El último sueño de Frida y Diego

EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO (The Last Dream of Frida and Diego)

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EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO (THE LAST DREAM OF FRIDA AND DIEGO)

MAY 3 & 5, 2024 Letter from the General Director ������������������ 4 Board of Directors ������������������������������������������� 6 Opera Omaha Staff ������������������������������������������ 7 About Opera Omaha ��������������������������������������� 9 Major Contributors ���������������������������������������� 11 Conductor's Note ������������������������������������������ 12 Director's Note ���������������������������������������������� 14 Composer's Note ������������������������������������������ 18 Librettist's Note ��������������������������������������������� 19 Community Events ��������������������������������������� 20 Title Page ��������������������������������������������������������� 23 Synopsis ���������������������������������������������������������� 24 Artist Biographies ����������������������������������������� 28 Production Staff �������������������������������������������� 35 Opera Omaha Chorus ���������������������������������� 35 Omaha Symphony ����������������������������������������� 36 Poetry & Music Project �������������������������������� 38 Craftsman’s Guild ������������������������������������������ 40 Opera Omaha Guild ������������������������������������� 41 Holland Community Opera Fellowship ���� 44 Opera Omaha Donors ���������������������������������� 46 Memorials & Tributes ����������������������������������� 49 Opera Omaha Gala 2024 ���������������������������� 50 Fortissimo Society & Special Funds ���������� 52 Corporate & Foundation Donors �������������� 53 Repertoire History ���������������������������������������� 54 OPA Board and Administration ������������������ 56 OPA General Information ��������������������������� 57 Get Involved ��������������������������������������������������� 58

Season artwork by Nathaniel Ruleaux | nathanielruleaux.com

FROM THE GENERAL DIRECTOR

WELCOME TO OPERA OMAHA

Dear Friends: Welcome to the final production of Opera Omaha’s 2023-2024 season: Gabriela Lena Frank and Nilo Cruz’s El último sueño de Frida y Diego.

This new opera premiered in 2022 at San Diego Opera with subsequent performances in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Our production is the Midwest premiere and the first Spanish-language opera in our 66-year history. We are delighted to provide supertitle translations in both English and Spanish, so audiences can enjoy the beauty of the Spanish language both sung and in text.

Elaborate sets and vibrant costumes set the stage for Frida Kahlo’s return to earth on Día de los Muertos to see her husband Diego Rivera, her beloved Casa Azul and the autobiographical paintings that made her an icon. It is an entirely fictional story that imagines what might happen if Frida and Diego had one last chance to make peace with their past.

We are pleased and proud to share this poignant work with you, and to have new and renewed community partnerships with El Museo Latino, Mexican American Historical Society of the Midlands, the Learning Community Center of South Omaha, and Casa de la Cultura Omaha to help tell this story with authenticity.

It is hard to believe but the opening night of the 2024-2025 season is just a few months away! The season features four operas: Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress, Handel’s Giulio Cesare (Julius Caesar), and Tobias Picker’s Fantastic Mr. Fox performed outdoors at Lauritzen Gardens. Of these titles, only Don Giovanni has been performed in Omaha and not since our 20102011 season.

Fantastic Mr. Fox is the first title in our new Family Opera Series.

This charming opera based on the Roald Dahl story is perfect for audiences of all ages. It is an 80-minute modern fable that pits good against evil, with a resounding triumph for good. Children are encouraged to attend—and even perform! The opera features roles for children that will be cast with local students.

Subscriptions are on sale now, including tickets for Fantastic Mr. Fox. We hope you will join us again next year, and we thank you for your support and participation in Omaha’s vibrant arts community.

All best wishes,

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Allison Swenson GENERAL DIRECTOR

EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO | MAY 2024

the

proudly supports

Opera Omaha Help us invest in the future of the arts and humanities across Nebraska. Learn more about the Nebraska Cultural Endowment at NebraskaCulture.org

EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO | MAY 2024

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OPERA OMAHA

BOARD OF DIRECTORS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ADVISORS

Linda Burt Rebrovic

Linda Andersen

CHAIR

Jo Bartikoski

Kiley Freeman VICE CHAIR

Carol E. Domina

Dr. Jawed Bharwani Nicholas Bjornson

SECRETARY

Roger Blauwet

Robert J. Vladem

Sandra Bruns

TREASURER

Dr. Karen Fannin

Jim Winner

Dr. Betty Foster

ADVISORS CHAIR

Angie Williams COMMUNITY PANEL REPRESENTATIVE

Dr. Anne Bruckner Dr. Ali Khan Mihaela Kobjerowski H. Frederick Kuehl Dr. Joanne Li Barbara Person Terri Sanders Joe Spitzenberger Jara Sturdivant-Wilson

EMERITUS BOARD Terrence J. Ferguson Robert E. Owen Mary Ann Strasheim

David Gardels Leslie Garth Lisa Hagstrom Dr. Fred Hanna Carter Jones Mark Allen Maser Sheila McNeil April Nebel Dr. Debra Reilly-Culver Mary Ann Strasheim Jerry Syslo Dr. James Tracy Shelby VanNorsdstrand Deb Peterson OPERA OMAHA GUILD PRESIDENT

Chris Gannon-Tombrello CRAFTSMAN’S GUILD PRESIDENT

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EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO | MAY 2024

OPERA OMAHA

STAFF

Allison Swenson GENERAL DIRECTOR

ADMINISTRATION

ENGAGEMENT

Jenny Daggett

Taylor Adams

FINANCE CONSULTANT

HOLLAND COMMUNITY OPERA FELLOW

April Hartman, SHRM-SCP

Wendy Kaiser

HUMAN RESOURCES CONSULTANT

COMMUNITY OPERA FELLOWSHIP MANAGER

Cydnea Hoff

Pat McEvoy

OFFICE MANAGER

ENGAGEMENT ASSISTANT

Shannon Walenta

Lauren Medici

MANAGING DIRECTOR

DIRECTOR OF ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS

Gwyn Williams, MS

Charisa Ramsey

DEI, LEADERSHIP & ORGANIZATION CULTURE CONSULTANT

ARTISTIC Kai Song Chan ARTISTIC OPERATIONS MANAGER

Josh Quinn HEAD OF MUSIC

Katrina Thurman DIRECTOR OF ARTISTIC ADMINISTRATION

DEVELOPMENT Rebecca Ihnen DONOR STEWARDSHIP & EVENTS MANAGER

Laura Jaros DEVELOPMENT DATABASE & ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER

Joe Prickett DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

HOLLAND COMMUNITY OPERA FELLOW

Alejandra Sandoval-Montañez HOLLAND COMMUNITY OPERA FELLOW

MARKETING Rachel Austin ART DIRECTOR

Howard Coffin AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT & SALES MANAGER

Kyle Thomas DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

OPERATIONS Mark Blice DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION

Chad Curran ASSISTANT TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

Grant Hilgenkamp TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO | MAY 2024

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ENERGIZING IMPACT Husch Blackwell proudly supports Opera Omaha’s 2023-2024 season and celebrates its ongoing mission to enrich the quality of life in our community by creating professional opera that expresses humanity’s deepest emotions and highest aspirations.

huschblackwell.com David E. Gardels, Partner | Opera Omaha Advisors david.gardels@huschblackwell.com | 402.964.5027

OPERA OMAHA

NEBRASKA’S ONLY PROFESSIONAL OPERA COMPANY

Opera Omaha is a growth-minded, high energy and innovative company with a demanding mission: producing opera performances in multiple formats and styles and co-creating artist-led programs for a variety of community service organizations. We believe the power of opera is transformational, and as a result supports the creation of an inventive, creative, empathetic, and inclusive community that inspires joy, self-discovery, kinder discourse, and opportunity for all.

Since 1958, Opera Omaha has been led by devotion to two elements: Art and Community. Everything we’ve done, and continue to do, is guided by the hope that through this work we can ask questions, enrich lives and uplift our city.

OUR VALUES Staying Curious | Sparking Inspiration | Centering Humans | Leading Responsibly

TO LEARN MORE, VISIT OPERAOMAHA.ORG

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EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO | MAY 2024

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 generosity and multi-year sponsorships.

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

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS

PRODUCTION SPONSORS

ADDITIONAL PRODUCTION SUPPORT Giger Foundation

Whitmore Charitable Trust

ADDITIONAL SEASON SUPPORT Anonymous Rose Blumkin Foundation Heider Family Foundation Allan and Ann Mactier Charitable Foundation Adah and Leon Millard Foundation

Mammel Family 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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BETWEEN A C T S FA C T S

EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO

IF YOU HAD 24 HOURS TO SPEND WITH AN ARTIST, PAST OR PRESENT, WHO WOULD THAT BE AND WHY?

Gabriela Lena Frank weaves the beautifully delicate fabric of her opera with a needle dipped in the 20th century’s harmonic landscape. This choice resonates powerfully with the subject of our story, as if we travelled in time with her to meet Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. Avoiding a common tendency in contemporary opera to have historical figures serve as canvases upon which the composer can experiment style and form, Frank invests her creative forces into an acute character study of Frida and Diego. Hence all the magical dimension of Mexican folklore in the opera becomes not a far away fairyland, but as believable a realm as their Casa Azul.

“

CONDUCTOR’S NOTE

I think it would definitely be Callas there is something about the embodiment of every single role she sang that I believe is very hard to attain. The beauty of the voice is remarkable, but it is almost more about the feeling than about the sound. I would love to know more about her learning process.

— César Aguilar

”

LEONARDO

“

Ve Neill, the incredible makeup artist behind Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, and Mrs. Doubtfire, to name a few. She's one of my greatest inspirations and has a mastery of craft that few can attain. She also just seems like a truly genuine and kind human.

”

— Ali Pohanka

MAKEUP DESIGNER

“

James Turrell because I consider him the best visual artist. I think he modifies and plays with our perception in an unmatched way.

— Victor Zapatero

LIGHTING DESIGNER

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DON PASQUALE | OCTOBER 2023

”

One of the distinctive pillars of 20th century harmony is any chord that is built on intervals of fourths, fifths, tritones, and consequently seconds, in opposition to the traditional thirds and sixths.

Schoenberg, who introduced these chords (in the beginning of his Opus 9), exploits their technical and lyrical potential, opening the door to the Viennese expressionism of the 1920s & 30s. Towards the middle of the century they caught on different usages around the world, be it lyrically in Bartok’s Bluebeard’s Castle, galopping forward in the finale of his Dance Suite, or exploited for their bare sonority by Villa-Lobos, in his Choros, bringing to life the vast territorial expanses of the Brazilian plains. A thrilling example lies in Alberto Ginastera’s Estancia, where the composer injects these chords into a virtual stampede of the whole orchestra. Frank, by contrast, applies them gently against a backdrop of more traditional minor chords, resulting in the eeriness that shrouds the scene from the beginning of El último sueño de Frida y Diego, at dawn, on the Mexican Day of the Dead. These harmonies seep through the forlorn phrases of the chorus, engulfing the stage in a requiem Mass of sorts, as the living sing to their departed loved ones. The chorus dissipates into a shallow orchestral texture that quietly reiterates a motive upon which Diego will yearn for his Friduchita and Frida damn the day she met Diego. A series of rhapsodic woodwind solos linger on, recalling the transitions between songs in Luciano Berio’s Folk Songs, where a change of key is reached by a meandering line passed along from instrument to instrument, like a rivulet that guides us gently to a new scene. However there’s an agony implicit in the constant semitone trills of flute, clarinet, and oboe, which will soon loom over the orchestral coloration of Frida’s part. This brings to mind the ominous and meditative flute solos in the first movement of Shostakovich’s 6th Symphony. They were conceived the moment Shostakovich happened upon a Zen flautist who was touring the Soviet Union in 1937 (curiously the same year Trotsky would leave Stalin’s Russia for Mexico and encounter Diego and Frida!).

