Don Giovanni
WELCOME TO OPERA OMAHA
Dear Friends:
Welcome back to the Orpheum for the first production of Opera Omaha’s 24/25 Season! Thank you for joining us. Your presence is a testament to the importance of arts and culture in Omaha, and we are honored to share this performance of Mozart’s Don Giovanni with you.
Don Giovanni is a staple in the operatic repertoire. It premiered in 1787 in Prague, and it is still produced as many as 200 times per year in opera houses around the world. The success of Don Giovanni can be attributed to Mozart’s brilliant score, but also the timelessness of the story.
I encourage you to read our director Kristine McIntyre’s program notes, but her production of Don Giovanni reimagines the opera through the lens of 1940s and 1950s film noir, a genre characterized by its dark, moody atmosphere and morally ambiguous characters. This setting allows modern audiences to recognize archetypes from contemporary culture – such as a femme fatale – just as Mozart’s audience would have recognized these characters in 1787.
Our 24/25 Season continues in February with the Opera Omaha premiere of Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress in a production designed by iconic artist David Hockney. The opera tells the story of Tom Rakewell, a young man who inherits a fortune, only to squander it through a series of poor decisions. There are parallels to Don Giovanni, including musical style and orchestra size— which Stravinsky modeled after Mozart! Sung in English, the libretto by poet W.H. Auden is rich with literary references, wordplay, and wit.
Renowned soprano Christine Goerke will headline the Opera Omaha Gala on Saturday, March 22 at Steelhouse Omaha. Called “the true heir to the daunting dramatic soprano repertory” by The New York Times, Ms. Goerke will perform a 45-minute program of Wagner arias, along with American songs and other familiar tunes. To purchase a table or tickets, please call Rebecca Ihnen, Donor Stewardship & Events Manager, at 402-346-7372, ext 200.
On May 1, the world’s preeminent Baroque orchestra, The English Concert, will perform Handel’s masterpiece Giulio Cesare (Julius Caesar). This one-night only opportunity features some of today’s finest singers performing with two harpsichords and other historic instruments of the 18th century on the Orpheum stage. Distinguished conductor Harry Bicket leads this performance.
June brings the inaugural production of the Family Opera Series! We hope you will join us for Tobias Picker’s Fantastic Mr. Fox outdoors on Lauritzen Garden’s Festival Lawn. We will present four performances of this charming tale. Only 80-minutes in length and featuring local children alongside artists of international caliber, it promises to be fun, funny, and wildly creative.
Tickets for all productions are available online at ticketomaha.com or by calling Howard Coffin, Audience Development and Sales Manager, at 402-346-7372, ext 2.
Opera Omaha exists to inspire you and make our community an even better place to live. Thank you, from all of us, for believing in the value of our work.
All best wishes,
Allison Swenson GENERAL DIRECTOR
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Linda Burt Rebrovic CHAIR
Kiley Freeman VICE CHAIR
Carol E. Domina SECRETARY
Robert J. Vladem TREASURER
Dr. Jawed Bharwani 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
ADVISORS
Linda Andersen
Jo Bartikoski
Dr. Jawed Bharwani
Nicholas Bjornson
Roger Blauwet
Sandra Bruns
Dr. Karen Fannin
Betty Foster
Leslie Garth
Dr. Fred Hanna
Carter Jones
Mark Allen Maser
Sheila McNeil
April Nebel
Deb Peterson
Dr. Debra Reilly-Culver
Mary Ann Strasheim
Jerry Syslo
Dr. James Tracy
Jim Winner
Lora Kaup
OPERA OMAHA GUILD PRESIDENT
Chris Tombrello
CRAFTSMAN’S GUILD PRESIDENT
Allison Swenson GENERAL DIRECTOR
ADMINISTRATION
Shannon Walenta CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Jenny Daggett
FINANCE CONSULTANT
April Hartman
HUMAN RESOURCES CONSULTANT
Cydnea Hoff OFFICE MANAGER
Gwyn Williams
DEI, LEADERSHIP & ORGANIZATION CULTURE CONSULTANT
ARTISTIC
Katrina Thurman
DIRECTOR OF ARTISTIC ADMINISTRATION
Kai Song Chan
ARTISTIC OPERATIONS MANAGER
Josh Quinn HEAD OF MUSIC
DEVELOPMENT
Joe Prickett
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Rebecca Ihnen
DONOR STEWARDSHIP & EVENTS MANAGER
Laura Jaros
DEVELOPMENT DATABASE & ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER
ENGAGEMENT
Lauren Medici DIRECTOR OF ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS
Wendy Kaiser
COMMUNITY OPERA FELLOWSHIP MANAGER
Rosemary Joyce HOLLAND COMMUNITY OPERA FELLOW
Pat McEvoy
ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR
Aiden Poling HOLLAND COMMUNITY OPERA FELLOW
Alejandra Sandoval-Montañez HOLLAND COMMUNITY OPERA FELLOW
MARKETING
Kyle Thomas DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Rachel Austin ART DIRECTOR
Howard Coffin AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT & SALES MANAGER
PRODUCTION
Lara Marsh DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION
Chad Curran ASSISTANT TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
Grant Hilgenkamp TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
JUNE 27 - JULY 20
Experience world-class opera in a theatre that brings you within arm’s reach of the action onstage. Find out for yourself why audiences from around the world make Iowa their summer arts destination! For more information and to order tickets, visit dmmo.org/tickets or call (515) 209-3257
Featuring Ryan McKinny (pictured) as the Dutchman
We are committed to giving back to the community. Our charitable giving supports o r g a n i z a t i o n s w i t h h i g h - i m p a c t p r o g r a m s that focus on alleviating food insecurity. E v e r y o n e D e s e r v e s t h e R i g h t t o H e a l t h y a n d N u t r i t i o u s F o o d
Conagra Brands Foundation is proud to invest in Omaha and its future.
FOR OUR CONTRIBUTORS
Opera Omaha honors Richard D. Holland and the Holland Foundation for unyielding major support over the years and the entire Simon family and Omaha Steaks for their sustaining generosity. With our sincere gratitude, we acknowledge the following foundations and businesses that make our programming a reality. Opera Omaha would also like to recognize the institutions and corporations that provide operating support or sponsor our community engagement programs, which are designed to educate, uplift and enrich our community.
SEASON SPONSORS
PRODUCTION SPONSOR
ARTIST SPONSOR
Dr� and Mrs� James and Susan Tracy
William R Patrick Foundation Osaic Foundation
Giger Foundation
Rose Blumkin Foundation
Heider Family Foundation
Mammel Family Foundation
ADDITIONAL SEASON SUPPORT GENEROUS PUBLIC SUPPORT PROVIDED BY
Jetton Charitable Fund
The Hawks Foundation
Allan and Ann Mactier Charitable Foundation
FROM THE CONDUCTOR
There are few operas that have the extreme number of emotional and physical casualties as Don Giovanni. In under three hours, we witness one murder, two forced and unwanted attentions, three violent transgressions, and four flagrant displays of power structures of great imbalance before coming full circle with a dramatic display of supernatural retribution.
Musically, like all of Mozart’s works, this opera is surprising, with an outward simplicity wrapped in deceptive complexity. Listen to his rhythmic structures: while they appear easy, straightforward, they are never, ever predictable. His setting of Da Ponte’s text is at times raw and direct, and at others, filled with double meanings. Look into the pit and you will see an orchestra far less in number (and instrumental variation) than you would find in operas of later composers. Yet, Mozart creates an array of colors, emotions, and inventiveness with 40 musicians that would rival an orchestra with far greater forces.
I often thought that if one was fortunate to live long enough, one might meet or even inhabit each character in this opera. Perhaps it is that which makes Don Giovanni so universally revered and intriguing: in our most noble moments, we are Don Ottavio and Donna Anna; in our youthful discovery of life’s mysteries, we are Zerlina and Masetto; when finding ourselves in confounding and irrational states, we are Donna Elvira; put in circumstances that drive us to shameful, obsequious behavior, we are all Leporello.
