Suor Angelica

FEBRUARY 24 & 26, 2023 ORPHEUM THEATER

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CONTENTS PAGE TITLE Letter from Allison Swenson ����������������������������������������������� 4 Meet Allison ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� 6 Board of Directors ����������������������������������������������������������������� 8 Opera Omaha Staff ���������������������������������������������������������������� 9 Major Contributors �������������������������������������������������������������� 11 Conductor's Note ���������������������������������������������������������������� 12 Director's Note �������������������������������������������������������������������� 13 Title Page ������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 17 Synopsis �������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 18 Artist Biographies ��������������������������������������������������������������� 19 Opera Omaha Chorus �������������������������������������������������������� 22 Production Staff ������������������������������������������������������������������ 23 Omaha Symphony ��������������������������������������������������������������� 24 Craftsman’s Guild ���������������������������������������������������������������� 26 Opera Omaha Guild ����������������������������������������������������������� 27 Community Partner - MICAH House ����������������������������� 30 Holland Community Opera Fellowship �������������������������� 34 Opera Omaha Donors �������������������������������������������������������� 36 Corporate & Foundation Donors ������������������������������������ 41 Fortissimo Society & Special Funds �������������������������������� 42 Memorials & Tributes ��������������������������������������������������������� 44 Repertoire History �������������������������������������������������������������� 46 OPA Board and Administration ���������������������������������������� 48 OPA General Information ������������������������������������������������� 49 Get Involved ������������������������������������������������������������������������� 50

SUOR ANGELICA | FEBRUARY 2023

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FROM THE GENERAL DIRECTOR

WELCOME TO OPERA OMAHA

Dear Friends: By opening night of Suor Angelica, I will have been General Director of Opera Omaha for just over one week! Thank you for your warm welcome.

It has been said that “life is a comedy for those who think and a tragedy for those who feel.” For those who feel, there is Verdi’s masterpiece La Traviata.

It is an honor to lead Opera Omaha and follow the inimitable Roger Weitz, whose generosity of spirit is renowned, not only in Omaha but in the field of opera nationally.

I am deeply grateful to Roger, Managing Director Shannon Walenta who served as Acting General Director, and to the entire company for their support and confidence.

La Traviata is one of the most performed operas in the world, and for good reason.

The timelessness of the story, a love lost, is surpassed only by the music, which is familiar to just about everyone, whether they are new to opera or longtime fans.

We are particularly pleased to feature soprano Andriana Chuchman as Violetta in her role debut.

Suor Angelica is the second of three oneact operas by Puccini known as Il Trittico, or The Triptych. It features soaring melodies and lush orchestration, the hallmarks of Puccini’s musical style that make him a perennial favorite in opera houses around the world to this day.

The themes of Suor Angelica are also resonant today. Since 2019, Opera Omaha has partnered with the MICAH House women’s shelter by providing weekly creative workshops that inspire joy and personal expression and build connections between participants. This type of hopeful and supportive programming is a real-life antidote to the circumstances our title character faces.

We hope you will join us for lighter fare, Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, in March and April. And then the 2023-2024 Season is just around the corner! We are delighted to present three productions in the Orpheum Theater, beginning with Donzietti’s Don Pasquale. There is something especially celebratory about opening the season with a comedy, and Don Pasquale promises to deliver laughs as well as glorious bel canto set pieces.

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SUOR ANGELICA | FEBRUARY 2023

Finally, we will present the company premiere of El último sueño de Frida y Diego

by Gabriela Lena Frank. This stirring piece, sung in Spanish, imagines the turbulent romance of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo through memories and paintings, told from Rivera’s perspective on Día de los Muertos.

There is much to look forward to, and it will be my great pleasure to meet you and welcome you to performances this season and next!

Sincerely,

Allison Swenson GENERAL DIRECTOR OF OPERA OMAHA

EDWARD POLOCHICK MUSIC DIRECTOR

22-23 SEASON Champion (Terence Blanchard)

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Making a difference.

Husch Blackwell proudly supports Opera Omaha’s 2022-2023 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.