In Benjamin Britten’s Albert Herring, the libretto, adapted by Eric Crozier from a Maupassant story, remains colloquial throughout, allowing the vocal lines themselves to give a strong color and intonation to the characters’ expressions, rather than a florid text.

This is what Nilo Cruz and Frank achieve so exceptionally with the

Spanish language, in an approach which I feel does great justice to the compatibility of Spanish with the operatic voice and diction. In Albert Herring, Britten uses a simple major triad when introducing his protagonist, allowing Herring’s full name to be cleanly announced and musically emboldened, before the character even says a word. The Vicar enunciates Albert Herring’s full name for the first time over an E major triad, dividing the two syllables of Herring amongst D sharp and E natural. And so, in our opera Diego Rivera is greeted by one of the villagers on an F sharp major chord, which Frank briefly alternates with its chromatic neighbour, an F major chord, making the word Rivera pivot between both (from C natural to C sharp), as if Diego’s identity were vast enough to occupy two keys. A further jump to A minor takes place once Diego projects his first line, the same key in which Frida will say her first words as well, giving an atavistic unity to the characters despite their profound differences. Therefore, Britten’s introductory device is transformed by Frank into a vector through which she sketches a strong and portentous first impression of Diego Rivera, immediately tying him to Frida.

Now Frida, what a role! Her melodic line is permanently fractured by asymmetrical rhythms, strangely mechanical at times, which give tangibility to her pain, to her lopsided wounds, to her trauma and rancor towards Diego. The complex interval leaps in her melody bring to mind Alban Berg’s expressionist opera Lulu, only without the extremes of register, as if Frida’s lack of comfort within the melodic contour were a permanent trait of hers, of her troubled being, rather than a product of the composer’s psychoanalytic portrait. Her only respite is in the soothing presence of Leonardo, the young dead actor who persuades her to return to the world of the living. This gentle countertenor role (male singer who often sings in falsetto, although the term can also include tenors who use their chest voices in extraordinarily high registers), renders homage to a voice-type mostly forgotten in the history of opera from its heyday in the 16th century, when women were not allowed to sing in church liturgy, all the way up until it was revived the mid-20th century by, most notably, Alfred Deller, for whom Britten wrote the role of Oberon in his A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The timbre of Oberon’s falsetto merges with the celesta (keyboard instrument with small bells instead of strings) and glockenspiel. Frank too chooses to highlight the countertenor’s inimitable timbre (pairing it with vibraphone), rather than, as is often the case, opting for the potential virtuosity in a powerful chested voice, like Orff does with his roasting swan in the "Olim lacus colueram" of his Carmina Burana, whilst the male chorus roars and salivates over his blazing flesh. In fact this type of ritualistic exchange between chorus and a main character, which one finds in Stravinsky’s Les Noces, is given new form by Frank when Catrina, our coloratura soprano, and Mictlan’s guardian of the dead, summons Frida from the underground. The chorus obsessively repeats Catrina’s incantations, lured under her spell, in a Stravinskian mixed-meter above a jagged, syncopated orchestra.

I deeply admire composers who don’t allow themselves to be clipped by an exclusive school or tendency, but whose musical talent yearns for any fruits that can be picked from the work of their precursors. Not only does one learn infinitely more about a new piece when detecting its allusions and sources of inspiration, but in turn, one rediscovers its precursors as new light is shed on aspects of their composition. As artists, Frida and Diego most certainly achieve this, and so does Gabriela Lena Frank.

— Ilyich Rivas CONDUCTOR

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EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO

DIRECTOR'S NOTE

Frida and Diego created some of the most fascinating works of art in the 20th century. Frida Kahlo is one of very few artists whose work is immediately recognizable. Diego is the father of Mexican Muralism, the first artistic movement the Americas gave to the world. They were extraordinary artists with extraordinary lives and a tragic love story. These two Mexican artists transcend in every aspect of their lives. They were unique, provocative, intense, and amazing artists. Frida and Diego created a whole universe for themselves with their art, their passions, their houses, their love affairs, their art collections, the way they dressed, their social and political ideals, and their love for each other. Everything in their lives was connected and truly represented who they were. Art and life were the same. They shared everything important to them, especially their love for Mexico and its indigenous past, popular art and of course their social and political ideals. They both painted Mexico´s visual identity at its core. Frida and Diego helped us remember who we were and created a vision of how we wanted to be. All they created came together in a multidimensional, multicultural universe that translated into unique, personal, breathtaking art. They live on because of that uniqueness. Their universe is profoundly appealing because we can recognize ourselves in their passion, their pain, and the beauty of what they created.

These two characters have many dimensions; they exist as icons, as artists, as a couple, and as individual human beings. But they also belong to the imagination.

The Last Dream of Frida and Diego allows us to imagine them again, recreate part of that universe, and witness a last encounter. This story has all the ingredients for an opera. Love, betrayal, pain, art, death, politics, sex, gender, diversity, and disability.

Nilo Cruz’s story is as multilayered and multidimensional as its characters. It’s a journey from the underworld and back; it’s about passion for art and finding identity through art; it’s about forgiveness and surrender. Finally, this story is also a dream: Diego’s and Frida’s dream of a last encounter with each other and with art. It happens on Día de Muertos and Diego’s last day on earth. The context is enormous and couldn’t be more dramatic. Our challenge in this production is to create a unique universe that conveys the main symbols, gestures and imagery of their iconography and their lives in a very symbolic and depurated style, avoiding textual reproductions and the usual interpretation of Mexican folklore cliché or massive media exploitation of Frida’s and Diego’s life and image. We wanted to create our own vision of this particular and beautiful story.

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EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO | MAY 2024

BETWEEN A C T S FA C T S The whole creative team of The Last Dream of Frida and Diego represents eight or nine different cultures, nationalities and artistic sensibilities. I’m a Mexican stage director directing the opera of a PeruvianAmerican-Estonian composer with a Cuban-American librettist, depicting two cultural icons that represent so many different communities. Well, this is what the world looks like now. Not only do we live in a globalized world, but we live in a multicultural one; all the American continent is a melting pot. We are a mixture of races and cultures, migrations and indigenous people, from Alaska to Patagonia. We are all Mestizos in a sense.

I believe projects like this one can help advance diversity and inclusion, helping us understand our different cultures and shared humanity. We can genuinely connect through music and art, discovering and celebrating our differences with respect, and recognizing ourselves in others. We must embrace diversity and inclusion to live peacefully and prosper.

I hope this opera can help bring communities closer and welcome new audiences to the opera. I hope that Mexicans and Americans feel proud of such a rich and distinctive heritage that belongs to all of us.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE AUDIENCES TAKE AWAY FROM THIS OPERA?

“

I hope the audience is able to appreciate the vast beauty of the Mexican culture. It is also a wish of mine that the opera community as a whole continues to embrace the Spanish language as one worthy of the grand stage.

”

— Stephanie Sánchez FRIDA

“

An experience that invites us to fall in love with art in Mexico, with its crazy characters and its fascinating and colorful culture.

”

— Victor Zapatero

— Lorena Maza

LIGHTING DESIGNER

DIRECTOR

“

This opera has connected with a lot of people that don't usually go to the opera. Latin audiences and young people. I hope this happens in Omaha as well. I hope they take a new interest in being an opera audience.

”

— Jorge Ballina

SET DESIGNER

DON PASQUALE | OCTOBER 2023

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EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO

COMPOSER'S NOTE FRIDA AND DIEGO AND ME Mexican-born painters Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera within a fantastical landscape inspired by el Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is the premise of this new opera that I've been privileged to compose. In some ways, I've been living with these two iconic artists, especially Frida, from my youth growing up in the 1970s in Berkeley, California. Before I could read, I found Frida in the pages of an art book in my mother's home library, the only woman in a multi-volume set of "great artists." My mother pointed out how Frida was small, brown and creative like us; moreover, of thick brow, disabled and a daughter of both Europe and Latin America like me. Images of her paintings danced in my dreams for years, both the joyful and the haunting, and as I matured and understood more of Frida's very human biography, she took on a heroic status for me.

It has also been remarkable for me to watch how Frida's popularity soared in recent decades, her story and artistic legacy clearly touching a cultural nerve.

With this libretto by my longtime collaborator, Nilo Cruz, I've been able to lose myself in the imagined story exploring Frida's tumultuous love affair, even beyond life itself with Diego. In honoring the wonderful narrative, including the surprising appearance of other principal characters such as Catrina, the Keeper of the Souls, with immense power over the souls of the underworld, and Leonardo, a young actor in the underworld, my task has been to create colorful and characterful music befitting multiple planes of existence—the world of the living, the world of the dead and, briefly, an especially poignant world of Art.

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Through these three planes, we witness how Diego, at the end of his life, and Frida, deceased for several years, gradually move towards reunion, reconciling through a recognition of their shared past and a hoped-for shared future.

Throughout their journey, the chorus provides a rich array of underworld spirits and living villagers as participants and commentators; the orchestration ranges from chamber to full ensemble.

— Gabriela Lena Frank COMPOSER

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EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO | MAY 2024

EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO

LIBRETTIST'S NOTE The challenge I faced when I was chosen to write the libretto of this opera was that both Frida and Diego were painters who were natural story tellers; they were chroniclers of time, history, and their personal lives. The question in my mind was always, how do I represent these two artists in an innovative way?

Diego Rivera would examine the vestige of antiquity through the prism of his murals. In his frescos, which capture the imprint of time, Rivera always reminds us that there is nothing that cannot be recorded through the vividness of his brushstrokes. As with Diego, the paintbrush of anguish of Frida Kahlo also depicts those things that cannot pass as unseen: human pain and suffering.

What became more significant to me, as I studied their lives, was that these two artists painted each other despite their ups and downs in their tempestuous relationship as husband and wife. Frida was obsessed with painting Diego’s face between her eyebrows, as if he was always in her thoughts. Diego painted Frida as his muse in several of his frescoes. But it was Frida’s painting The Love Embrace of the Universe, the Earth (Mexico), Myself, Diego, and Señor Xolotl that gave me the idea of setting the opera during the Day of the Dead, Mexico. In this painting, Frida holds a naked Diego Rivera whose forehead contains a third eye, and next to them is Xolotl, considered to be a soul-guide for the dead. In this piece, it almost seems as if Frida is carrying a dying Diego to the infra-world.

Diego Rivera’s famous mural Dream of a Sunday afternoon in the Alameda Central was also inspirational. This work of art, which features Frida standing next to characters from other epochs, depicts how people from different moments in history were brought together by Diego on a Sunday afternoon. Through this artistic concept, I played with time by mixing reality and fiction to bring Frida and Diego back to the world in a fantastical fiesta of color, music and sound, since it was Rivera’s desire to have his ashes mixed with Kahlo’s when he was at the end of his life.

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— Nilo Cruz LIBRETTIST

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EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO

COMMUNITY EVENTS EL MUSEO LATINO

Frida Kahlo and the Blue House Exhibit Exhibit | April 5-July 27 El Museo Latino 4701 S 25th St.