And in our darkest and most private moments, whether we are willing to admit or not…"
— Judith Yan
FROM THE DIRECTOR
GIOVANNI AS NOIR: MOZART AND DA PONTE’S MASTERPIECE THROUGH A MODERN LENS
A hero we love to hate. A mysterious woman from his past. Murder and seduction. Retribution and revenge. The themes of a great Hollywood noir film – and the essence of Don Giovanni It’s an opera replete with grey areas, starting with Giovanni’s own moral ambiguity, his love/ hate relationship with Elvira, his shifts between violence, sensuality, and humor, often in the same scene. Mozart and Da Ponte labeled it a “dramma giocoso,” but these days we look at the piece rather differently, given that it begins with attempted rape and murder. We want to indulge in the guilty pleasure of rooting for the Don, though we’re supposed to be rooting for those earnest characters working so hard to achieve his downfall. How perfect and how freeing, then, to reexamine this piece through the lens of film noir, a genre built on contradictions and mixed emotions.
In the noir universe, the anti-hero navigates a world built on paranoia and mistrust. Younger characters confront a loss of innocence in a world gone mad, much like Anna and Ottavio, Zerlina and Masetto. And the city itself often becomes a character, shadowy and forbidding. The characters seem physically and emotionally lost, and so too in Don Giovanni, where in the second act everyone is at sea and only the Don finds the calm before the final storm. And that’s in a graveyard.
Like any noir anti-hero, Don Giovanni knows he can’t run from his past. It always catches up with you – whether in the guise of a beautiful, scorned woman, or the ghost of the father–figure you murdered in cold blood. Call it fate, call it justice, it always gets you in the end.
— Kristine McIntyre
ONE OF A KIND. Banking
that fits your style.
At FNBO, we keep the spotlight on you. One-onone or behind the scenes, we’re here to help you do more and bank your way.
Don Giovanni
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte
Performed in Italian with English supertitles
October
18 & 20, 2024
Orpheum Theater, Slosburg Hall | Omaha, Nebraska
First performance: Estates Theater, Prague - October 29, 1787
Edited for the New Mozart Edition by Wolfgang Plath and Wolfgang Rehm.
Used by arrangement with European American Music Distributors Company, U.S. and Canadian agent for Bärenreiter-Verlag, publisher and copyright owner.
CREATIVE
Judith Yan CONDUCTOR
Kristine McIntyre* DIRECTOR
R. Keith Brumley
SCENIC DESIGNER
Marcus Dilliard
LIGHTING DESIGNER
Mary Traylor*
COSTUME DESIGNER
Ronell Oliveri
WIG & MAKEUP DESIGNER
CAST
Craig Verm* DON GIOVANNI
Zachary Nelson* LEPORELLO
Teresa Perrotta*
DONNA ANNA
Mary Evelyn Hangley*
DONNA ELVIRA
Erika Baikoff* ZERLINA
Terrence Chin-Loy* DON OTTAVIO
Markel Reed MASETTO
Andrew Potter* COMMENDATORE
*Opera Omaha Debut
Markel Reed sponsored by Dr� and Mrs� James and Susan Tracy
The Omaha Symphony
Harpsichord | Ava Linvog
Opera Omaha Chorus | Josh Quinn, director
Scenery and Props for this production were constructed by Lyric Opera of Kansas City. Costumes for this production were constructed by Kansas City Costume Company.
The performance runs approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes with one 20-minute intermission.
The use of flash equipped cameras, audio recorders, video cameras or any other recording device during the performance is strictly prohibited.
SETTING: AMERICA, 1950’S
ACT I
At night, in the street outside the Commendatore’s house, Leporello bemoans his fate working for the dissolute Don Giovanni Suddenly Giovanni runs into the street pursued by Donna Anna, the Commendatore’s daughter, who accuses him of trying to attack her The Commendatore rushes to his daughter’s aid and is killed by Giovanni� Anna asks her fiancé, Don Ottavio, to avenge her father’s death�
At a café the next morning, Giovanni and Leporello encounter one of Giovanni’s former conquests, Donna Elvira, who is still angry at Giovanni’s betrayal� Leporello tries to discourage her from pursuing Giovanni by showing her his catalogue with the name of every woman Giovanni has seduced�
Meanwhile, Masetto and Zerlina celebrate their upcoming wedding with friends� Don Giovanni asks Leporello to get rid of the groom� Alone with Zerlina, Giovanni persuades her to come away with him Before they can leave, Elvira interrupts them and leads Zerlina away� Momentarily thwarted, Giovanni greets the mourning Anna and Ottavio, only to be embarrassed by the persistent Elvira, who denounces him as a seducer� Trying to dismiss her as a madwoman, he ushers Elvira off� Anna, in horror, recognizes him as her father’s murderer and calls on Ottavio to avenge her honor
Later that afternoon, Giovanni looks forward to an evening of partying he has arranged in Zerlina’s honor Zerlina begs the furious Masetto to forgive her Anna, Ottavio, and Elvira arrive in disguise, swearing vengeance, and Giovanni tells Leporello to invite them in
Inside Giovanni’s nightclub, Leporello distracts Masetto while Giovanni dances with Zerlina, trying to drag her into an adjoining room When Zerlina cries for help, Anna, Elvira, and Ottavio unmask and confront Giovanni, who escapes�
Photo ©2019 david bachman photography
INTERMISSION
ACT II
Under Elvira’s balcony, Leporello exchanges clothes with Giovanni to woo the lady in his master’s stead Giovanni scares Leporello and Elvira off, leaving him free to serenade Elvira’s maid� When Masetto arrives with his friends to punish Giovanni, the disguised Don tricks
Masetto and beats him up Zerlina tenderly consoles him
Elvira follows the disguised Leporello into a dimly lit church� Leporello tries to escape, but is discovered by Anna, Ottavio, Zerlina, and Masetto Mistaking servant for master, they join in denouncing the supposed Don� Leporello reveals his identity and manages to escape� Ottavio asks Zerlina and Masetto to comfort the distraught Anna and go to the authorities for help Left alone, Elvira thinks about her love for Giovanni in spite of everything�
Leporello finds Giovanni in a cemetery, where a statue commemorating the Commendatore warns Giovanni of his doom� The Don forces the terrified Leporello to invite the statue to dinner only to be surprised by the Commendatore himself�
Ottavio urges Anna to stop grieving and accept his love� She implores him to wait until her father is avenged�
Late that night in the empty club, Giovanni orders Leporello to serve supper� Elvira arrives and attempts to persuade Giovanni to reform his ways, but he sends her away�
In a final confrontation with the Commendatore, Giovanni is finally forced to pay for his crimes�
Judith Yan Conductor
Judith Yan returns to Opera Omaha after last conducting Suor Angelica Equally adept at symphony, opera, and ballet, Ms. Yan has held Staff Conductor positions at San Francisco Opera, Canadian Opera Company, and National Ballet of Canada. Recent performances include Suor Angelica with Opera Omaha, Madama Butterfly with New Orleans Opera, The Rape of Lucretia with San Francisco Opera (Merola), La bohème with Vancouver Opera, Orfeo with Kentucky Opera, Swan Lake with Korean National Ballet, Don Quixote for Hong Kong Ballet, plus 8 symphonic programs for Saskatoon Symphony, with works ranging from Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 to Max Richter’s Recomposed: Vivaldi - The Four Seasons. A strong supporter of new works, Ms. Yan has conducted numerous world-premieres, including An American Dream by Jack Perla/Jessica Murphy for Seattle Opera, Dracula by Krzysztof Pastor with music by Wojciech Kilar for West Australian Ballet, Ours by John Estacio/Robert Chafe, and February by Laura Kaminsky/ Lisa Moore for Opera on the Avalon, of which she has been the Principal Conductor since 2010.
Kristine McIntyre Director
Kristine McIntyre makes her Opera Omaha debut directing Don Giovanni. Ms. McIntyre has directed more than 100 operas with a focus on new, contemporary, and American works, including the world premieres of Hometown to the World at the Santa Fe Opera, A Thousand Acres for Des Moines Opera, and the first opera written to be performed in a planetarium, Galaxies in Her Eyes. She recently directed her first opera film, Unknown, for UrbanArias, and directed the premieres of Jane Eyre for the Center for Contemporary Opera, John Brown for Lyric Opera of Kansas City, The Place Where You Started at Art Share LA, and Mirror Game. She collaborated with several companies on the filming of her bilingual Spanish-English adaptation of The Barber of Seville, one of the many operas she has adapted and directed for education and community opera programs throughout the country. Ms. McIntyre began her opera career at the San Francisco Opera and then spent eight years on the directing staff of the Metropolitan Opera.