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

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SUOR ANGELICA | FEBRUARY 2023

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MEET

ALLISON OPERA OMAHA IS THRILLED TO WELCOME ALLISON SWENSON AS GENERAL DIRECTOR. With 20 years of experience in the field, Swenson’s work includes time with the Santa Fe Opera, Glimmerglass Festival, and Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, working with emerging talent and seasoned artists.

Why opera?

For me, it’s the voice. The superhuman ability to sing with beauty of tone, elegant phrasing, and sensitivity to the text, unamplified and in concert with the orchestra and staging. It’s the intangible thing that gives you goosebumps.

What music do you listen to that might surprise people?

My Spotify mix is pretty diverse, from Carmen McRae to Bonnie Raitt to Earth, Wind & Fire, and the hip-hop artists of my high school years!

What was your first opera?

What would you say to someone who has never experienced opera before?

My parents, both music teachers, introduced me to opera at a very young age. One of my bedtime stories was a children’s version of Gilbert and Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore!

My first experience in the theater was Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, which we will present here in Omaha next month.

Go! But more specifically I would say: “You are going to be moved, you are going to feel something.” And I would add that, while many operas are performed in different languages, English translations are projected above the stage.

If you could only listen to one opera for the rest of your life, what would it be?

That is an impossible question, but there are two recordings of arias that changed my life. I heard Cristina Deutekom’s incredibly precise Queen of the Night when I was 16 and decided in that moment to make opera my career. In college, I studied “News, news, news” from John Adams’ Nixon in China, which opened my mind to contemporary opera in a profound way.

What do you enjoy outside of opera?

I cook, travel, run and read, and I have a soft spot for animals. I was a foster for the Espanola Humane Society in New Mexico for several years, and I supported a social media campaign where adoptable pets were named after characters in the Santa Fe Opera’s season.

What is one thing you want to do this year?

Explore Omaha! I have a long list of restaurants to try, trails to run, and of course, people to meet!

What do you love about your work?

Easy: the people. I love the entire spectrum of personalities who find themselves drawn to opera.

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OPERA OMAHA

BOARD OF DIRECTORS BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIR

Elisa B. Davies VICE CHAIR

ADVISORS Linda Andersen Jo Bartikoski

Linda Burt Rebrovic

Dr. Jawed Bharwani

TREASURER

Nicholas Bjornson

Maria Carlson

Sandra Bruns

SECRETARY

Dr. Viv L. Ewing

Carol E. Domina ADVISORS CHAIR

Jim Winner

COMMUNITY PANEL REPRESENTATIVE

Camtrice Bexten Anne Bruckner Kiley Freeman Dr. Ali Khan

David Gardels Lisa Hagstrom Dr. Fred Hanna Dr. Michael Hilt Carter Jones Mark Allen Maser Sheila McNeil

Dr. Joanne Li

April Nebel

Dr. Cheryl Logan

Dr. Debra Reilly-Culver

Jerry O’Flanagan

Mary Ann Strasheim

Terri Sanders

Jerry Syslo

Jara Sturdivant-Wilson

Dr. James Tracy Shelby VanNorsdstrand

EMERITUS BOARD

Cindy Weil

Terrence J. Ferguson

Deb Peterson

Robert E. Owen

OPERA OMAHA GUILD PRESIDENT CRAFTSMAN’S GUILD PRESIDENT

Chris Gannon-Tombrello

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SUOR ANGELICA | FEBRUARY 2023