MEXICAN AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF THE MIDLANDS

Frida & Diego’s Odyssey in America Exhibition Opening | April 11

“Frida Kahlo and the Blue House” includes a selection of over 60 color photographs of the architecture and interior spaces of the Blue House created by Cristina Kahlo, as well as vintage black and white photographs taken by Diego Rivera, Antonio Kahlo, Lola Álvarez Bravo, Florence Arquin, and Juan Guzmán.

Focusing on Frida Kahlo’s experiences in San Francisco, Detroit, and New York, this art exhibit will feature works by Omaha artists inspired by Frida from the Linda & José Garcia Legacy Collection, as well as books and literature from their library. Curated by Linda Rivera Garcia.

South Omaha Immigrant History Museum Center Mall, 42nd and Center

Community Art Show - Frida y Diego Exhibit | April 12-May 23 Joslyn Castle 3902 Davenport St. In collaboration with Claire Caswell, Joslyn Castle, and the Castle and Cathedral Creative District

For this captivating exhibition, local artists were encouraged to seek inspiration from the opera’s story, as well as commemorate the passionate and tumultuous relationship between these two iconic artists, Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.

Artists from all backgrounds submitted their visual art of any medium influenced by the fascinating love story of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, in a unique opportunity to express their interpretation of the icons’ passionate bond, their artistic endeavors, and their profound influence on each other’s work, the fascinating and beautiful story depicted in The Last Dream of Frida and Diego, and Día de los Muertos.

A small selection of art from this exhibition will be chosen to be featured at the Orpheum Theater during Opera Omaha’s performances of El último sueño de Frida y Diego.

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EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO | MAY 2024

Hosted by Angélica Perez

OPERA IN CONVERSATION

After the Curtain Call: Poetry Response May 7, 6pm Joslyn Castle 3902 Davenport St.

Join local poets who, after seeing the opera, will write and perform a poem to launch conversations reflecting on El último sueño de Frida y Diego. They will share their experience of the production and connections to their own artistic practice, while encouraging the audience to share their reflections from the opera.

Want to expand your research? Dive into further resources curated by the Omaha Public Library consisting of items from across their collection related to the opera and its history. Available online at operaomaha.org/blog

Reading and Resources List Omaha Public Library

Community Partners Opera Omaha is grateful to be working with a number of local partners and community members to celebrate El último sueño de Frida y Diego in Omaha surrounding the opera performances in May.

Angélica Perez

Gabriel Escalera

Magdalena Garcia

Dr. Claudia Garcia

Erin Painter

Marcos Mora

Claire Morgan Caswell

José F. García

Rocio Valle

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EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO (The Last Dream of Frida and Diego) Music by Gabriela Lena Frank Libretto by Nilo Cruz Performed in Spanish with English and Spanish supertitles

May 3 & 5, 2024 Orpheum Theater, Slosburg Hall | Omaha, Nebraska First performance: San Diego Opera, October 29, 2022 El último sueño de Frida y Diego is a co-production with San Diego Opera and San Francisco Opera.

Scenery constructed at San Diego Opera Scenic Studio.

Costumes constructed at San Diego Opera Costume Shop.

Commissioned and Produced by San Diego Opera, San Francisco Opera, Fort Worth Opera, and DePauw University, School of Music, with generous support from the University of Texas at Austin College of Fine Arts.

Presented under license by G. Schirmer, Inc., copyright owners.

CREATIVE

CAST

Ilyich Rivas*

Stephanie Sánchez*

Emmanuel Saenz*

CONDUCTOR

FRIDA KAHLO

ALDEANO 3

Lorena Maza*

Levi Hernandez

Rocio Valle

DIRECTOR

DIEGO RIVERA

FRIDA IMAGE 1/GUADALUPE PONTI

Victor Zapatero*

Laura León*

Jill Galvin

LIGHTING DESIGNER

CATRINA

FRIDA IMAGE 2

Ruby Tagle*

César Aguilar*

Hayley Shoemaker

CHOREOGRAPHER

LEONARDO

FRIDA IMAGE 3

Ronell Oliveri

Jesse Wohlman

WIG & HAIR DESIGNER

ALDEANO 1

Ali Pohanka*

Graham Brooks

MAKEUP DESIGNER

ALDEANO 2/YOUNG MAN

Jorge Ballina* SCENIC DESIGNER

Eloise Kazan*

*Opera Omaha Debut

COSTUME DESIGNER

The Opera Omaha Chorus | Josh Quinn, Chorus Director The Omaha Symphony The performance runs approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes with one 25-minute intermission.

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

EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO

SYNOPSIS

ACT I Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), November 2, 1957. The year of Diego Rivera’s death and three years after the death of his wife, painter Frida Kahlo. Diego Rivera visits a cemetery where villagers have gathered for the annual ritual to honor departed loved ones and summon them to return from the underworld. A few villagers recognize the famous painter and dare to approach. They joke affectionately and then explain their ritual, emphasizing that it’s faith in your soul that brings back the dead. As the villagers depart, Diego calls out to Frida, revealing his fears and loneliness and imploring her to return to him. Diego’s reverie is interrupted by an old woman selling flowers. After Diego leaves, the old woman reveals herself as La Catrina, Keeper of the Dead.

In Mictlán, the Aztec underworld, Catrina summons Frida to arise and return to visit Diego. Frida defies the powerful Catrina, refusing to believe that Diego has called her. Catrina insists that Frida return to accompany her dying husband on his journey to the underworld.

Frida, having found release in death from both her mercurial relationship and lifelong agonizing physical pain, questions why she would return to the world of the living. She prefers her refuge of darkness and silence. Other departed souls playfully implore Frida to return to Diego, but Frida refuses.

As the other departed prepare for their return, changing into clothing for the land of the living, they again try to convince Frida to join them, but she declines. Catrina arrives to gather those who have been summoned, chasing off a young man trying to sneak back to the living world after failing to return to the underworld on time the previous year.

Frida notices a young actor, Leonardo, practicing his impersonation of Greta Garbo. He wants to go back as Garbo to please a fan of the actress who waits every year hoping for a visit from his long unseen (and assumed departed) idol.

A fellow artistic spirit, Leonardo opens Frida to the idea of returning to the world for herself, her art and the chance to paint a “new Frida” without pain or anguish. He dresses her in her trademark clothes, adorning her hair with ribbons and flowers. Catrina returns,

LEER EN ESPAÑOL

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EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO | MAY 2024

calling out the names of those who have been summoned, and readies them for their return. She calls on Frida, who continues to protest. Catrina notices Leonardo in his Garbo costume and forbids his ruse as Greta Garbo has not yet died. Frida pleads for him, and Catrina relents.

At the last minute, Frida decides she will return to the world of the living. Catrina allows it, but not before laying out the rules: the visit is 24 hours only, and there is to be no touching the living: “A caress can cost you the memory of pain.” As Diego continues to summon Frida from above, she and the other departed souls begin their return.

ACT II In the world of the living, Diego is without inspiration. He is unable to paint, unable to embrace his mortality and tormented by the absence of Frida. Suddenly, she appears to him. Diego’s pleas have been answered and Frida is again in the world of the living.

Frida and Diego find themselves together in Alameda Park, strolling among living and departed souls together. Frida is overjoyed to be without pain and part of the vibrant life around her. Diego pleads for an embrace which Frida cannot give.

A passing beggarwoman is a reminder of the darker world around them. Diego feels the presence of death and is reminded of his own mortality. The two artists mourn the state of the city and its broken but beautiful past.

Frida finds Leonardo and learns that he has visited Greta Garbo’s admirer, fulfilling the man’s fantasy of meeting the movie star and providing the departed actor with a successful performance.

Diego leads Frida back to her beloved home, Casa Azul where she must confront the realities of her past life and the limitations of her return. Leonardo encourages Frida to paint, Diego begs her to embrace him, and Catrina reminds her that time is limited and she must not touch the living. Frida tries to paint but, no longer having a reflection in the physical world, she cannot summon her primary subject – her own image. Diego comforts Frida, and asks her forgiveness for their difficult past. Suddenly she embraces him

(Continued on next page)

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EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO

SYNOPSIS (CONT.)

and, as Catrina warned, is racked by the returning pain of her living existence. Diego lovingly encourages her to paint as a distraction.

Images of herself that Frida created throughout her life appear, beckoning her into a world of art. Diego and Frida are surrounded by a timeless world of blue.

As dawn breaks, Frida and Diego cling to their hope of staying together, but it is time for Frida to return to the underworld. As Leonardo bids a final farewell to the world of the living, Catrina gathers the departed souls for their return to Mictlán. She is angry to notice Frida’s absence but keeps her procession moving.

Alone, Frida and Diego recognize that they cannot live forever in a dream world of art. With a final hope of being together with Frida forever, Diego pleads for the gods of the underworld to call him back with her. Catrina appears and Diego tells her his time has come. Catrina reminds him only Mictlantecuhtli (God of the underworld) can decide his time. Frida begs her to help and Diego’s journey begins. As they approach the underworld, Catrina calls out to Mictlantecuhtli who appears and brings Diego into the world of the departed.

As the departed souls welcome them, Frida and Diego whisper to one another, united for eternity in the underworld.

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OMAHA MAGAZINE – it’s about all of us.

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ARTIST

BIOGRAPHIES Gabriela Lena Frank

Nilo Cruz

Gabriela Lena Frank makes her Opera Omaha debut with El último sueño de Frida y Diego.

Ms. Frank’s recent premieres include Pachamama Meets an Ode for chorus and orchestra, commissioned by the Philadelphia Orchestra and premiered at Carnegie Hall under the baton of Yannick Nézet-Seguín; HaillíSerenata, commissioned by the Chicago Symphony; and Apu: Tone Poem for Orchestra, commissioned

by Carnegie Hall and premiered by the National Youth Orchestra under Marin Alsop. El último sueño de Frida y Diego, her first opera, will be staged by the Metropolitan Opera in a future season, following the company’s staging of her Conquest Requiem in 2024. Upcoming premieres include a concerto grosso for the legendary Takács Quartet and Picaflor, a major work commissioned by the Philadelphia Orchestra to conclude Frank’s tenure as Composer-in-Residence there. Her music is published exclusively by G. Schirmer. Inc.

Nilo Cruz makes his Opera Omaha debut with El último sueño de Frida y Diego. A CubanAmerican playwright, Mr. Cruz gained national prominence in 2003 when he won the Pulitzer Prize for drama for his play Anna in the Tropics, for which he also received a Tony Award nomination.

In addition to the Pulitzer, he has received numerous awards, including those from the Kennedy Center Fund, American Theatre Critics and the Humana Festival for New American Plays; as well as grants from the National Endowment of the Arts and the Rockefeller Foundation, among others. His plays include Dancing on Her Knees; A Park in Our House; Two Sisters and a Piano; A Bicycle Country; Hortensia and the Museum of Dreams; Lorca in a Green Dress; Beauty of the Father; Hurricane; and A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings. As a lyricist, he is a frequent collaborator with composer Gabriela Lena Frank and wrote the libretti for The Conquest Requiem and The Santos Oratorio as well as the text of orchestral songs, La Centinela y la paloma. Cruz also adapted Ann Patchett’s 2001 novel Bel Canto for the Lyric Opera of Chicago, with Peruvian composer Jimmy López and recently premiered the oratorio Dreamers by López at Cal Performance in Berkeley, California.