Marcus Dilliard Lighting Designer
Marcus Dilliard returns to Opera Omaha after lighting designing Turandot. Mr. Dilliard has designed for opera and theatre across North America and in Europe, most recently seen at Pittsburgh Opera as the lighting designer for La traviata. He has designed for Minnesota Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, the Spoleto Festival (Italy); the Athens Festival, Lyric Opera Kansas City, Portland Opera, San Diego Opera, Flanders Opera, Opera Philadelphia, Opera Pacific, Fort Worth Opera, Vancouver Opera, Opéra de Montréal, Canadian Opera Company, Chicago Opera Theater, and Boston Lyric Opera. He has designed for the Guthrie Theater, Theatre de la Jeune Lune, The Moving Company, Theater Latté Da, Penumbra Theatre, Minnesota Orchestra, Children’s Theatre Company, Ordway Music Theater, Minnesota Dance Theatre, American Repertory Theatre, Intiman Theatre, and Actors Theatre of Louisville. He is a graduate of Boston University’s School for the Arts, a member of United Scenic Artists and a University of Minnesota Professor Emeritus.
Ronell Oliveri
Wig & Makeup Designer
Ronell Oliveri has been designing wigs and makeup for opera, theater, ballet, and film for the past 20 years for such companies as Minnesota Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, Central City Opera, and The American Repertory Theater at Harvard University. Currently she is the resident wig and makeup designer for Opera Colorado and Opera Omaha. As a wig and makeup artist her professional credits include engagements with Chicago Lyric Opera, LA Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, and Boston Ballet. She was a Prime-Time Emmy nominee as key makeup artist for her work in television. Her work can also be seen in several Broadway shows including Wicked, All The Way, and Waitress. Recent engagements include Opera Columbus’ Eugene Onegin, Pacific Symphony‘s La bohème, and Central City Opera’s 2024 summer festival. Upcoming engagements include Opera Omaha’s The Rake’s Progress, Boston Lyric Opera’s Mitridate, and Opera Colorado’s Daughter of the Regiment
Craig Verm
Don Giovanni
Baritone Craig Verm makes his Opera Omaha debut in Don Giovanni. Praised for his arrestingly vibrant and robust baritone, Mr. Verm has brought his riveting dramatic portrayals to stages around the world. In the 24/25 Season, he will join the roster of the Metropolitan Opera for the first time for Die Zauberflöte. Highlights of his 23/24 Season include a house debut with Florida Grand Opera as Marcello in La bohème. In the 22/23 season, Mr. Verm once again sang Don Giovanni, this time with the Charleston Opera Theatre, appeared as a soloist with the Dallas Symphony for their Holiday Pops Concert, performed the role of Ping in Turandot with Opera Colorado, and reprised the role of Doug Hansen in Joby Talbot's Everest, a role he created at the Dallas Opera and at the Barbican Centre with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Following a number of COVID-19 cancellations, Mr. Verm made a return to the stage in the title role of Don Giovanni with San Antonio Opera, as well as a return to Madison Opera for the role of Jupiter in Offenbach's Orpheus in the Underworld.
Baritone Zachary Nelson makes his Opera Omaha debut in Don Giovanni. A native of Annapolis, Maryland, Mr. Nelson studied vocal performance at The Catholic University of America and the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia. During the 24/25 Season, Mr. Nelson returns to Lyric Opera of Chicago as Paul in Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek’s The Listeners and makes his role debut as the title role in Bluebeard’s Castle with Opera San Jose. Elsewhere in the season, he continues the role of Alberich in his first performances of Siegfried with Atlanta Opera. In concert, he appears at Santa Fe’s Lensic Performing Arts Center for a New Year’s Eve performance of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. Mr. Nelson was an ensemble member at the Semperoper Dresden and has appeared internationally with the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, Den Norske Opera, Canadian Opera Company and Seiji Ozawa Music Academy in Japan.
Zachary Nelson Leporello
Teresa Perrotta
Donna Anna
Soprano Teresa Perrotta makes her Opera Omaha debut in Don Giovanni. Ms. Perrotta is a 2023 Grand Finals Winner of The Metropolitan Opera Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition and a 2023 Sullivan Foundation Award Winner. In the 24/25 Season she debuts at The Metropolitan Opera for The Magic Flute (First Lady) and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis for A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Helena), and returns to Washington National Opera as a guest soloist in their concert, Gods and Mortals: A Celebration of Wagner. Last season, Ms. Perrotta returned to Washington National Opera for her final season as a Cafritz Young Artist. Her mainstage roles at WNO included the world premiere of Jeanine Tesori’s Grounded (Also Jess) and Songbird (Guadalena). On the concert stage Teresa made debuts with the Erie Philharmonic in Carmina Burana, The Santa Fe Symphony in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, and the Pacific Symphony for staged performances of La bohème (Mimì).
Mary Evelyn Hangley
Donna Elvira
Soprano Mary Evelyn Hangley makes her Opera Omaha debut in Don Giovanni. Ms. Hangley is a San Francisco Opera Adler Fellow. Recent performances include Gertrud in Hänsel und Gretel with San Francisco Opera, Pamina in The Magic Flute with the Buffalo Philharmonic and Leonora in Il trovatore with Opera San Jose. Other notable engagements include Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 with the San Francisco Symphony,
Anna Sørensen in Silent Night at the Glimmerglass Festival, the title role in Prokofiev’s Maddalena with Berkeley Chamber Opera, the Countess in Le nozze di Figaro with Opera Modesto, multiple roles in Legend of the Ring, and the Woman in Schoenberg’s Erwartung with West Edge Opera. As a participant of the Merola Opera Program (2016), Mary Evelyn took over midperformance in Conrad Susa’s Transformations, and as a Resident Artist with Minnesota Opera she sang Musetta in La bohème, Woglinde in Das Rheingold and Contessa Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro
Erika Baikoff
Zerlina
Soprano Erika Baikoff makes her Opera Omaha debut in Don Giovanni. Ms. Baikoff is a graduate of the Lindemann Young Artist Development Program, performing mainstage roles at the Metropolitan Opera as Xenia in Boris Godunov and Barbarina in Le nozze di Figaro. She has since returned to the Met as a guest artist. Her orchestral highlights include Bach’s B minor Mass with Orchestre Métropolitain, Das Rheingold with Rotterdam Philharmonic, Mahler's Symphony No. 4 with the Ulster Orchestra, Taipei Music Academy & Festival, and Orchestre National de Lyon. In 2024, she made debut appearances with the London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony, and Detroit Symphony. Ms. Baikoff’s opera work includes multiple appearances at Opéra National de Lyon, and Musetta in La bohème at Verbier Festival. Recent highlights include Zerlina in Don Giovanni at Houston Grand Opera, the four heroines in Les contes d'Hoffmann at Palm Beach Opera, and multiple returns to the Bayerische Staatsoper.
Terrence Chin-Loy
Don Ottavio
Tenor Terrence Chin-Loy makes his Opera Omaha debut in Don Giovanni. In the 24/25 Season, Mr. Chin-Loy makes his European debut singing Gualtiero in Vivaldi’s Griselda with the Danish National Opera, returns to the Lyric Opera of Chicago for Cop 1 in Blue, Ferrando in Così fan tutte with Virginia Opera, and in concert, Graf Albert in Die tote Stadt at the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Recently, Mr. ChinLoy returned to Arizona Opera to sing Roméo in Roméo et Juliette, Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, Henrik Egerman in A Little Night Music, and Victor Frankenstein in the world premiere of Frankenstein. With LA Opera, Terrence sang Pang in Turandot and with Virginia Opera, the tenor solos in Paul Moravec’s Sanctuary Road. He made his solo debut at the Metropolitan Opera in Terence Blanchard's Fire Shut Up In My Bones, sang Tamino in Die Zauberflöte with the National Taichung Theater in Taiwan, Don José in Carmen at Lincoln Center, and Benny Paret Jr. in Champion with Boston Lyric Opera.