OPERA OMAHA

STAFF GENERAL DIRECTOR

Allison Swenson

ADMINISTRATION

OPERATIONS

WEITZ FELLOW

PRODUCING DIRECTOR

OFFICE MANAGER

HOLLAND COMMUNITY OPERA FELLOW

DEVELOPMENT, MARKETING & PUBLIC RELATIONS

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

MANAGING DIRECTOR

DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION

GRAPHIC & DIGITAL MEDIA MANAGER

COMMUNITY OPERA FELLOWSHIP MANAGER

AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT & SALES MANAGER

DIRECTOR OF ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS

Rebecca Chen Cydnea Hoff

Shannon Walenta Rachel Austin

Howard Coffin

DONOR STEWARDSHIP & EVENTS MANAGER

Rebecca Ihnen

DEVELOPMENT DATABASE & ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER

Laura Jaros

Kurt Howard

Taylor Adams Mark Blice

ARTISTIC ADMINISTRATOR

Kai Song Chan

Katherine Clanton Wendy Kaiser

Lauren Medici

HOLLAND COMMUNITY OPERA FELLOW

Fernando Antonio Montejano

HOLLAND COMMUNITY OPERA FELLOW

Charisa Ramsey

HOLLAND COMMUNITY OPERA FELLOW

Jaime Marie Webb

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

Joe Prickett

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

Kyle Thomas

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WITH GRATITUDE

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

ARTIST SPONSOR

ADDITIONAL SEASON SUPPORT Gilbert M. and Martha H. Hitchcock Foundation

Anonymous

Rose Blumkin Foundation William R. Patrick Foundation

Robert E. Owen Cindy & Mogens Bay Whitmore Charitable Trust Jetton Charitable Fund

Mammel Family Foundation

Giger Foundation Adah and Leon Millard 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.

SUOR ANGELICA | FEBRUARY 2023

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SUOR ANGELICA

CONDUCTOR’S NOTE

Of all of Puccini’s operas, Suor Angelica is truly one of my favorites. With elements of a perfect emotional thriller (hope, betrayal, and sacrifice), it is a story of two closed and powerful societies, one religious, the other aristocratic, connected by a provocative secret. As beautiful melodies are the trademarks of Puccini’s works, this opera contains some of the composer’s most breathtaking efforts.

But Puccini’s genius lies not just in his ability to spin stunning tunes.

Whether consciously done or otherwise, he has given each character a specific orchestral color, following them throughout like a faithful companion: bright chords and shorter melodies from the woodwinds accompany the sisters’ conversations during leisure. Muted trumpets appear with prayers and during “Amen”, suggesting celestial messages from beyond.

Subtle uses of dynamics and the placement of the flute in its lowest register suggest the mournfulness of time’s passage.

Perhaps the most dramatic and stirring moment occurs when Sister Angelica sings her first uninterrupted, long melodic line “desires are the flowers of the living, never blooming in the realms of death,” quietly supported by the strings and the woodwinds, before the orchestra surges upwards to match the depths of her sadness, foreshadowing the tragedy to come. In an environment of constant restraint, the sisters are shocked into silence, while the orchestra expresses the barely controlled tension in the room.

— Judith Yan CONDUCTOR

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SUOR ANGELICA

DIRECTOR'S NOTE

The interesting thing about a piece like Suor Angelica, which takes place in an Italian convent, is that you can set it in almost any time period and it would look exactly the same. It’s only the arrival of the Princess that allows us any hint at period, which for our production is post World War II. This gives us a reason for the seven year absence of word from Angelica’s family as well as a period that feels modern enough for us to see ourselves in the characters. Despite the period, the life of the nun is enduring and neverchanging which is a fact that has continually piqued my interest. Puccini and Forzano give us a wonderful, gentle view of the personalities and daily life of the sisterhood in the opening of the opera that make sense in any number of centuries.

For many years, convents were a place of religious thought and prayer, but they were also protective, which was definitely true during war time. They were an option for a better life to the women who sought refuge there. In earlier centuries, sisters might find women who were living and working on the street and recruit them into the convent as a way to live a healthier, more protected life. For many young women, the convent offered shelter from all manner of ills. In our story, curiously, Sister Angelica still feels and acts somewhat like an outsider, even after seven years behind the veil.

Forzano doesn’t give us much to go on in terms of Sister Angelica’s back story. We know she was an orphan though left well off, that she has siblings, and most importantly, we know she had a son who was ripped away from her at birth (though we know nothing of the circumstances), and this is the reason she was forced into the convent life. In this story, it is not Angelica who is seeking refuge, it is her family who hoped she could be hidden away in order to cover their shame. This is a piece that, at its core, is about the ability for women to make their own choices. Through history, bodily autonomy and the ability to become a mother – or not become a mother – has been regulated and policed by everyone except the person with the womb in question. Sister Angelica was not offered a choice, lost the son she very much wanted, and was ultimately backed into a corner.