Ilyich Rivas

Lorena Maza

Ilyich Rivas makes his Opera Omaha debut with El último sueño de Frida y Diego. A Venezuelan-born American conductor, Mr. Rivas made his professional debut at the age of 16 in front of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and has subsequently made successful debuts with a number of important orchestras in Europe and the US, including the London Philharmonic, Swedish Radio Symphony, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, Gothenburg Symphony, Stuttgart Radio Symphony, Frankfurt Radio Symphony, NDR Radiophilharmonie Hanover, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Orquesta Sinfonica de Castilla y Leon and the Orquesta Sinfonica de Galicia. Mr. Rivas worked as Assistant Conductor with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and was also awarded the two-year position of Baltimore Symphony Orchestra/Peabody Institute Conducting fellow. Following a three-year mentoring program at Glyndebourne Festival Opera, he was invited to conduct full productions for Glyndebourne on Tour of Le nozze di Figaro and Hänsel und Gretel in consecutive seasons. He made an impressive debut with the UK’s Opera North conducting performances of La bohème, and recently debuted with the Netherlands Reisopera in a countrywide touring production of La traviata.

Lorena Maza makes her Opera Omaha debut with El último sueño de Frida y Diego. Mrs. Maza is a Mexican stage director, producer, and translator for theatre, opera, and TV. She has directed more than 60 plays, seven operas, five musicals, seven TV shows, and two feature films. She has been an acting teacher and coach for more than 25 years and has been recognized with 12 awards for best direction and best play of the year. She produced Mexico´s first Broadway musical: Disney´s Beauty and the Beast, for more than 650,000 spectators. Mrs. Maza wrote, directed, and co-produced Bésame Mucho, Ocesa's first original all Mexican musical, based on the history of popular genre, Bolero, with more than 500 performances. She has been director for Mexico´s National Theater Company and directed at Teatro UNAM and Teatro Helenico, where she managed three venues and produced more than 40 plays a year. She has participated in six national and international festivals, and has translated more than 40 dramatic texts, including for the National Theater LIVE project. She is now developing a TV series, a new opera, and a new musical for American audiences.

Composer

Conductor

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EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO | MAY 2024

Librettist

Director

Victor Zapatero

Ruby Tagle

Lighting Designer

Choreographer

Victor Zapatero makes his Opera Omaha debut with El último sueño de Frida y Diego. In 2010 Mr. Zapatero was selected as Lighting Director for the Bicentennial Celebration of the traditional Noche del grito in the Zócalo, with Australian producer of the Olympic Games, Ric Birch. In 2012 he collaborated as lighting coordinator for the opera Einstein on the Beach at the Palacio de Bellas Artes. In the same year he designed the opening concert in the scenic amphitheater designed by James Turrell at Hacienda Ochil, Yucatan, with the participation of composer Philip Glass.

In opera, at the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City, Mr. Zapatero has collaborated on The Magic Flute, Death in Venice, Rigoletto, Don Giovanni, Rusalka, and L ́amour de loin. In recent years he has ventured as a visual artist creating admirable immersive installations. His first piece, The Forest premiered in 2019 at the Cervantino International Festival. He was recently granted the First-Place award for Lighting Design at the World Stage Design congress for Omphalos by the renowned choreographer Damien Jalet.

Ruby Tagle makes her Opera Omaha debut with El último sueño de Frida y Diego. Ms. Tagle received her degree in Contemporary Dance from the INBAL School of Music and Dance in Monterrey.

Since 1982, her work has been seen in Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Scotland, Ecuador, Spain, the United States, France, England, and Germany.

She works on movement, choreography, and interpretation for montages with different theater directors, including Peter Greenaway. Since 1995, Ms. Tagle has collaborated in more than 80 dance, theater and opera productions with national and international companies, institutions, and festivals, as well as some film productions. She currently teaches acting and collaborates with the Compañía Nacional de Teatro y Ópera de Bellas Artes as a stage director and choreographer in Mexico.

Ronell Oliveri

Ali Pohanka

Wig & Hair 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 Theater 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 Boston Lyric Opera’s Cavalleria Rusticana, Opera Omaha’s Don Pasquale and La traviata, and Central City Opera’s 2023 summer festival. Upcoming engagements include Pacific Symphony's La Bohème, and Opera Colorado’s Samson and Delilah.

Makeup Designer

Ali Pohanka makes her Opera Omaha debut with El último sueño de Frida y Diego. Ms. Pohanka’s credits include Disney’s Frozen (National Tour, Associate Makeup Designer), Fiddler on the Roof, Beauty and the Beast, Cabaret, Matilda, South Pacific, On the Town, and My Fair Lady at Olney Theatre Center; Norma, The Tales of Hoffmann, Tosca, La bohéme, Pagliacci, and Die Zauberflöte at Palm Beach Opera; Così fan tutte at Washington National Opera; Carmen at Opera Colorado; Caroline, or Change at Round House Theatre; Which Way to the Stage, and Sweeney Todd (Makeup Designer, Assistant Wig Designer) at Signature Theater; Don Giovanni (Assistant Wig Designer) at Wolf Trap Opera; The Skin of Our Teeth at Quintessence Theatre; Sweeney Todd (Associate Designer) at Atlanta Opera; Faust, South Pacific, Little Women, and The Barber of Seville at Annapolis Opera; Big Fish at Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma. Ms. Pohanka’s film credits include Servant (Key Makeup Artist) and The Cosmos Sisters (Key Hair and Makeup).

EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO | MAY 2024

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ARTIST

BIOGRAPHIES Jorge Ballina

Eloise Kazan

Scenic Designer

Costume Designer

Jorge Ballina makes his Opera Omaha debut with El último sueño de Frida y Diego. Born in Mexico City, Mr. Ballina graduated with a degree in architecture. He is a member of the Mexican National System of Art Creators and has studied and collaborated with renowned Mexican Scenic Designer Alejandro Luna. Mr. Ballina’s designs have been exhibited at five Prague Quadrennial festivals, winning an honorary mention in 2003. He won the gold medal at the World Stage Design Toronto 2005 exhibition and second place at the 2022 Calgary edition. He has designed more than one hundred and twenty sets for Mexican and international productions of opera, theater, musicals, and dance. His opera designs include Die Zauberflöte, Macbeth, Don Giovanni, Le nozze di Figaro, Così fan tutte, L'italiana in Algeri, Fidelio, Rusalka, Les contes d'Hoffmann, L'amour de Loin, The Rake’s Progress, Cavalleria Rusticana-Pagliacci, Carmen, Wagner’s Ring Cycle and El ultimo sueño de Frida y Diego. In 2009 he directed and designed Benjamin Britten’s Death in Venice.

Eloise Kazan makes her Opera Omaha debut with El último sueño de Frida y Diego. Miss Kazan studied fine arts at the San Carlos Academy of Fine Arts in Mexico City and graduated from a postgraduate design course at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in the UK. She works internationally as a designer in theatre, dance, opera, interior design and film projects. Her credits include costume design for the Royal Shakespeare Company production of A Soldier in Every Son directed by Roxana Silbert (UK, 2012), costume design for the critically acclaimed play The Good Canary directed by John Malkovich (produced by Retrolab and Mr.Mudd. Mexico 2008), costume design for Hermès luxury design house, Let`s Play Riviera Maya show in 2018 and the production design for Deborah Kampmeier`s independent feature film Split, released in 2016. She was a recipient of the top prize for costume design at the Prague Quadrennial 2007 and a member of the international jury of Prague Quadrennial 2015 and World Stage Design 2017 and 2022.

She is a member of Sistema Nacional de Creadores de Arte (SNCA).

Josh Quinn

Chorus Director Josh Quinn is the Head of Music and Chorus Director with Opera Omaha and was the Music Director and Chorus Director for the Janiec Opera Company at the Brevard Music Center from 2018-2023.

Last season, he debuted with Opera Baltimore conducting Faust, and served on music staff with Opera Omaha for productions of X, The Life and Times of Malcolm X, and Suor Angelica. He served as the Chorus Director for the Sioux City Symphony’s performances of Mahler’s 2nd Symphony. While on staff with Chicago Opera Theater, he was involved in the premieres of eight new operas. He was the Director of Opera Studies at North Park University, and vocal coach at DePaul University and Roosevelt University in Chicago. He holds BM, MM and Artist Diploma in Vocal Performance and Professional Diploma in Collaborative Piano from the New England Conservatory, and is an artist member of Music for Food, a musician-led initiative to fight hunger.

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EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO | MAY 2024

Stephanie Sánchez

Levi Hernandez

Mezzo-soprano Stephanie Sánchez makes her Opera Omaha debut in El último sueño de Frida y Diego. This season, Ms. Sánchez was engaged by several notable companies including the Phoenix Symphony, Kentucky Opera, The Ravinia Festival, Cincinnati Opera, Arizona Opera, and Intermountain Opera Bozeman. Looking ahead to 2024-25, she will sing title role in Carmen with the Newport Music Festival, Fricka and Flosshilde in Der ring in einem Abend with West Edge Opera, the alto soloist in Handel’s Messiah with the Phoenix Symphony, and returns to the Lyric Opera of Chicago as Mrs. Moreno in Missy Mazzoli’s The Listeners. Ms. Sánchez has been the recipient of several awards, recently taking home the Audience Choice Award at the 2021 Jensen Foundation competition. She was the grand prize recipient of the 2018 Igor Gorin Memorial Award, first place in the Young Texas Artist Music Competition, and has received generous grants from the Olga Forrai Foundation, Anna Sosenko Trust, and the Hispanic Scholarship Association.

Baritone Levi Hernandez returns to Opera Omaha after last performing in La Fanciulla del West.

With a velvety tone and a stage presence which exudes confidence and charm, Levi Hernandez has made a name for himself in a wide variety of baritone repertoire.

The El Paso native has joined the rosters of leading opera companies including the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, and Houston Grand Opera where he débuted as Sharpless in Madama Butterfly. This season, he joins El Paso Opera for their Mozart by Moonlight concert, Opera San Antonio as the Father in Hansel and Gretel, brings his celebrated Dandini in La Cenerentola to Boston Lyric Opera, performs Tonio in Pagliacci with Hawaii Opera Theatre, and bows with the Virginia and Oregon Symphonies for Handel’s Messiah.

Laura León

César Aguilar

Soprano Laura León makes her Opera Omaha debut in El último sueño de Frida y Diego. Ms. León is a Cuban coloratura soprano known for her role of Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute by Mozart. She is also known for singing all heroine roles in The Tales of Hoffmann by Offenbach, showing the soprano’s diverse vocal and histrionic skills. Her latest credits include singing with Lyric Opera of Chicago in the World Premiere of The Factotum, Dulcinea in the World Premiere of Don Quijote, Ana Maria in the world premiere of the orchestrated version of Zorro and this year she will sing the role of The Moon in the iconic Before Night Falls. Ms. León enjoys performing innovative productions and especially loves operas that highlight Latinos and the immigrations struggles in the US.

César Aguilar makes his Opera Omaha debut in El último sueño de Frida y Diego. Mr. Aguilar is a Mexican-Canadian countertenor currently pursuing his doctoral studies in Voice Performance at the University of Toronto. Opera credits include roles in L'enfant et les sortilèges, La fille du régiment, Hansel and Gretel and The Magic Flute. César is an active recitalist and lecturer; he was part of Nada es lo que parece at the National Arts Centre (CENART) in Mexico City and was a mentor as part of the Tidriks Distance Learning Program and the Bahlest Eeble Readings (GLFCAM) in California, USA. He most recently premiered the title role in Joseph Martin Water’s El Colibrí Mágico in Tijuana, México. Upcoming performances include the premiere of two commissions by composers Timothy Petersen and Iman Habibi.