Markel Reed Masetto
Baritone Markel Reed returns to Opera Omaha after last performing in X, the Life and Times of Malcolm X. Mr. Reed excels in concert, recital, and opera performances throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe. His 24/25 engagements include the role of Yusef Salaam in The Central Park Five for Detroit Opera, Jigger in Carousel with Boston Lyric Opera, and Shaunard in La bohème with Opera Tampa. Recent highlights include singing Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Virginia Opera, Young Emile in Terence Blanchard's Champion with Boston Lyric Opera, Joey in The Time of our Singing with Theater St. Gallen in Switzerland and as Marcello in La bohème with Opera Steamboat. In 2022, Reed created the role of James Baldwin for the world premiere of Damien Sneed's The Tounge & the Lash for Opera Theatre of St. Louis. At the Metropolitan Opera, Mr. Reed performed with the ensemble in productions of Terence Blanchard's Fire Shut Up in My Bones and sang in their GRAMMY®Award-winning Porgy and Bess in 2019.
Andrew Potter Commendatore
Bass Andrew Potter makes his Opera Omaha debut in Don Giovanni. Mr. Potter has established himself as one of the premier basses in the opera world today with recent major house debuts at Dallas Opera as Angelotti in Tosca, The Atlanta Opera as Quince in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Detroit Opera as Harašta in The Cunning Little Vixen, and Santa Fe Opera for both Der Rosenkavalier and the world premiere of The Righteous, in which he covered Greer Grimsley’s lead role of Paul. Additionally, he was seen with Opera Santa Barbara as Ferrando in Il trovatore, Pacific Symphony as Colline in La bohème, and Houston Symphony as Second Soldier in Salome. This season brings his Florida Grand Opera début as Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte, Panthée in Les Troyens with Seattle Opera, Angelotti in Tosca with the Richmond Symphony, Vodnik in Rusalka with Wichita Grand Opera, and joining the roster of The Metropolitan Opera to cover Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte.
Oct. 4 — Nov. 3, 2024 Nov. 22 — Dec. 22, 2024 For
DRACULA: THE JOURNAL OF JONATHAN HARKER
ADAPTED BY JIM HELSINGER OCTOBER 3 – OCTOBER 27, 2024
SILENT NIGHT OF THE LAMBS BY RYAN LANDRY NOVEMBER 29 – DECEMBER 22, 2024
APPROPRIATE TONY AWARD FOR BEST REVIVAL 2024 BY BRANDEN JACOBS-JENKINS FEBRUARY 6 – MARCH 2, 2025
THE NIGHT LARRY KRAMER KISSED ME BY DAVID DRAKE & BASED IN ‘80S AMERICA MARCH 27 – APRIL 19, 2025
THE WILD PARTY
BOOK, MUSIC, AND LYRICS BY ANDREW LIPPA MAY 22 – JUNE 22, 2025
ART BY KRISTIN PLUHACEK
ARTISTIC & PRODUCTION STAFF
Rachel Henneberry STAGE MANAGER
Ben Kulwanoski*
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
Ezra Rose
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
Katherine Blice
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Josh Quinn
CHORUS DIRECTOR
Ava Linvog
REHEARSAL AND PERFORMANCE PIANIST
Laura Peters
PROPERTIES SUPERVISOR
Wesley Cone*
ASSISTANT LIGHTING DESIGNER
Aaron Craig LIGHTING PROGRAMMER
CHORUS
SOPRANO
Crystal Dunning
Carole Jeanpierre
Alexandria Plumb
Nicole Thoms
ALTO
Mary Carrick
Blair DeBolt
Jill Galvin
Laura Petry
Amanda Jones
COSTUME SUPERVISOR
Gary Bosanek
WARDROBE COORDINATOR
Candace Leyland
WIG & MAKEUP ASSISTANT
Christopher Bergen*
SUPERTITLE CREATOR
Kai Song Chan
SUPERTITLE OPERATOR
Al Dusek+
HEAD PRODUCTION CARPENTER
Scott Wasson+
HEAD PRODUCTION ELECTRICIAN
Local 42
are
TENOR
Graham Brooks
Jon Gathje
Jason Pandelidis
Gavin Rasmussen
BASS
William Miller
Bret Olsen
David Petry
Aaron Spracklin*
SUPERNUMERARIES
Clint Beaver
Brendan Brown
Ron Chvala
Zdenek Voprada
*Opera Omaha Debut
+IATSE
Stagehand Services
provided by IATSE Local 42. Wardrobe Services are provided by IATSE Local 831. Opera Omaha is a member of OPERA America.
SYMPHONY
VIOLIN 1
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
VIOLIN 2
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
VIOLA
Thomas Kluge, Principal
Tyler Sieh, Associate Principal
Margo Romig-Motycka
Judy Divis
Bozhidar Shopov
Alexa Brown
Sarah Curley
Rebecca Vieker
CELLO
Paul Ledwon, Principal
Gregory Clinton, Associate Principal
Zachariah Reff, Assistant Principal
Timothy Strang
Mark Motycka
Holly Gullen-Stout
Shannon Merciel
Trevor Peterson
BASS
Nate Olson, Principal
Bobby Scharmann, Associate Principal
James Giles
Michael Swartz
Danielle Meier
Jeremy Baguyos
FLUTE
Maria Harding, Principal
Nicholas Fitton, Assistant Principal
Lisa Meyerhofer, 3rd Flute and Piccolo
OBOE
Alexandra Rock, Principal
Heather Baxter, Assistant Principal
Christine Sallas, 3rd Oboe and English Horn
CLARINET
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
Steven Schultz, Associate Principal
Jake Rensink
Jordan Dinkins
TRUMPET
Scott Quackenbush, Principal
Federico Montes, Associate Principal
Christopher Haas
TROMBONE
Patrick Pfister, Principal
Jason Stromquist
Jay Wise
TUBA
Craig Fuller, Principal
TIMPANI
Jack Rago, Principal
PERCUSSION
Derek Dreier, Principal
Paul Matthews, Assistant Principal
HARP
Janna Young, Principal
KEYBOARD
Christi Zuniga, Principal
ORCHESTRA OPERATIONS
Jennifer Boomgaarden, President & CEO
Kyra Hansen, Director of Operations & Production
Jimmy Lewis, Operations & Production Manager
Emily E. Duffin, Orchestra Personnel Manager
Erica Ostermiller, Operations Coordinator
Tracy Bass, Head Librarian
Nicholas Buonanni, Librarian
John Coate, Stage Manager
Opera Omaha Gala DON'T LOOK BACK featuring Anthony Roth Costanzo April 19, 2024 Steelhouse Omaha
MAKE YOUR POETRY SING!
Submissions are now open for the 24/25 Poetry & Music Project.
The Opera Omaha Poetry & Music Project is a statewide program run in partnership with the Nebraska Writers Collective to amplify the voices of youth poets, both urban and rural, across Nebraska and Iowa. Last year, over 100 poems were submitted to the Poetry & Music Project. These poems varied in topic, but one thing was plain to see: the young writers in our region have both immense talent and unique perspectives!
THEME FOR POETRY SUBMISSIONS MY NEIGHBORHOOD
This year, Opera Omaha is looking for poems that explore the profound effect where we come from has on who we are. Poets should craft pieces about their neighborhood, thinking deeply about what community means and how it is formed. We know that it doesn’t matter if you grew up in Beatrice or Benson, McCook or Millard, Cedar Bluffs of Council Bluffs, we are only ever a collection of the places that we reside in, and our stories of these places help paint the full picture of what it means to be from the Midwest.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PROMPTS, AND FULL SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS VISIT: OPERAOMAHA.ORG/POETRY
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
• Open to all K-12 Students in Nebraska and Iowa
• Students may only submit one poem
• All work must be original
• Poems should connect to the project theme
• Poems may be in any structure, but may not be more than 250 words or one page in length
SUBMISSION DEADLINE
Thursday, November 30, 2024
PRODUCING PARTNER:
INTRODUCING THE FAMILY OPERA SERIES
Opera Omaha is thrilled to announce the Family Opera Series. Each year, Opera Omaha will produce one opera intended for audiences of all ages. These imaginative productions will take place in unique locations across the city.
