977-78
Madama Butterfly
The Abduction from the Seraglio*
The Bartered Bride
1978-79
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
1982-83
Don Pasquale
Faust
Madama Butterfly
1983-84
Aida*
The Tales of Hoffmann
Don Giovanni
1984-85
Tosca
Falstaff
Gianni Schicchi/Pagliacci
1985-86
Turandot
Lucia di Lammermoor
The Marriage of Figaro
1986-87
La traviata
The Barber of Seville
Porgy and Bess
1987-88
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
Samuel Ramey in “A Date with the Devil”
Samson et Dalila
Tosca*
2000-01
Amahl & the Night Visitors*
Carmina Burana/Pagliacci
Falstaff Man of La Mancha
2001-02
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*
2008-09
The Blizzard Voices***† The Pirates of Penzance La bohème
2009-10
Night for American Song
Pagliacci
Brundibár
The Marriage of Figaro So in Love with Broadway*
2010-11
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***
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 ++
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
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*
* New production
+ American Premiere
*** World Premiere
† Commissioned Work
++ Film/Digital Premiere
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
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
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.
For Opera Omaha program book advertising, please contact: Gil Cohen, Omaha Publications Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing
402.884.2047- O 402.612.9378- C gil@omahapublications.com