Frida Kahlo

Catrina

Diego Rivera

Leonardo

EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO | MAY 2024

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ARTIST

BIOGRAPHIES Jesse Wohlman

Graham Brooks

Aldeano 1

Aldeano 2/Young Man

Baritone Jesse Wohlman returns to Opera Omaha after last performing in La traviata.

Mr. Wohlman is a singer, actor, songwriter, and university instructor based in Omaha, Nebraska. Locally, he has had the pleasure of working with a variety of performing arts organizations including the Omaha Symphony, BLUEBARN Theatre, Opera Omaha, Vesper Concerts, Salt Creek Song Festival, and is a core member of Résonance. Recent credits include Melchior in Amahl and the Night Visitors with Résonance, the Beast in Beauty and the Beast with The Rose Theater, and the bass soloist in Bach’s “Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme” with the Omaha Symphonic Chorus. Mr. Wohlman received a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is a faculty member of the Borland School of Music at Concordia University, Nebraska.

Tenor Graham Brooks returns to Opera Omaha after last performing in La traviata. A young, versatile singer from Omaha, Nebraska, Mr. Brooks has sung operatic roles in repertoire spanning 5 centuries and 7 languages. He was recently 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 sang Don Basilio and Don Curzio in The Marriage of Figaro with Opera Omaha and sang Dominique in Amy Beach's Cabildo as a Guest Artist with Simpson College. In two summers with Utah Vocal Arts Academy, Mr. Brooks performed Pluto in Offenbach's Orpheus in the Underworld and The Prince in Dvorak's Rusalka.

Additionally, his favorite collegiate credits include Giovanni in Catàn's La hija de Rappaccini, Laurie in Adamo's Little Women, and both Tamino and Monostatos in separate productions of Mozart's Die Zauberflöte.

Emmanuel Saenz

Aldeano 3

Baritone Emmanuel Saenz makes his Opera Omaha debut in El último sueño de Frida y Diego. Born in Mexico City, Mr. Saenz has lived in Omaha for 12 years. As a violinist and a singer, he has been in the music industry for the last 10 years playing with local traditional Mexican bands (Mariachi). Mr. Saenz currently studies with Thomas Gunther at the Omaha Conservatory of Music and draws inspiration from Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Javier Solis, and Frank Sinatra. Outside of opera, his passions include traveling, cooking, and languages.

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EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO | MAY 2024

Rocio Valle

Jill Galvin

Soprano Rocio Valle Lucero returns to Opera Omaha after last performing in La traviata. Ms. Valle is from Chihuahua, Mexico and has been Omaha based since 2022. She obtained her Bachelor’s in Music in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.

Ms. Valle has been performing with Opera Omaha since 2022 as part of the Opera Omaha Chorus and as a soloist in different events including singing Suor Dolcina in Suor Angelica. She has had the opportunity to perform in different states of northern Mexico and here in the U.S. in Texas, Utah and Nebraska.

She has had the opportunity to study acting with Anthony Laciura and participate in a masterclass with Deborah Voight. Currently, she studies with Maestra Judith Natalucci and Maestro Jesus Suaste.

Mezzo-soprano Jill Galvin returns to Opera Omaha after last performing in La traviata. Already carving a place for herself in the operatic world, in the summer of 2023, Ms. Galvin sang the title role in Handel’s Giulio Cesare with Opera Seme, making her international debut. Highlights from her undergraduate work include Hansel in Hansel and Gretel, and Nancy Wilkerson and Jane Swisshelm in No Ladies in the Ladies Book. Not only was Ms. Galvin involved in operatic works during her undergrad, but she also performed with UNO’s Concert Choir in collaboration with the Omaha Symphony on multiple occasions. She is a section leader at St. Cecilia’s Cathedral and teaches piano and voice lessons at Gretna Music Lessons.

She plans to attend graduate school in the fall to continue her vocal and artistic development.

Frida Image 1/Guadalupe Ponti

Frida Image 2

Hayley Shoemaker

Frida Image 3

Mezzo-soprano Hayley Shoemaker returns to Opera Omaha after last performing in La traviata. An award-winning mezzo-soprano based in Lincoln, NE, Ms. Shoemaker recently graduated with her Doctor of Music Arts in Vocal Performance from the Glenn Korff School of Music at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

She delights in sharing her love of singing and feels equally at home on the opera, musical theater, and recital stage. This summer, Ms. Shoemaker made her debut with Lawrence Opera Theatre in the title role of Bizet's Carmen. Previous roles include Bradamante in Alcina, Prince Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus, Prince Charmant in Cendrillon, Third Lady in The Magic Flute, India in The Real Gemma Jordan, Rachel in The Highest Yellow, Angelina in La Cenerentola, Penelope in The Return of Ulysses, and Dorabella in Così fan tutte. This summer, Ms. Shoemaker will make her international debut performing excerpts from Carmen in a concert series in Eutin, Germany.

EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO | MAY 2024

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EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO | MAY 2024

Jannette Davis Rich and Fran Juro

OPERA OMAHA

ARTISTIC & PRODUCTION STAFF Anthony Rivera

Amanda Jones

STAGE MANAGER

COSTUME SUPERVISOR

Stephanie Smith*

Gary Bosanek

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

WARDROBE COORDINATOR

Jeron Dooling

Maegan Sarah Roux

ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER

WARDROBE AND MAKEUP ASSISTANT

Elaina Veasey*

Candace Leyland

ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER

ASSOCIATE WIG DESIGNER

Taylor Jackson

Bruce Stasyna*

ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER

SUPERTITLES AUTHOR

Katherine Blice

Bryan Stanley

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

CHORUS REHEARSAL PIANIST/ SUPERTITLE OPERATOR

Brendon Shapiro REHEARSAL PIANIST

Alejandra Sandoval-Montañez

Laura Peters

LINGUISTIC SUPPORT FOR THE CHORUS

PROPERTIES SUPERVISOR

Al Dusek+

Martin Benesh*

HEAD PRODUCTION CARPENTER

ASSISTANT LIGHTING DESIGNER

Scott Wasson+

Aaron Craig

HEAD PRODUCTION ELECTRICIAN

+IATSE Local 42 Stagehand Services are provided by IATSE Local 42.

Wardrobe Services are provided by IATSE Local 831.

Opera Omaha is a member of OPERA America.

LIGHTING PROGRAMMER

CHORUS SOPRANO

TENOR

SUPERNUMERARIES

Gretchen Crane

Graham Brooks

Clint Beaver

Crystal Dunning

Jeremy Duck

Janae Buckley*

Olivia Hacker

Dillon Edwards

Courtney Cairncross

CeCe Hastreiter

Jonathan Frazier

Crystal Garcia*

Reagan Hinze*

Jason Pandelidis*

Robert Hawkey*

Carole Jeanpierre

Gavin Rasmussen

Maria Ramsey *

Darien Myers-Krommenhoek*

Daniel Schreiber

Andrew Rodionov*

Rocio Valle

ALTO

BASS Matthew Brown

Stephanie Catton*

Jon Hickerson

Mary Carrick

Bret Olsen

Blair DeBolt*

David Petry

Jill Galvin

Emmanuel Saenz*

Megan Parsons

Jesse Wohlman

Laura Petry

Marina Rosado* Katrina Thurman

*Opera Omaha Debut

Hayley Shoemaker Judi Unger EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO | MAY 2024

35

OMAHA

SYMPHONY VIOLIN 1

CELLO

TRUMPET

Susanna Perry Gilmore, Concertmaster Ahra Cho, 1st Associate Concertmaster Henry Jenkins, 2nd Associate Concertmaster Christopher Hake, Assistant Concertmaster Rebecca Kia-Mills Phyllis Duncan Scott Shoemaker Tracy Dunn Anne Nagosky Ricardo Amador Melissa Pruss Juliet Yoshida

Paul Ledwon, Principal Gregory Clinton, Associate Principal Timothy Strang, Assistant Principal Mark Motycka Holly Gullen-Stout Shannon Merciel Trevor Peterson Korynne Bolt

Scott Quackenbush, Principal Federico Montes, Associate Principal Christopher Hass

BASS

TUBA

VIOLIN 2

Nate Olsen, Principal Robert Scharmann, Assistant Principal James Giles Michael Swartz Danielle Meier Jeremy Baguyos

Keith Plenert, Principal 2nd Violin Frank Seligman, Associate Principal 2nd Violin Kevin Tompkins, Assistant Principal 2nd Violin Daniel Fletcher Lucy Duke Yi-Miao Huang Mary Perkinson Michael Keelan

FLUTE

VIOLA

CLARINET

Thomas Kluge, Principal Tyler Sieh, Associate Principal Margo Romig-Motycka Judy Divis Bozhidar Shopov Alexa Brown Sarah Curley Rebecca Vieker

Maria Harding, Principal Lisa Meyerhofer, Assistant Principal Kasumi Leonard, 3rd Flute and Piccolo

OBOE Alexandra Rock, Prinicpal Heather Baxter, Assistant Principal Christine Sallas, 3rd Oboe and English Horn

Carmelo Galante, Principal Rosario Galante, Assistant Principal Madison Freed, 3rd Clarinet and Bass Clarinet

BASSOON James F. Compton, Principal Nicholas Nelson, Assistant Principal Karen Sandene, Third Bassoon and Contrabassoon

HORN Brett Hodge, Principal Austin Ruff, Associate Principal Steven Schultz Jordan Dinkins

36

EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO | MAY 2024

TROMBONE Patrick Pfister, Principal Jason Stromquist Jay Wise

Craig Fuller, Principal

TIMPANI Jack Rago, Principal

PERCUSSION Derek Dreier, Principal Paul Matthews, Assistant Principal

HARP Sara Magill, Principal

KEYBOARD Christi Zuniga, Principal

ORCHESTRA OPERATIONS Jennifer Boomgaarden, President & CEO Kyra Hansen, Director of Operations & Production Marshall Carby, Assistant Director of Operations & Production Jimmy Lewis, Operations & Production Manager Emily E. Duffin, Orchestra Personnel Manager Lindsay Corbin, Operations Coordinator Tracy Bass, Head Librarian Nicholas Buonanni, Librarian John Coate, Stage Manager

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Proud to have worked with

Opera Omaha for over 10 years

& hundreds of artists and organizations over the past 20 years.

info@ONPXL.com ONPXL.com

NOW IN ITS SEVENTH YEAR, THE POETRY & MUSIC PROJECT CONNECTS STUDENT POETS AND THEIR WORDS WITH COMPOSERS TO CREATE ORIGINAL MUSIC AND EXPLORE THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN POETRY AND MUSIC. Opera Omaha and the Nebraska Writers Collective invited Nebraska and Iowa students in grades K-12 to submit works of poetry on the theme of “Discovery.” Opera Omaha received 103 poem submissions from student poets at 45 schools in 12 counties across Nebraska and Iowa. The poets ranged from second graders to high school seniors, including first time poets and seasoned writers. All submitted poems will be available in the Poetry & Music Project Book, available online, and as part of the Omaha Public Library Collection.

While there were many outstanding poems submitted to the project, in the end, project composers Amber Vistein and Sidney Marquez Boquiren selected 13 poems that inspired them and set them to original music. These pieces were premiered in a concert on April 6, 2024 at the Omaha Conservatory of Music. Recordings are available online.