Fantastic Mr. Fox
JUNE 5-8, 2025
LAURITZEN GARDENS TICKETOMAHA.COM
PRODUCTION SPONSORS
Edgar Foster Daniels Foundation
Polina and Bob Schlott
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
Opera Omaha productions are made possible, in part, with significant support from the Craftsman’s Guild.
Mike & Cindy Baumer
Betty Beach
Tom Burton
Gina Carusi
Kate & Chris Gannon–Tombrello
Bill Gaus
Nora Mae & John Gibson
Patti Jaynes
Mark Kalal
Christine Lund
Julie Mead
Patty Pandzik
Christine Peters
Valerie Proctor
Margret Sexton
Brendy Shishido
Saprina Theisen
Joe Torchia
Leslie Vann
Annika Weber
The Opera Omaha Guild is a dedicated group of individuals who actively support Opera Omaha’s fundraising, community engagement, and education programs. Members plan and promote events such as Cotillion (etiquette classes for area sixth graders), social luncheons, educational activities, opera study groups, and pre-performance parties.
If you are interested in joining the Opera Omaha Guild, please call (402) 346-7372 or visit operaomaha.org/guild for additional information. We appreciate your interest and look forward to hearing from you soon!
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Lora Kaup
PRESIDENT
Connie Kinnear
PRESIDENT ELECT
Deb Peterson
PAST PRESIDENT
Mark Maser
VP EDUCATION
Kelly Sanford
VP FUNDRAISING
Betty Foster
VP MEMBERSHIP
Dana Carlton-Flint VP SOCIAL
Lisa Hagstrom COTILLION LIAISON
Vivian Davis
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY
Connie Kinnear
RECORDING SECRETARY
April Nebel TREASURER
AT LARGE BOARD MEMBERS
Lauren Garcia
Christina Miller
Mary Ellen Mulcahy
Patty Pandzik
Sherry Taxman
Sara Young
What happens when Washington, D.C.’s premiere, political satire group - the Capitol Steps – call it quits after nearly 40 years? Most folks would agree that it was a great run, and the story would end there. But an intrepid group of cast members and a co-writer would not go quietly into that good night. This band of fools reflected on a world without musical, political satire, and didn’t like what they saw. And just like that the Capitol Fools were born.
They are equal opportunity offenders, skewering both sides of the aisle. If a “Stepsstyle show” is wrong, they don’t want to be right.
WHAT IS THE HOLLAND COMMUNITY OPERA FELLOWSHIP?
The Holland Community Opera Fellowship (HCOF) is a transformational program that works collaboratively with community partners to co-create programming that helps individuals, organizations, and communities reach their goals. Using drama, words, movement, art, and musical elements of opera, Fellows of various disciplines act as creative and artistic servants to the Omaha metro community.
HCOF partners with a wide range of community organizations, all of whom work with historically underserved individuals. Recent examples of programming include performing original productions with Art of Imagination students at Ollie Webb Center, Inc., creating visual art with residents at Quality Living Inc., and leading dual language storytimes with preschoolers at the Learning Community Center of South Omaha. Fellows have also enjoyed partnering with seniors at the Intercultural Senior Center and students at Nelson Mandela Elementary School as they’ve explored painting, music, and singing.
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.
MEET THE 24/25 HOLLAND COMMUNITY OPERA FELLOWS
Rosemary Joyce
SOPRANO AND ARTS EDUCATOR
24/25 COMMUNITY PANEL
Aiden James Poling
MULTI-HYPHENATE STORYTELLER AND ARTS EDUCATOR
Ang Bennett, Inclusive Communities & Artist
Tiffiny Clifton, Gotta Be Me
Geri Knight, RISE
Rachel Morgan, Nebraska Arts Council
Carrie Nath, Arts Access & Outreach Consultant
Rita Paskowitz, Storyteller
Alysia Radicia, RDG Planning and Design
Alejandra Sandoval-Montañez
MEZZO-SOPRANO AND ARTS EDUCATOR
Wildey Rodriguez, Intercultural Senior Center
Lee Emma Running, Artist
Justin Spooner, Colliers Nebraska
Paula Wallace, Artist
Angie Williams, MICAH House
Gwyn Williams, Independent Leadership Coach
OPERA OMAHA EDUCATION PROGRAMS
Each year Opera Omaha Education Programs serve over 1,200 students from early childhood to graduate school level at more than 50 partner schools and universities.
STUDENT DRESS REHEARSALS
Student Dress Rehearsals are an immersive way for students to go beyond an ordinary field trip to get an intimate experience with the Opera. This FREE program offers a rare opportunity for students to see the show before the public and without a large crowd for a more personal and meaningful experience. Study guides and other resources help prepare students and teachers for the opera experience and connect it to curriculum.
ARTIST VISITS AND MASTERCLASSES
Each season Opera Omaha brings a guest opera artist from our productions to classrooms and community partners across the city. Each artist visit is tailored to the needs of teachers and students to create a meaningful opera learning experience and may include short performances, a masterclass, workshop, or Q&A.
STUDENT RUSH
All students may take advantage of $10 rush tickets to Opera Omaha performances! One hour prior to performances, students can receive up to two tickets with a valid student ID.
OPERA 360
This immersive program takes the Student Dress Rehearsal experience and expands it for groups that want to learn more about the artisans that operate behind the scenes. Students get a backstage tour and speak directly with opera professionals exploring areas such as costume design, hair and makeup, stage management, directing, and conducting. These conversations give students extra insight into the jobs available within the opera, allowing them to ask questions and expand their aspirations for future involvement in opera production.
POETRY & MUSIC PROJECT
The Opera Omaha Poetry & Music Project is a statewide program run in partnership with the Nebraska Writers Collective to amplify the voices of youth poets, both urban and rural, across Nebraska and Iowa. The project connects student poets and their words with professional composers to create original music and explore connections between poetry and music.
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.
CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE
$100,000+
Richard Holland*
Constance B Meunier Trust
Mary and Richard Parrish
Annette and Paul Smith
PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE
$50,000- $99,999
Anonymous
Carol E and David A Domina
Catherine and Terry Ferguson
Joan* and Richard* O’Brien
Jane and David Offutt
Anne and Alan* Simon
Betiana and Todd Simon
Stacy and Bruce* Simon
Kate and Roger Weitz
Joan Gibson* and Donald Wurster
PRODUCER
$25,000-$49,999
Anonymous
Cindy and Mogens Bay
Steve Menzies
Robert E� Owen
Linda Burt Rebrovic and John Rebrovic
Polina and Bob Schlott
Julie M� Schroeder