Interestingly, the piece does not indict the church as much as it indicts Sister Angelica’s family and their inability to forgive, embrace, and care for her no matter her choices.

Like so many operatic works, the piece resonates today, both in the established sisterhood of the nuns, their suspiciousness about Sister Angelica, and her lack of autonomy as a woman.

— Keturah Stickann DIRECTOR

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On

Feb. 10 – March 19

March 3 – 26

April 14 – May 7

April 28 – May 21

June 2 – 25

S al

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ARTWORK BY SARAH ROWE

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Music by Giacomo Puccini Libretto by Giovacchino Forzano Performed in Italian with English supertitles

February 24 & 26, 2023 Orpheum Theater, Slosburg Hall | Omaha, Nebraska First performance: The Metropolitan Opera, December 14, 1918

CREATIVE

CAST

CONDUCTOR

SUOR ANGELICA

DIRECTOR

LA PRINCIPESSA

SCENIC DESIGNER

THE ABBESS

ORIGINAL COSTUME DESIGNER

THE MONITOR

ADDITIONAL COSTUME DESIGNER

THE MISTRESS OF THE NOVICES

Judith Yan* Keturah Stickann* S.A. Panfili*

Betty Fredrickson Amanda Jones

LIGHTING DESIGNER

J. Isadora Krech*

Elaine Alvarez* Ronnita Miller Deborah Nansteel* Kelly Guerra* Hilary Ginther

SUOR GENOVIEFFA

Jennifer Cherest*

WIG & MAKEUP DESIGNER

Ronell Oliveri SUPERTITLES

Kai Song Chan*

*Opera Omaha Mainstage Debut

Opera Omaha Chorus | The Omaha Symphony Scenery and costumes for this production are courtesy of Tri-Cities Opera, Inc. The performance runs approximately 85 minutes without intermission The use of flash equipped cameras, audio recorders, video cameras or any other recording device during the performance is strictly prohibited.

SUOR ANGELICA

SYNOPSIS THE CLOISTERS AND GARDEN OF A CONVENT. Two postulants are late for prayer. Also late is Sister Angelica, who kneels in penance for her tardiness. As the nuns leave the chapel, the abbey Monitor and Mistress of Novices chide their charges. The sisters are excited by the annual occurrence of a natural phenomenon – on only three evenings a year the rays of the setting sun give the water in the font a glow as if the water is golden. The sisters decide they will sprinkle some of the golden water on the tomb of one of their recently departed. Sister Genevieve discusses her innocent wish to see a lamb. She inquires if Angelica has a wish, but Angelica denies that she does. The other sisters call this a lie, whispering that Angelica, once rich and noble, was forced into the convent seven years ago and is saddened by the fact that she has never had any contact from her family.

Sister Angelica has learned about the use of herbs in making potions to cure various illnesses and brews one to ease the pain of a fellow sister’s wasp sting. As the nuns examine the wares of a trip to the market, they learn that a very grand carriage has arrived at the entrance. Angelica is overcome with the hope that it is a visitor here to see her. The Abbess comes to tell Angelica that her aunt, the Princess, has arrived.

Although eager to embrace her aunt, Angelica finds the Princess is cold and unfriendly, offering her only a hand to kiss. The Princess informs Angelica that she has divided Angelica’s deceased parents’ estate. She has come because Angelica’s younger sister is to be married and Angelica must sign a document renouncing any claim on the family fortune.

Angelica declares that she repents her sin, but cannot forget her son, who she only saw once. She begs her aunt to tell her of the boy’s welfare. Reluctantly the Princess tells her that the child was taken ill two years previously and has died. Overcome with grief, Angelica signs the document. The Princess departs.

Left alone, Angelica reels in the agony of her child dying without his mother. A new wish has overtaken her – the wish to die. The sisters approach her, but Angelica believes that a heavenly grace has descended on her.

As the other nuns go to their cells for the night, Angelica mixes various poisonous herbs with the water from the font and, in a trance like state, she drinks the potion.

As the pain brings reality back, Angelica pleads for forgiveness. The chapel doors open, and an apparition of the Virgin Mary appears with a small child, whom she guides toward Angelica. Angelica embraces her child and falls to the ground dead.