PRODUCING PARTNER

Additional partners include:

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EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO | MAY 2024

Supported by:

23/24 SELECTED POEMS “I Am A Weird Kid” by Thaddeus Horner, Hayward Elementary (Nebraska City) “Finding My Story” by Emelia Howell, Homeschool (Bennington) “Friends” by Sylvia Kastl, Sacred Heart Elementary (Norfolk) “Laika” by Ava Larson Gallegos, Brownell Talbot (Omaha) “A Rainy Day… Time Flies…” by Marty Minor, Lewis and Clark Middle School (Omaha) “The Sun” by Evie Nelson, Gretna High School (Gretna) “From Darkness to Light” by Stephany Orellana-Gómez, Benson High School (Omaha) “A Tale of Introversion” by Norah Purcell, Central High School (Omaha) “3-1=2” by Keelynn Reese, Titan Hill Intermediate School (Council Bluffs, IA) “It Is What It Is” by Jackson Rios, Sacred Heart Elementary (Norfolk) “US” by River Sirek, Sacred Heart Elementary (Norfolk) “Don’t Grow Up” by Zehla Sobansky, Kiewit Middle School (Omaha) “My Home” by Annabelle Wilson, St. Patrick School (McCook) Learn more at:

OPERAOMAHA.ORG/POETRY

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

Mike & Cindy Baumer

Julie Mead

Tom Burton

Patty Pandzik

Gina Carusi

Christine & Patrick Peters

Kate & Chris Gannon–Tombrello

Valerie Proctor

Bill Gaus

Dick Serpan

Nora Mae & John Gibson

Margret Sexton

Patti Jaynes

Brendy Shishido

Christine Lund

Saprina Theisen

Kevin Mader

Joe Torchia

Dean Manternach

Annika Weber

WORLD PREMIERE

AMERICAN APOLLO 2024 FESTIVAL SEASON

June 28 - July 21

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE Rossini SALOME R. Strauss PELLÉAS & MÉLISANDE Debussy AMERICAN APOLLO Geter/Palmer

FOR TICKETS AND MORE INFO: DMMO.ORG / (515) 209-3257

40

EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO | MAY 2024

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!

AT LARGE BOARD MEMBERS

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Deb Peterson

Lora Kaup

PRESIDENT

VP SOCIAL

Lora Kaup

Lisa Hagstrom

PRESIDENT ELECT

COTILLION LIAISON

Kelly Sanford

Vivian Davis

PAST PRESIDENT

CORRESPONDING SECRETARY

Sherry Taxman

Josie Wadman

Connie Kinnear

Sara Young

VP EDUCATION

RECORDING SECRETARY

Kelly Sanford

April Nebel

VP FUNDRAISING

TREASURER

Betty Foster Mark Maser Mary Ellen Mulcahy

Dana Carlton-Flint VP MEMBERSHIP

Frida Kahlo and the B lue House

April 5 - July 27, 2024

Planning for the 2024-2025 season is underway and it is going to be filled with majestic classical standards, intriguing and inspiring soloists, a joyous holiday program, educational family concerts, and a few thrilling things never seen before on the LSO stage.

L I N C O L N S Y M P H O N Y. C O M

The 23-24 season is over, and what a year it was!

4 0 2 . 4 76 . 2 2 11

EDWARD POLOCHICK MUSIC DIRECTOR

LINCOLN’S SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Subscriptions on sale starting June 1, 2024 and single tickets starting August 1, 2024.

4701 SOUTH 25TH STREET, OMAHA, NE 68107 (402) 731-1137 • www.elmuseolatino.org

Single tickets cost $20/$40 for adults and $5 for youth, and subscriptions start at $80.

EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO | MAY 2024

41

Don Giovanni Mozart

The Rake's Progress

Giulio Cesare

Fantastic Mr. Fox

Stravinsky

Handel

Picker

Don Giovanni Fri. Oct. 18, 2024 | 7:30 PM Sun. Oct. 20, 2024 | 2:00 PM

Step into a world of seduction and vengeance with Mozart's timeless masterpiece, Don Giovanni. The famous libertine Don Giovanni leaves lovers, friends, and enemies in his wake with no regard for the consequences. His heartless deceptions invite us to ask ourselves: do we get what we deserve in the end? Don Giovanni resonates in your soul long after the final note.

The Rake's Progress Fri. Feb. 7, 2025 | 7:30 PM Sun. Feb. 9, 2025 | 2:00 PM

Embark on a journey through the perils of excess in The Rake's Progress. This satire depicts the rise and fall of Tom Rakewell, a young man enticed by the promise of wealth and pleasure. Featuring some of the finest singing actors in opera, with Stravinsky's genius score at the forefront, join us and find out whether Trulove conquers all.

Giulio Cesare Thurs. May 1, 2025 | 7:30 PM

Travel through ancient Egypt with Handel's Giulio Cesare. The English Concert, the world’s preeminent Baroque orchestra, visits Omaha for one night only to present the tale of Julius Caesar, the infamous Roman general and dictator. The English Concert and conductor Harry Bicket will be seated onstage, and you will see the interchange between the orchestra, some playing historic Baroque instruments, and the singers.

This semi-staged opera will transport you back in time, although the themes of power, love, and politics are timeless.

Fantastic Mr. Fox June 5–8, 2025

Not included with subscription.

Skip into a whimsical world of furry friends and adventures in Fantastic Mr. Fox. Roald Dahl's classic novel comes to life in this delightful opera by American composer Tobias Picker. Join Mr. Fox and his clever animal companions as they outsmart three bumbling farmers. Perfect for opera enthusiasts and families alike, this new production performed at Lauritzen Gardens will leave you with a smile as big as Mr. Fox's plans!

OPERAOMAHA.ORG/24-25

OPERA OMAHA

HOLLAND COMMUNITY OPERA FELLOWSHIP The Holland Community Opera Fellowship (HCOF) works collaboratively with community partners to co-create programming that helps individuals, organizations, and communities reach their goals, acting as creative and artistic resources to the community.

Fellows serve as ambassadors of the company by bringing their artistic talents and resources to the table, partnering with experts in the community who are actively working to solve the most pressing challenges our neighbors are facing. Via this collaboration, Fellows work to impact social issues such as homelessness, accessibility and inclusion within disability services, immigration, early childhood education, and more.

THE COMMUNITY PANEL Guiding the Fellowship, the Commmunity Panel represents a cross-section of the community including organizations, businesses, neighborhoods, and community groups. The panel considers high level strategic decisions and priorities, helping set the direction of the Fellowship and is a critical part of the Fellow selection process.

23/24 COMMUNITY PANEL Ang Bennett, Inclusive Communities Camtrice Bexten, NU Foundation Tiffiny Clifton, Gotta Be Me Geri Knight, RISE Rachel Morgan, Nebraska Arts Council Erin Painter, Learning Community Center of South Omaha Rita Paskowitz, Storyteller Alysia Radicia, RDG Design Wildey Rodriguez, Intercultural Senior Center Paula Wallace, Artist/Hot Shops Angie Williams, MICAH House Gwyn Williams, Independent Leadership Coach

AS A FELLOWSHIP, WE BUILD relationships and engage in collaboration with community partners EMPOWER individuals to explore their own creativity through the many facets of opera including music, visual art, design, and storytelling COLLABORATE to identify priority issues and programming that amplify and support the mission of community partners CREATE opportunities for safe expression, including a full range of emotions INSPIRE and cultivate a diverse, empathetic, and creative community in Omaha

COMMUNITY PARTNERS & PROGRAMMING The Holland Community Opera Fellowship creates responsive programming that acknowledges the specific strengths of each participating individual or community partner.

Our partners are the experts in their communities and we rely on them to identify the needs of the people they serve.

23/24 PROGRAMMING PARTNERS

Sarpy County Juvenile Justice Center

FIND MORE INFORMATION AT OPERAOMAHA.ORG/HCOF 44

EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO | MAY 2024

The Holland Community Opera Fellowship has partnered with the Learning Community Center of South Omaha doing story time and creative workshops with toddlers, preschoolers, and families since 2017. Our time together focuses on the importance of social emotional skills and allows for creative expression in the classroom. Together, we also highlight the amazing power of being bilingual. The children have worked hard to learn new songs and are excited when Fellows arrive to read and make music together. Books about friendship and kindness, Frida Kahlo and her animals, dreaming big, and celebrating holidays and cultural events are just a few that were read recently.

of my favorite parts of “One going to these workshops is the eagerness and endless creativity from our youngest artists. It’s always a joy to see how our stories inspire us to sing a new song, move around the classroom, or make a fun craft together!

”

—Alejandra Sandoval-Montañez HCOF Fellow

In addition to our HCOF programming, LCC families have joined us for Opera Outdoors, opera performances at the Orpheum Theater, and a special Opera To Go concert as part of LCC’s 10th anniversary block party. For El último sueño de Frida y Diego, LCC ELS students worked on a project with UNO students learning about Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, sharing what they learned, and are enjoying the opera together!

EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO | MAY 2024

45

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 October 15, 2022-February 15, 2024

CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE

$100,000+

Richard Holland* Mary and Richard Parrish Annette and Paul Smith

PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE $50,000- $99,999

Anonymous Carol E. and David A. Domina Joan* and Richard* O’Brien Julie M. Schroeder Katie Weitz and Tim Wilson Kate and Roger Weitz

PRODUCER $25,000-$49,999

Anonymous (2) Cindy and Mogens Bay Catherine and Terry Ferguson Steve Menzies Constance B. Meunier Trust Meredith and Drew Weitz Joan Gibson* and Donald Wurster Gail and Michael Yanney

BACKER

$10,000-$24,999

Roger Blauwet Dr. Anne and Stephen Bruckner Linda Burt Rebrovic and John Rebrovic Sylvia B. Cohn David and Frances Ertel Kyoko and Jonathan Fuller Vivian and Allen Hager Vernie and Carter Jones Janet and H. Frederick Kuehl

46

Sharee and Murray Newman Jane and David Offutt Rita and Donald Otis Barbara Person and Scott Burger Janet and Jerry Syslo Dr. and Mrs. James and Susan Tracy Ellen and Robert Vladem

BENEFACTOR $5,000-$9,999

Anonymous Linda Matson Andersen Jo Bartikoski and Don Westling Dr. Betty L. Beach Sara and Jawed Bharwani Sharon and Randy Blackburn Sandi and Bill Bruns Dr. Devin J. Fox and Rob Block Linda and David Gardels Jerry C. Gose Joanne and David Kolenda Vicki and David Krecek Sheila McNeill Pauline Quinn Debra Reilly-Culver and Robert Culver, Jr. Silvia Greene Roffman Ellen and Richard Slosburg Donna and Coyner Smith Shirley and Michael Sorrell Kenley and Jara SturdivantWilson Mary Beth and James Winner

GUARDIAN $3,500-$4,999

Anonymous Belle and Ryan Hansen Carol and James Healy Ann and Paul O'Hara

EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO | MAY 2024

SUSTAINER $1,500-$3,499

Nicholas Bjornson Maria Carlson Bruce Chemel Janet and Samuel Cohen Linda and Tim* Daugherty Viv and John Ewing Andrea and Donald Fineberg Betty Foster Kiley and Mike Freeman Bill L. Gaus Judy and George Haecker, Jr. Constance Heiden Kammandel and Henry Kammandel Mary Jetton Sandra and Jon Kayne Mr. and Mrs. James H.* Keene III Ali Khan Katie LeDoux Deana and Michael* Liddy Paul Ledwon and Mark Allen Maser Sharon McGill Stephen Novick Connie and H. Don* Osborne Deb and Eric Peterson Sissy Katelman Silber Mary Ann Strasheim Ginger Talbot Sherry and Jeff Taxman Dr. Terry Tomcsik Gail and Irving Veitzer Kris Vikmanis and Denny Creighton Verne Weber Anne and Arnold Weitz Ann and John Williamson Sarah and Adam Yale John A. Yost