Meredith and Drew Weitz
Katie Weitz, PhD and Tim Wilson
BACKER
$10,000-$24,999
Anonymous
Jo Bartikoski and Don Westling
Sara and Jawed Bharwani
Devin J Fox, MD and Rob Block
Dr Anne Bruckner and Stephen Bruckner
Sandi and Bill Bruns
Barbara Person and Scott Burger
Carol L Dworak Estate
Frances and David Ertel
Kyoko and Jonathan Fuller
Jerry C Gose
Vivian and Allen Hager
Vernie and Carter Jones
Vicki and David Krecek
Janet and H Frederick Kuehl
Rita and Donald Otis
Pauline Quinn
Jean and Eugene Stark, Jr�
Janet and Jerry Syslo
Dr and Mrs James Tracy
Ellen and Robert Vladem
BENEFACTOR
$5,000-$9,999
Anonymous
Linda Matson Andersen
Dr Betty Beach
Roger Blauwet
Tina and John Cherica
Dr Debra Reilly-Culver and Robert Culver, Jr
Anna-Karin and David Dillard
Betty Foster
Linda and David Gardels
Anne Gardner
Belle and Ryan Hansen
Mary Jetton
Dr Ali Khan
Joanne and David Kolenda
Paul Ledwon and Mark Allen Maser
Sheila McNeill
Sharee and Murray Newman
Ann and Paul O’Hara
Silvia Greene Roffman
Howard B� Silberg Revocable
Trust
Shirley and Michael* Sorrell
Mary Ann Strasheim
Jara and Kenley Sturdivant
Wilson
Mary Beth and James Winner
GUARDIAN
$3,500-$4,999
Dr Betty L Beach
Constance Heiden Kammandel and Henry Kammandel
Ruth Keene
Sharon McGill
SUSTAINER
$1,500-$3,499
Laura and Bryan Alexander
Maria Carlson
Kris Vikmanis and Denny Creighton
Linda Daugherty
Joan Desens and Simon CarrEllison
Gloria Dinsdale
Brian Eaton
Kiley and Mike Freeman
Leslie Garth
Lisa Hagstrom
Carol and James Healy
Janeanne and Joseph Heidenreich
Megan and Thomas Heidenreich
Sandra and Jon Kayne
Dr� Ali Khan
Deana Liddy
Sheila McNeill
Stephen Novick
Connie Osborne
Deb and Eric Peterson
Kara and Joe Spitzenberger
Jill Steinberg
Anne Stoddard
Ginger Talbot
Sherry and Jeff Taxman
Dr Terry Tomcsik
PATRON
$750-$1,499
Anonymous
Sarah Baker Hansen and Matthew Hansen
Samuel M Bierner
Nicholas Bjornson
Kathleen Joan Bradley
Janet and Samuel Cohen
Marlene and Larry Domina
Rebecca Duncan
Viv and John Ewing
Andrea and Donald Fineberg
Christine and Mauro Fiore
Joan Flesch
Kate and Chris GannonTombrello
Bill L Gaus
Judy and George Haecker, Jr
Casimiro Rangel and Erik Henningsen
Susan Thomas and Steven Hutchinson
Jeffrey Johnston
Sylvia Jones
Alfred G Kelley
Leslie Kuhnel
Dominique Laffont
John Yost and Wade Leak
Katie LeDoux
Hassan Shalla and Ana Lopez
Shalla
Lara Marcon
Neil Sechan and Matthew Messner
Karen and Larry Nelsen
Elizabeth and Jerry Powell
Lora Kaup and Michael Pray
John Reed
Barbara and Gordon Reisinger
Sissy Katelman Silber
Donald Slaughter
Lisa Sock
Peter and Marika Stone
Shelby VanNordstrand
Gail and Irving Veitzer
Paul Vladem
This listing reflects gifts received between March 1, 2023-August 15, 2024 *Deceased
Sharon and Randy Blackburn
Donna and Coyner* Smith
Verne Weber
Cindy Weil
Kate Rahel and Dennis Whelan
Ann and John Williamson
Laura Wilwerding
ADVOCATE
$300-$749
Eileen and Timothy Arkebauer
Denise Arnold
Paula Ashen
Mayrene Bentley
Sarah Billinghurst Solomon
Beth and Steve Borgmann
Ann and David Burkholder
Murray Joseph Casey
Bruce Chemel
Susan Chenoweth
Joan and Don Cimpl
Shelley and Edward Cohn
Daniel J Cox and Eleanor
Shirley
Eileen Crinklaw
Ryan Cwach
Mary and Hal Daub
Vivian and Spencer Davis
Steven J Dayton
Carolyn and David Diamond
Sandy and Paul Epstein
Mary and Ronald Ferdig
Andrew Frost
Elizabeth and John Fullerton
Jeffrey Grinnell and Daniel Gallagher
Patrick Galvin
Barbara Glauber
John K� Green
Kimberly Hastie and Timothy Welch
Shari Hofschire
Stanton Hoppe
Dr� Linda Matson and Mr�
Michael Howland
Anne M� Hubbard
Susan and Craig Ihnen
Bonnie and David Jaros
Barbara Johnston
Donna and James Kalar
Marilyn and Mark Kirchhoff
Barbara and Marshall Kushner
Julie and Joseph Lecci
Helen and William Little
Kathleen and John Lohr
Jenny and Jake Mason
Christine and Jim Medici
Donald Moran
Karen and Paul Mullen
Kevin Murray
April and Jonathan Nebel
Ashley Olson
Timothy F Daugherty and Rosemary J Pauley
Gwendolyn Olney and Scott
Peters
Judy Pfeifer
Silva Raker
Patricia and Robert Ranney
Tom Richter
Greta Vaught and John Ritland
Jane and Carl* Rohman
Kay M Shilling, M D
David Sontag
Ann Stephens and John Vasiliades
Strauss Charitable Fund
Kiley and James Thiele
Pia Ulrich
Patricia Victor W� Bruce Warr
Sarah Watson
James Wink
Brad Woolbright
Timothy Held and Jay Worden
Melanie and John Wright
FRIEND
$1-$299
Anonymous (2)
Rebecca Noble and Keith Allerton
Deisy I Andrew
Ann Antlfinger
Barbara Antonides
Cheryl Arends
Marco Ballarin
Jean Ann Ballinger and Ward Peters
Marti Baumert and Richard
Jeffrey
Susan Baumert
Erna Beach
Kelli and Brian Bello
Angela Bennett
Laila Berre
Joseph Pinson and Samuel M
Bierner
Eric Bildt
Franz Blaha
Dawn Ann Boll
Lyn and Stephen Bouma
Shelia G Brantley
Mia H Brenner
Katie and Corey Broman
Michelle C� Bruckner
Rob Buckley
Janice and Mario Buda
Valerie Bullock
Janet* and Donald Bumgarner
Frank Burnham
Clare and Tom Burton
Erin and Bob Busch
Sharon and Thad Call
David Campbell
Karen and David Campbell
Thomas Carr
Elizabeth Case
Felicia Cervantes
Tom Chandler and Bill Schaffer
Melanie and Jeffrey Chapman
Christine and Bob Chilcoat
Donna Christian
Tiffiny Clifton
Mary Jo and Richard Coffey
Diane and Howard Coffin
Elizabeth Collins
Cora and Maurice Conner
Lisa Couillard
Carmelita Cox
Melissa and John Dahir
Rex Daugherty
Jennifer and James Davenport
Jim Morrow and Dorothy Davis
Morrow
Carole DeBuse
Michael Del Core
Karen and Allan Dennis
Hildy Dickinson
Joyce Dixon
John Donnellon
Joan Ellingson
Karla Ermel
Chelsey Erpelding
Karen and Richard Everett
Karen and Micha Fannin
Mary Fieber
Beverly Fleckten
Kaitlin Flynn
Patrick Fortney
Terry and Mollie Foster
Hon Marcena Hendrix and Dr Howard Fox
Sandra Franklin
Amy Forss
Meredith Fuller and James
Luyten
Karen Gahl-Mills
Rose Glock
Ann and Donald Goldstein
Donna Gould
Elizabeth Nybakken and William Graves
Mary Green
Jeanne and Joe Gregory
Jan Grimes
Guy and Cathy Gronquist
David Gunn
Cindy Hadsell
Kathleen Haley
Allison Hardy
Ellen Hargus
William and Gretchen Harvey
Neil Hassler
Katrina Thurman and Robert Hawkey
Jane and Edward Hawks
Cheryl and Joe Hazel
Mary Helms and Kenneth Olson
Linda Henslee
Daniel S Henslee
Marilyn Hoegemeyer
Ann and Don Hosford
Tonya House
Linda Hoven
Connor Howard
Vibeke Jensen
Debra and Byron Jensen
Jerry Johnson
Nancy Johnson
Beverly A Kaiman
Vanessa Kalil
Ruth Ann Keene
Kathleen Kelley
Mary and Thomas Kerr
Seth Kingery
Piotr Andrzej Kissel
Julia Kleinschmit
Mike Klug
Michele and Thomas Kluge
Geri Knight
Alexia Kniska and Bo Smith
Maria Knudtson
Mihaela Kobjerowski
Janet and Paul Koenig
Wende and John Kotouc
Stacy Kozisek
Morgan Kreiser
Kathryn R Kruger
Barbara Kuhn
Robert Kuzelka
Dr� and Mrs� Rudy Lackner
Heike and Adam Langdon
Elaine Leise
Lourdes Secola and Sheldon Lerner
Sherryl Lilley
Linda Moorman and Douglas Little
Billie D� Logan
Jeffrey B� Loomis
Lorraine Beadell and Greg Love
Christine Lund
Charles MacKay
Terri Well Man
Karla and John Marburger
Marilyn and Robert Marion
Martin
Ali R McBride
Polly and Frank Partsch *Deceased
Judeen Bursovsky
Erik Hanson
Jim McGough
Dorothy* and Daniel McKinney
Ann Meschery
Ann Jansen Michelson and Brent Michelson
Cindy Miserez
Richard Morris
Tom Murnan
Fred Mytty
Ann and Kevin Naylor
Diana Nevins
Rodney Nordeng
Tirimba Obonyo
Genevieve Odom
Neil F O'Donnell
Douglas Olson
Chris Pantuso
Jill Panzer
Jessica and Dennis Pate
Robert Patterson
Diane and Robert Peabody
Jacob Pearson
Lois Pesek
Glen Peterson
Sabrina Potterpin
Amie Prendes
H
Natalie Prescott
Abigail Kutlas-Prickett and
Lisa and Dan Prickett
TaTanisha Ranney
Paula and William Rasmussen
Cynthia and David Rector
Toni Reese
Patricia and William Ritchie
Victoria and Edward Roche
Devin T
Noyes W
Cyrenthia and Anthony Rollins
Dr
Kathleen Crawford-Rose and Rev
Dawn B
David Sampson
Rita and Dean Schechinger
Susan Scherl
Laura Schoenrock
Nancy Schultz
Margaret Sexton
Lori and Scott Shaddy
Douglas Simpleman
Kim Sosin
Sandra Squires
Glenda and George Steinsberger
Jane Stieren
Del Stites
Mike J� Stodden
Lisa and Jeff Strohmyer
Anna and Rock Sumner
Greg Sutton
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 March 1, 2023-August 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
ANN GANYARD
Mary Ann Strasheim
ELSA GRIESBACH
Geri Knight
RHONDA HALL
Opera Omaha Craftsman’s Guild
JOHN HUTZLER
Christine and Jim Medici
JODY KERSSENBROCK
Sandra Kay Squires
SANDY MATTHEWS
Heike and Adam Langdon
Mary Ellen Mulcahy
Kate and Roger Weitz
TOM ROGERS
Rebecca Noble and Keith Allerton
Debra Reilly-Culver and Robert Culver, Jr
Gloria Dinsdale
Paul and Sandy Epstein
Mr Mike Klug
Mark Maser and Paul Ledwon
Mrs Sharon L McGill
Jim Morrow and Dorothy Davis Morrow
Mary Ellen Mulcahy
Jean Ann Ballinger and Ward Peters
Pauline Quinn
Tom Chandler and William Schaffer
Mary Ann Strasheim
Greg Sutton
Shannon and Michael Walenta
CHERYL SANWICK
Betty L Beach
Clare and Thomas Burton
Opera Omaha Craftsman’s Guild
Annika and Allen Weber
DR. MICHAEL SORRELL
Mary Ellen Mulcahy
ELOUISE SQUIRES
Sandra Kay Squires
IN HONOR OF:
SANDI BRUNS
Joanne and David Kolenda
CALEB JOHN CLIFTON
Tiffiny Clifton
ANTHONY ROTH COSTANZO
Jill Steinberg underneath
CAROL DOMINA’S BIRTHDAY
Joan Desens and Simon Carr-Ellison
CAROL DOMINA
Joan Desens and Simon Carr-Ellison
Patrick Galvin
Connor Howard
Ann Meschery
Sabrina Potterpin
Caitlin Volz
HOLLAND COMMUNITY OPERA
FELLOWS
Tiffiny Clifton
RUTH AND JAMES* KEENE
Ruth Ann Keene
DR. ALI KHAN
Jessica and Dennis Pate
BILL AND MASAKO LOGAN
Billie D� Logan
MARK MASER
Joanne and David Kolenda
Wendy Wiseman
MILES MYKKENAN
Stephen Novick
MARY AND RICHARD PARRISH
Betty L Beach
SUE PEARSON
Jacob Pearson
JOE PRICKETT
Allan and Karen Dennis
LINDA BURT REBROVIC AND JOHN REBROVIC
Carolyn and David Diamond
Mary and Tom Kerr
ALLISON SWENSON
Joan Desens and Simon Carr-Ellison
Rebecca Duncan
Andrea Fineberg
Connor Howard
Neil Sechan and Matthew Messner
Caitlin Volz
Brad Woolbright
ALLISON AND HUNTER SWENSON
Charles MacKay
KATIE WEITZ
Ana Lopez Shalla and Hassan Shalla
photo
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
Carol L Dworak*
Ike and Roz Friedman Foundation
Linda and David Gardels
Geof* Heiden and Connie Heiden Kammandel
Mary* and Charles* Heider
Mary* and Richard* D� Holland
Aline Hosman*
Sally and Gary* Kaplan
Joanne and David Kolenda
Graham Lusk*
Charles MacKay and Cam McCluskey
Ann* and Allan* Mactier
Constance B Meunier*
Sharee and Murray Newman
Ephraim L Marks* and David M Rice*
Mark Allen Maser
Joan F * and Richard* L O’Brien
Ann and Paul O'Hara
Mr and Mrs * Robert E Owen
Rev David Pace
Mary and Richard Parrish
Thompson H Rogers*
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
CORPORATE, FOUNDATION & GOVERNMENT DONORS
CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE
$100,000+
Anonymous
Douglas County Board of Commissioners
The Edgar Foster Daniels Foundation
Holland Foundation
Peter Kiewit Foundation
Weitz Family Foundation
PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE
$50,000-$99,000
Anonymous
Allan and Ann Mactier Charitable Foundation
Omaha Magazine
Omaha Steaks
PRODUCER
$25,000-$49,999
Anonymous
Applied Underwriters, Inc
FNBO
National Endowment for the Arts
Nebraska Arts Council
Nebraska Cultural Endowment
Valmont Industries, Inc
BACKER
$10,000-$24,999
Conagra Brands Foundation
Husch Blackwell LLP
Iowa West Foundation
Kiewit Corporation
Mammel Family Foundation
Mutual of Omaha
Opera Omaha Craftsman's Guild
Opera Omaha Guild
University of Nebraska Medical Center
BENEFACTOR
$5,000-$9,999
CL Werner Foundation
Giger Foundation
HDR, Inc
Omaha Star
RSM US LLP
Rose Blumkin Foundation
Union Pacific Corporation
University of Nebraska - Omaha
Whitmore Charitable Trust
Wintrust Financial Corporation
ADVOCATE
$1-$4,999
AmazonSmile Foundation
Backer Family Charitable Trust
Cimino Tours LLC
Dallas Foundation
Edward and Lida Robinson Charitable Trust
Fraser Stryker
Great Plains Theatre Conference
Humanities Nebraska
Koley Jessen P�C�, LLC
Dallas Foundation
Mark Sanford Group
Midlands Community Foundation
Nebraska Tourism Commission
OPERA America
Osaic Foundation
Paypal Giving Fund
Pledgeling Foundation
Soener Foundation
Strauss Charitable Trust
Streck, Inc
The Amphion Foundation
The Fred and Sally Bekins Foundation
The Pepsico Foundation
US Bank
REPERTOIRE HISTORY
1958-59
Madama Butterfly
Tosca
Oklahoma!
Hansel and Gretel
1959-60
Carousel
Pagliacci/Quivera
1960-61
Die Fledermaus
La traviata
1961-62
The Merry Widow
La bohème
1962-63
Carmen La Périchole
1963-64
Aida
The Barber of Seville
1964-65
Lucia di Lammermoor
The Marriage of Figaro
1965-66
Rigoletto
Madama Butterfly
1966-67
Il Trovatore
The Ballad of Baby Doe
1967-68
Tosca
La bohème
1968-69
La traviata
Carmen
1969-70
Faust
Cavalleria Rusticana/ Pagliacci
1970-71
Aida
Die Fledermaus
1971-72
Rigoletto
The Tales of Hoffmann
1972-73
Madama Butterfly
Romeo and Juliet
Un Ballo in Maschera
1973-74
Tosca
The Marriage of Figaro
The Elixir of Love
1974-75
La bohème
Lucia di Lammermoor
La Périchole
1975-76
La traviata
Manon
Bilby’s Doll
The Barber of Seville
1976-77
Aida
The Merry Widow
Don Pasquale
Don Giovanni
1977-78
Madama Butterfly
The Abduction from the Seraglio*
The Bartered Bride
1978-79
The Barber of Seville
Werther
La bohème
1979-80
Die Fledermaus*
La traviata*
The Pirates of Penzance
1980-81
Così fan tutte
Susannah Rigoletto
1981-82
The Daughter of the Regiment
Carmen
The Magic Flute
1982-83
Don Pasquale
Faust
Madama Butterfly
1983-84
Aida*
The Tales of Hoffmann
Don Giovanni
1984-85
Tosca
Falstaff
Gianni Schicchi/Pagliacci
1985-86
Turandot
Lucia di Lammermoor
The Marriage of Figaro
1986-87
La traviata
The Barber of Seville
Porgy and Bess
1987-88
The Turn of the Screw*
The Juniper Tree*
Where’s Dick?