PATRON

$750-$1,499 Laura and Bryan Alexander Murray Joseph Casey

Elisa and Drew Davies Joan Desens and Simon CarrEllison Rebecca and Brian Duncan Christine and Mauro Fiore Jeffrey Grinnell and Daniel Gallagher Leslie Garth Lisa Hagstrom Ree and Jun Kaneko Alfred G. Kelley Michele and Bryan Kinghorn Marilyn and Mark Kirchhoff Barbara and Marshall Kushner Dominique Laffont Joanne Li and Frank Stalla Ana Lopez Shalla and Hassan Shalla Cheryl and Luke Matranga Dr. Linda Matson and Mr. Michael Howland Nancy and Michael McCarthy Karen and Larry Nelsen Elizabeth and Jerry Powell Casimiro Rangel and Erik Henningsen John Reed Carol and Richard Russell Donald Slaughter Anne Stoddard Shelby VanNordstrand Cindy Weil Melanie and John Wright

ADVOCATE $300-$749

Eileen and Timothy Arkebauer Teri and David Black Beth and Steve Borgmann Kathleen Joan Bradley Katie and Corey Broman Ann and David Burkholder Tom Chandler and Bill Schaffer Joan and Don Cimpl Cora and Maurice Conner Eileen M. Crinklaw

*Deceased

Melissa and John Dahir Mary and Hal Daub Vivian and Spencer Davis Steven J. Dayton Gloria Dinsdale Karen and Richard Everett Mary and Ronald Ferdig Sarah Marie Ferneding Mary Fieber Andrew Frost Elizabeth and John Fullerton Kate and Chris GannonTombrello Susan Grant and Rex Beck John K. Green Kimberly Hastie and Timothy Welch Timothy Held and Jay Worden Mary Helms and Kenneth Olson Shari Hofschire Stanton Hoppe Susan and Craig Ihnen Jeffrey Johnston Barbara Johnston Sylvia Jones Donna and James Kalar Sally Kaplan Mike Klug Heike and Adam Langdon Helen and William Little Cheryl Logan Kathleen and John Lohr Jake and Jenny Mason Dorothy* and Daniel McKinney Neil Sechan and Matthew Messner Karen and Paul Mullen April and Jonathan Nebel Gwendolyn Olney and Scott Peters Polly and Frank Partsch Rosemary J. Pauley and Timothy F. Daugherty H. Margo Prentiss Tom Richter Victoria and Edward Roche Susan and Clark Rosenlof Erin Sample Susan Scherl Kay M. Shilling, M.D. Daniel Cox and Eleanor Shirley David Sontag Kara and Joe Spitzenberger Ann Stephens and John Vasiliades Peter and Marika Stone Pia Ulrich Greta Vaught and John Ritland Patricia Victor Raymond W. Vondrak

W. Bruce Warr Sarah Watson Laura Wilwerding James Wink Brad Woolbright Mary* and Anthony Yonkers

FRIEND $1-$299

Anonymous (4) Laureen Ackermann Ann Antlfinger Barbara Antonides Cheryl Arends Kelsey E. Arends Patty Baker Marco Ballarin Jean Ann Ballinger and Ward Peters Marti Baumert and Richard Jeffrey Susan Baumert Erna Beach Lorraine Beadell and Greg Love Mark Beck Mayrene Bentley Laila Berre Camtrice Bexten Eric Bildt Tamien Blackamore Franz Blaha Amy Bones Abby Borgmann Lyn and Stephen Bouma Mia H. Brenner Kate W. Brown Rob Buckley Janice and Mario Buda Janet* and Donald Bumgarner Frank Burnham Judeen Bursovsky Clare and Tom Burton Thad and Sharon Call Karen and David Campbell David Campbell Thomas Carr Karlyn and Richard Carson Elizabeth Case Felicia Cervantes Melanie and Jeffrey Chapman Susan Chenoweth Christine and Bob Chilcoat Donna Christian Tiffiny Clifton Patricia Cody Mary Jo and Richard Coffey Shannon M. Coleman Elizabeth A. Collins Lisa Couillard

Carmelita Cox Kathleen Crawford-Rose and Robert Rose Eric Crimmins Rex Daugherty Jennifer and James Davenport Michael Del Core Karen and Allan Dennis Hildy Dickinson Joyce Dixon John Donnellon Janice and Robert Egermayer Karla Ermel Marleen and Timothy Evans Micah Fannin Caitlin Finn Beverly Fleckten Sherry Fletcher Kaitlin Flynn Rick Fortner Patrick M. Fortney Terry Foster Sandra Franklin Amy Forss Karen Gahl-Mills Mary and Barry Gerken Leanne Gifford Rosanne Glock Paul Godinez Ann and Donald Goldstein Donna Gould Bob Graybosch Mary Green Jeanne and Joe Gregory Rex-Ann Gualco David Gunn Cindy Hadsell Kathleen Haley Daniel Hamann Marilyn and Robert Hansen Erik Hanson Ellen Hargus William and Gretchen Harvey Neil Hassler Jane and Edward Hawks Cheryl and Joe Hazel Erica Heiden Hon. Marcena Hendrix and Dr. Howard Fox Linda Henslee Daniel S. Henslee Marilyn Hoegemeyer Margaret Horvath Ann and Don Hosford Tonya House Linda Hoven Annette and Steven Huff Nikolas Huffman Bonnie and David Jaros Debra and Byron Jensen

Vibeke Jensen Beverly A. Kaiman Vanessa Kalil Ruth Ann Keene Kelly Keller Kathleen Kelley Seth Kingery Piotr Andrzej Kissel Julia Kleinschmit Geri Knight Alexia Kniska and Bo Smith Maria Knudtson Paul Koenig Wende and John Kotouc Dr. Kathryn R. Kruger Barbara Kuhn Leslie Kuhnel Robert Kuzelka Dr. and Mrs. Rudy Lackner Julie Langholdt Julie and Joseph Lecci Elaine Leise Mr. and Mrs. Fred Levins Sr. Ryan P. Lewis Stan Lewis Sherryl and Hiram Lilley Billie D. Logan Jeffrey B. Loomis Jan and Blake Lund Christine Lund Karla* and John Marburger Charles Mausser Ali R. McBride Christine and Jim Medici Taliah Merritt Ann Jansen Michelson and Brent Michelson Cindy Miserez Douglas Little Richard Morris Tom Murnan Kevin Murray Ann and Kevin Naylor Jerry Tyrrell and Jon Nelson Diana Nevins Peter Nielsen Rebecca J. Noble and Keith Allerton Rodney Nordeng Elizabeth Nybakken and William H. Graves Tirimba Obonyo Genevieve Odom Douglas D. Olson Sean Otterberg Jeanie Owen Chris Pantuso Jill Panzer Robert Patterson Diane and Robert Peabody

*Deceased

EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO | MAY 2024

47

BETWEEN A C T S FA C T S

OPERA OMAHA

DONORS Jacob Pearson Amie Prendes Natalie Prescott Abigail Kutlas-Prickett and Joe Prickett Lisa and Dan Prickett Emily Pulley Patricia and Robert Ranney TaTanisha Ranney Paula and William Rasmussen Cynthia and David Rector Barbara and Gordon Reisinger Patricia and William Ritchie Devin T. Rogal Noyes W. Rogers Cyrenthia and Anthony Rollins Dr. Debra J. Romberger Laura Roost Courtney Rudick Nicholas G. Russell Georgia and Jon Ryba Rev. David Rykwalder Cherie Sadler Larry Saxton Rita and Dean Schechinger Laura Schoenrock Nancy Schultz Lourdes Secola and Sheldon Lerner Margaret Sexton Joan and Charles Shapiro Douglas Simpleman Jean and Thomas Sitzman Edward Cohn Kim Sosin Sandra Spellmire Dr. Sandra Squires Glenda and George Steinsberger Del Stites Mike J. Stodden Barb Stratman Lis and Jeff Strohmyer Anna and Rock Sumner Susan Swindells

Katherine and Joe Thomas Monte and Duane Thompson Lindsey J. Tomaso Michael Torkelson Jillian Tuck Ginny Tworek Leah Vinton Shannon and Michael Walenta Corinne Wardian Theresa and Edward Watson Marilyn Watson Carolyn B. Weber Terri Well Man Shelli Wingett Mary Wolf Sara and John Young Edith and Robert Zahniser Susan and John Zeilinger Inna Zevakina

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FRIDA OR DIEGO PAINTING??

“

History of Mexico in the Palacio Nacional de México.

— César Aguilar LEONARDO

“

The Love Embrace of the Universe, the Earth (Mexico), Myself, Diego and Señor Xólotl

”

— Victor Zapateros

LIGHTING DESIGNER

“

The Broken Column

”

— Stephanie Sánchez FRIDA

“

Self Portrait with Monkey and The Two Fridas — Laura León

CATRINA

“

The Two Fridas and Diego’s The Mathematician — Lorena Maza

”

DIRECTOR

*Deceased

“

Not a painting, but I love the pictures of Frida where Nickolas Muray is involved.

”

— Rocio Valle

FRIDA IMAGE 1

48

”

EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO | MAY 2024

”

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 October 15, 2022-February 15, 2024

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

PETER CLOGG

Victory Sedlacek

GLORIA DUNBAR Victory Sedlacek

GLADYS ANN GANYARD Mary Ann Strasheim

JOAN GIBSON

Tom Chandler and William Schaffer Robert and Janice Egermayer Lauritzen Gardens James and Susan Tracy

BETSYE PARAGAS

Tom Chandler and William Schaffer Sherry Fletcher Sharon Hofschire Kate and Roger Weitz

TOM ROGERS

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

ROBERT G. RUETZ

BILL AND MASAKO LOGAN Billie D. Logan

MILES MYKKENAN Stephen Novick

OPERA OMAHA STAFF

Joan Desens and Simon Carr-Ellison

MARY AND RICHARD PARRISH Betty L. Beach

RICHARD PARRISH’S BIRTHDAY Betty L. Beach Mary Jetton

SUE PEARSON

Jacob Pearson

JOE PRICKETT

Allan and Karen Dennis

JAMES F. PYRZYNSKI Bill L. Gaus

Geri Knight

Bill L. Gaus Joanne and David Kolenda Mary Ellen Mulcahy

RHONDA HALL

CHERYL SANWICK

ALLISON SWENSON

Joanne and David Kolenda

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

JOHN HUTZLER

ELOUISE SQUIRES

SHANNON WALENTA

ELSA GRIESBACH

Opera Omaha Craftsman’s Guild

BRUCE HANEY

Christine and Jim Medici

JODY KERSSENBROCK Sandra Kay Squires

Sandra Kay Squires

MIMI TANNER

Victory Sedlacek

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

JOAN AND RICHARD O’BRIEN Ruth Keene David and Joanne Kolenda Mary Ellen Mulcahy Mary Ann Strasheim Roger and Kate Weitz

Rebecca Duncan Andrea Fineberg Neil Sechan and Matthew Messner Brad Woolbright Erin Sample