Amahl & the Night Visitors*
Carmen
La bohème
1988-89
Oklahoma!
Partenope+
The Diary of One Who
Vanished
White Rose
A Celebration of Bel Canto
Rigoletto
Manon
1989-90
Plácido Domingo in Concert
Show Boat
Madama Butterfly
Romeo and Juliet*
1990-91
Carousel
Angelina Reaux in “Stranger Here Myself”
Maria Padilla+
The Golem+
Il Trovatore*
The Magic Flute
1991-92
My Fair Lady
Tosca
Don Giovanni*
1992-93
Ermione+
The Gardens of Adonis***
Autumn Valentine***
Eugene Onegin*
The Flying Dutchman
1993-94
Vive Toulouse!
Requiem Variations***
Fidelio
The Pirates of Penzance
1994-95
The Merry Widow
La traviata
Carmen
1995-96
The Daughter of the Regiment*
Turandot
The Barber of Seville
1996-97
Così fan tutte*
La bohème
Faust
1997-98
Don Pasquale
Madama Butterfly
La Cenerentola
Opera Omaha 40
1998-99
Eric Hermannson’s Soul***†
Aida
The Marriage of Figaro
1999-00
Samuel Ramey in “A Date with the Devil”
Samson et Dalila
Tosca*
2000-01
Amahl & the Night Visitors*
Carmina Burana/Pagliacci
Falstaff
Man of La Mancha
2001-02
All-American! Concert
Amahl & the Night Visitors
Otello
Little Women
Don Giovanni
2002-03
Richard Rodgers’ America Concert
Carmen
The Turn of the Screw* H.M.S. Pinafore
Bloodlines***†
2003-04
La bohème
Lucia di Lammermoor
Cold Sassy Tree*
2004-05
The Threepenny Opera* The Tender Land* Dream of the Pacific***†
Turandot
La traviata
2005-06
Paul Bunyan
Madama Butterfly*
The Abduction from theSeraglio*
2006-07
Tosca
Wakonda’s Dream***† The Barber of Seville
2007-08
All The King’s Men*
The Tragedy of Carmen*
Aida*
2008-09
The Blizzard Voices***† The Pirates of Penzance La bohème
2009-10
Night for American Song
Pagliacci
Brundibár
The Marriage of Figaro So in Love with Broadway*
2010-11
Opera for the Cure*
Don Giovanni
Madama Butterfly
2011-12
This is Opera!*
Hansel and Gretel*
The Marriage Contract* The Mikado
2012-13
La traviata
The Magic Flute*
Bluebeard’s Castle*
2013-14
Opera Outdoors*
Carmen Agrippina* La Cenerentola
2014-15
Opera Outdoors*
Rigoletto* A Flowering Tree*
Fidelio
2015-16
Opera Outdoors*
The Barber of Seville
La fanciulla del West
Semele*
2016-17
Opera Outdoors*
La bohème
Così fan tutte*
Flight*
Stranger from Paradise***†
2017-18
Opera Outdoors*
Tosca*
Falstaff*
Medea*
Proving Up*†
ONE Festival***
2018-19
Opera Outdoors*
Pagliacci
The Elixir of Love Les Enfants terribles*
Faust*+
ONE Festival***
2019-20
Opera Outdoors*
Madama Butterfly
The Abduction from the Seraglio
2020-21
Opera Outdoors
Broadcast dwb++
Miranda++
MODULATION++
Concert with the Omaha Symphony: Bizet, Mahler and Chausson
Opera Under the Stars* La boheme ++
2021-22
Opera Outdoors*
The Capulets and the Montagues*
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street*
Eugene Onegin*
2022-23
Opera Outdoors*
X, The Life and Times of Malcolm X*
Suor Angelica
The Marriage of Figaro
2023-24
Opera Outdoors*
Don Pasquale
El Niño: Nativity Reconsidered
La traviata
El último sueño de Frida y Diego
2024-25
Opera Outdoors*
Don Giovanni
The Rake's Progress
Giulio Cesare
Fantastic Mr. Fox*
* New production
+ American Premiere
*** World Premiere
† Commissioned Work
++ Film/Digital Premiere
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
Jack Koraleski, Chair
D. David Slosburg, Vice Chair
Michael S. Cassling, Vice Chair
H. Dele Davies, M.D.
Meg Lauritzen Dodge
Scott C. Heider
Todd L. Johnson
Rodrigo López
Sharlon Rodgers
Rachel Werner
John Gottschalk, Chair Emeritus
John K. Boyer, Secretary
STAFF
Joan H. Squires, President
Arnold Reeves, Senior Vice President and CFO – Finance and Administration
Bianca Harley, Vice President of Human Capital & Inclusion
Sabrina Weiss, Vice President of Development
Andy Cassano, Vice President of Programming and Education
Erika Hansen, Vice President of Commercial Entertainment
Ryan Murray, Associate Vice President of Operations
Alyssa Stieren, Associate Vice President of Finance
Lee Turkovich, Vice President of Marketing and Communications
Ashley Voorhees, Vice President of Administrative Services
GENERAL INFORMATION
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.
To have a consistent policy for all of our venues, the Orpheum Theater is now cashless.
What that means for you:
• Card will be the only accepted payment for food and drinks at the Orpheum.
• You can convert your cash to a Visa ReadyCARD for free at the house manager’s desk at the Orpheum.
• Your Visa ReadyCARD has no expiration and can be used anywhere that accepts prepaid debit cards.
• Cash can still be used to purchase tickets.
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 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) 434-TKTS (8587) or (402) 345-0606, Monday through Friday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.; or in person at the Ticket Omaha box office, 13th and Douglas streets, Monday through Friday from 12 p.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
GET INVOLVED
Without the dedication and perseverance of outstanding volunteers and support groups, our productions would not be as beautiful, our bottom line would not be as sound, and our sense of community would not be as strong. For these, and many other reasons, we extend a heartfelt thank you to the following organizations. We invite you to get involved and become a volunteer or member of one of our support groups. For more information about the following opportunities, please visit: operaomaha.org/get-involved or email opera@operaomaha.org.
OPERA OMAHA GUILD
The Opera Omaha Guild is a dedicated group of individuals who actively support Opera Omaha’s fundraising and community engagement and education activities. Members plan and promote events such as Cotillion (etiquette classes for area sixth graders), social luncheons, educational activities, opera study groups and 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.
CRAFTSMAN’S GUILD
Integral to Opera Omaha’s success since 1962, the Craftsman’s Guild members donate stagecraft skills in the areas of wardrobe, makeup/wigs, concessions, and parties. Focused on meeting the backstage needs of guest artists and the production, members enjoy the camaraderie and reward of helping to create top notch performances for the Omaha community.
VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers help Opera Omaha complete essential tasks like assisting with community events, ushering at concerts, or providing additional office support. It is clear without their help, Opera Omaha would not be able to bring world class opera to Omaha stages or the community. Students can also fulfill required community service hours for groups like National Honor Society by volunteering with Opera Omaha. For more information, please fill out the inquiry form at shareomaha.org/nonprofit/opera-omaha.
SUPERNUMERARIES
Supernumeraries appear on stage in non-speaking, non-singing roles, much like being an extra in a movie. Being a “super” takes some time and patience, but is a lot of fun and a great learning experience. Super roles are varied but might include servants, soldiers, peasants, priests and priestesses, dancers, bartenders, waiters, ragamuffins, pickpockets, and sometimes even animals! All ages, including children, are needed.
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.
ADVERTISING
For Opera Omaha program book advertising, please contact: Gil Cohen, Omaha Publications Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing
402.884.2047- O 402.612.9378- C gil@omahapublications.com