KATIE WEITZ

Ana Lopez Shalla and Hassan Shalla

ROGER WEITZ

ANN MACTIER

Joanne and David Kolenda Mary Ellen Mulcahy

KELLY AND MARK SANFORD

Taylor Gunnels

Tiffiny Clifton

Sheldon Lerner and Lourdes Secola Mary and Richard Parrish Nicholas Russell Janet and Jerry Syslo Anne and Arnold Weitz

HOWARD COFFIN

SARA YOUNG

IN HONOR OF: CALEB JOHN CLIFTON

Sheldon Lerner and Lourdes Secola

CAROL AND DAVID DOMINA

Betty Foster Ellen and Richard Shubart

Patrick Galvin

RUTH AND JAMES KEENE Ruth Ann Keene

EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO | MAY 2024

49

OPERA OMAHA

GALA 2024 OPERA OMAHA THANKS EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED AND ATTENDED OUR 2024 GALA

DON’T LOOK BACK Featuring GRAMMY® Award-winning Countertenor

Anthony Roth Costanzo We are especially grateful for the remarkable generosity and leadership of the Gala’s Chairs and table sponsors:

Carol E. and David A. Domina, Chairs PLATINUM

SILVER

Cindy and Mogens Bay

Anonymous (2)

Barbara Person and Scott Burger

Carol E. and David A. Domina

Dr. Anne and Stephen Bruckner

Dr. James and Susan Tracy

Holland Foundation

Anna-Karin and David Dillard

Union Pacific

Jillian and Brian Jorde

Carol E. and David A. Domina

University of Nebraska-Omaha

Steve Menzies

FNBO

Valmont

Mary and Richard Parrish

Dr. Betty Foster and Roger Blauwet

GOLD Domina Law Group pc llo Catherine and Terrence Ferguson Omaha Steaks Linda Burt Rebrovic and John Rebrovic

Dr. Jonathan and Kyoko Fuller HDR Janet and H. Frederick Kuehl Kiewit Jane and David Offutt

UNMC College of Public Health Kate and Roger Weitz 50

EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO | MAY 2024

THE WORLD PREMIERE OF OUR MAGICAL NEW BALLET

May 11 & 12 Orpheum Theater

amballet.org PRIVATE RENTALS

COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING

TOURS

CREATE HISTORY in your own backyard

402-595-2199 www.joslyncastle.com

EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO | MAY 2024

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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, human-centered 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 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* 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 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* 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 or jprickett@operaomaha.org. *Deceased

OPERA OMAHA

CORPORATE, FOUNDATION & GOVERNMENT DONORS CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE

BACKER

ADVOCATE

Anonymous Douglas County Board of Commissioners The Edgar Foster Daniels Foundation Holland Foundation Peter Kiewit Foundation Weitz Family Foundation

Adah and Leon Millard Foundation ConAgra Brands Foundation Giger Foundation The Hawks Foundation Iowa West Foundation Kiewit Corporation Mammel Family Foundation Mutual of Omaha Rose Blumkin Foundation Union Pacific Corporation

Amazon Smile Foundation Backer Family Charitable Trust Cimino Tours LLC Community Foundation for Western Iowa Dallas Foundation Edward and Lida Robinson Charitable Trust Great Plains Theatre Conference Heritage Omaha Humanities Nebraska Koley Jessen P.C., LLC Lauritzen Gardens Mark Sanford Group Midlands Community Foundation OPERA America Osaic Foundation Paypal Giving Fund The Fred and Sally Bekins Foundation The Pepsico Foundation Security National Bank Soener Foundation Strauss Charitable Fund Streck, Inc US Bank

$100,000+

PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE $50,000-$99,000

Anonymous Heider Family Foundation Omaha Steaks

PRODUCER

$25,000-$49,999

Allan and Ann Mactier Charitable Foundation FNBO Nebraska Arts Council Nebraska Cultural Endowment National Endowment for the Arts Omaha Magazine University of Nebraska Medical Center Valmont Industries, Inc.

$10,000-$24,999

BENEFACTOR $5,000-$9,999

CL Werner Foundation Fraser Stryker HDR, Inc. Husch Blackwell LLP Omaha Star Opera Omaha Craftsman's Guild RSM US LLP University of Nebraska Omaha Whitmore Charitable Trust

$1-$4,999

EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO | MAY 2024

53

OPERA OMAHA

REPERTOIRE HISTORY 1958-59

Madama Butterfly Tosca Oklahoma!

Hansel and Gretel

1959-60

Carousel Pagliacci/Quivera

1960-61

Die Fledermaus La traviata

1961-62

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

The Merry Widow La bohème

La bohème Lucia di Lammermoor La Périchole

1962-63

1975-76

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

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

Tosca La bohème

The Barber of Seville Werther La bohème

1968-69

1979-80

La traviata Carmen

1969-70

Faust Cavalleria Rusticana/ Pagliacci

1970-71

Aida Die Fledermaus

1971-72

54

Die Fledermaus* La traviata* The Pirates of Penzance

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

Così fan tutte Susannah Rigoletto

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

1981-82

1990-91

1980-81

The Daughter of the Regiment Carmen The Magic Flute

EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO | MAY 2024

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

2009-10

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

2001-02

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

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

2010-11

2002-03

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

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*

Opera for the Cure* Don Giovanni Madama Butterfly

2011-12

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***

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

2018-19

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

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

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++

BETWEEN A C T S FA C T S WHAT WORD COMES TO MIND WHEN YOU THINK OF FRIDA KAHLO?

“

Innovation.

— Josh Quinn

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

”

CHORUS DIRECTOR

“

A force.

”

— Levi Hernandez DIEGO

“

Strength. She possessed what many have called an indomitable spirit. She poured her own personal struggles into her art and can truly be called a pioneer of feminism.

”

— Stephanie Sánchez FRIDA

DON PASQUALE | OCTOBER 2023

55

OMAHA PERFORMING ARTS

BOARD AND ADMINISTRATION OMAHA PERFORMING ARTS Omaha Performing Arts is the local non-profit arts organization that manages the Orpheum Theater and owns and operates the Holland Performing Arts Center, and Steelhouse Omaha.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

STAFF

Jack Koraleski, Chair

Joan H. Squires, President

D. David Slosburg, Vice Chair

Arnold Reeves, Senior Vice President and CFO – Finance and Administration

Michael S. Cassling, Vice Chair

Bianca Harley, Vice President of Human Capital & Inclusion

H. Dele Davies, M.D.

Sabrina Weiss, Vice President of Development

Meg Lauritzen Dodge

Andy Cassano, Vice President of Programming and Education

Scott C. Heider

Erika Hansen, Vice President of Commercial Entertainment

Todd L. Johnson

Alyssa Stieren, Associate Vice President of Finance

Rodrigo López

Lee Turkovich, Vice President of Marketing and Communications

Sharlon Rodgers

Ashley Voorhees, Vice President of Administrative Services

Rachel Werner John Gottschalk, Chair Emeritus John K. Boyer, Secretary

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EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO | MAY 2024

OMAHA PERFORMING ARTS

GENERAL INFORMATION COVID PRECAUTIONS Nothing is more important than the health and safety of our patrons, staff, artists, volunteers and community. To ensure the safety of those who work at and visit our venues, we’ve implemented a number of changes to provide the best performing arts experience. Thank you for your cooperation in helping us create a safe and enjoyable experience for all.

• Masks are recommended for this performance • Enhanced cleaning and sanitation • Virus filtering heating and cooling • Staff and patron precautions • Touchless experience For more information, please visit o-pa.org/covid. Thank you for your cooperation in helping us create a safe and enjoyable experience for all.

FOOD SERVICES The Orpheum Theater, Holland Center, and Steelhouse Omaha are served exclusively

by O-pa Food and Beverage Services, who deliver a range of offerings, including pre-performance and intermission service.

Beverages with lids purchased in the lobbies may be brought into halls at both venues. Menus are available for private parties, special events and meetings that are tailored to individual needs and event budgets. For more information or to book an event in either venue, contact (402) 345-0202 or events@o-pa.org.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY Doctors, parents or patrons expecting phone calls are advised to leave their seat location (shown on the ticket) with the appropriate parties and with the house manager or head usher. The emergency telephone number during performances is (402) 661-8555. The attendant will forward calls to the appropriate venue.

PARKING Orpheum Theater – nearby and conveniently located garage parking is available at OPPD with entrances on Howard Street between 16th and 17th streets and on 17th Street. OPPD garage

closes one hour after final curtain. Surface lot and street parking are also available.

Holland Performing Arts Center – easyaccess garage parking is available in Omaha Park 8 directly north of the Holland Center with entrances on Dodge or Capitol streets. Park 8 closes one hour after final curtain. Street parking is also available.

Steelhouse Omaha - easy-access garage parking is available at the National Indemnity garage at 322 N. 12th street, other options include Omaha Park 8 and street parking.

FIRE OR TORNADO NOTICES In the event of fire, tornado or other emergency, patrons will be given instructions regarding evacuation of the facility or relocation to areas of refuge.

Please do not run; walk to the designated areas as directed.

LOST AND FOUND Lost articles may be retrieved by speaking with an usher. If you have already left the venue, please call Omaha Performing Arts Security: (402) 661-8555.

ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES Omaha Performing Arts is committed to ensuring every patron’s performance experience is convenient, safe and remarkable. Both the Orpheum and Holland offer a wide range of accessibility features. Unique requests may be accommodated by contacting Ticket Omaha in advance.

• Accessible seating throughout the hall.

• Accessible parking adjacent to the theater.

• Accessible restrooms.

• Accessible backstage accommodations for performers and technicians, including accessible entries, dressing rooms and restrooms.

• American Sign Language interpretation and Outlook Nebraska audio description is scheduled on select Saturday Broadway matinee

performances at the Orpheum but may be arranged in advance of other performances by calling Ticket Omaha.

• The Orpheum is equipped with hearing loop technology. Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs) are also available for all performances in both venues. Ask the house manager or usher for assistance.

• GalaPro for closed captioning for select Broadway performances and other performances can be requested in advance via box office.

• Guide and service dogs are welcome.

If you have any special requests or concerns, please contact Ticket Omaha, toll free at 866.434.8587 or locally at 402.345.0606. Or email ticketomaha@opa.org. We are pleased to assist you with your needs.

TICKET OMAHA Tickets for all performances at the Orpheum Theater and Holland Performing Arts Center are purchased through Ticket Omaha online at TicketOmaha.com; by mail at 1200 Douglas Street, Omaha, NE 68102; by phone toll free at (866) 434TKTS (8587) or (402) 345-0606, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; or in person at the Ticket Omaha box office, 13th and Douglas streets, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets for shows at Steelhouse Omaha are sold through Ticketmaster unless otherwise noted.

ENTRY INSPECTION All guests attending events at our venues are subject to visual and bag inspections conducted by Omaha Performing Arts security. Visit TicketOmaha.com/faqs for a list of items not permitted in the Holland Center and Orpheum Theater and Steelhouseomaha.com/visit for Steelhouse Omaha policies.

LEER EN ESPAÑOL

EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO | MAY 2024

57

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

VOLUNTEERS

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 preperformance 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.

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.

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.

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

58

Gil Cohen, Omaha Publications Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing 402.884.2047- O 402.612.9378- C gil@omahapublications.com

EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO | MAY 2024

BETTER TOGETHER! Grow with group classes! We proudly provide affordable offerings for all ages and skill levels across a variety of instruments. Also enrolling Tuneful Tots, a class for babies and kids ages 0–4!

SIGN UP AT OMAHACM.ORG

@omaconservatory | 402.932.4978

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