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SUOR ANGELICA | FEBRUARY 2023

ARTIST

BIOGRAPHIES Judith Yan

Keturah Stickann

Conductor Judith Yan makes her Opera Omaha debut in Suor Angelica. Equally adept at conducting symphony, opera, and ballet, Judith Yan has held Staff Conductor positions at San Francisco Opera, Canadian Opera Company, and National Ballet of Canada. Ms. Yan’s Recent performances include 3 critically-acclaimed worldpremieres: Perla’s An American Dream for Seattle Opera, Estacio’s Ours for Opera on the Avalon, and Pastor’s Dracula for West Australian Ballet, debuts conducting La Bohème with Vancouver Opera, Orfeo with Kentucky Opera, Sleeping Beauty with National Arts Centre, Cranko’s Taming of the Shrew with Teatr Wielki; and productions of La Bayadère with West Australian Ballet, Don Quixote with Hong Kong Ballet, and Swan Lake with Korean National Ballet.

Her 2022/23 season includes Heggie's Three Decembers with Opera on the Avalon, Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia with San Francisco Opera, Madama Butterfly with New Orleans Opera, 3 programmes with Saskatoon Symphony (Gipps, Forsyth, and Hatzis; De Falla and Ravel; Copland and Wagner), and the world-premiere of Laura Kaminsky and Lisa Moore’s opera, February, for Opera on the Avalon.

Born and raised in the Midwest, Keturah Stickann has had a career as a classical and contemporary dancer, performing extensively in opera. Subsequently her work as a stage director has been seen in many opera houses across the United States and Canada, as well as in Chile, Japan, France, Germany, Hungary, and Australia.

A champion of new American opera, she has worked extensively with director and librettist Leonard Foglia, and has helped to bring new operas to the stage by Ricky Ian Gordon, Jennifer Higdon, and Jake Heggie & Gene Scheer among others. In a creative solution for the COVID-19 era, some of her more recent productions include the drive-in versions of La Bohème and The Barber of Seville for San Diego Opera. Recent and future productions include Salome at Madison Opera, Don Giovanni at Minnesota Opera and Intimate Apparel at Chautauqua. Ms. Stickann is an Artistic Advisor at Knoxville Opera.

Conductor

J. Isadora Krech

Director

Ronell Oliveri

Lighting Designer

Wig & Makeup Designer

J. Isadora Krech makes their Opera Omaha debut in Suor Angelica.

Ms. Krech is a multi-media artist, designer, writer, and musician based in Berlin. Their performance work is focused on opera, dance, and performance art. Their opera designs have been seen at Opera Colorado, San Diego Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Palm Beach Opera, West Edge Opera, Opera Santa Barbara, West Bay Opera, Yale Arts and Ideas Festival, and Whitesnake Productions. Her dance, theatre, and performance art has been seen across the US and internationally. Their Installations and video art have shown at galleries and festivals in New York, Virginia, Nevada, and California. She has been a guest artist at Williams College, USF, Hollins, and UC Berkeley. They received an MFA from New York University.

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. In 2007, she was a Prime Time Emmy Award nominee as key makeup artist for her work in television. 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. Her work can also be seen in several Broadway shows including Wicked, All The Way, and Waitress. Other recent engagements include Boston Lyric Opera’s Cavalleria Rusticana, Opera Omaha’s Eugene Onegin, and Opera Colorado’s Die Tote Stadt.

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ARTIST

BIOGRAPHIES Elaine Alvarez

Ronnita Miller

Cuban-American soprano Elaine Alvarez makes her Opera Omaha debut in Suor Angelica. Notable engagements include the title role of Aïda for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Riccardo Muti, Tosca with Choregies d’Orange, Opera de Oviedo and the Chautauqua Opera; Mimi in La Bohéme for the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Opera National de Bordeaux, Teatro Carlo Felice and Oper Frankfurt, among others; La Traviata for Munich's Bayerische Staatsoper, Fort Worth Opera, Oper Leipzig and Theater St. Gallen; Magda in La Rondine for Oper Frankfurt; Kat’a Kabanova with Boston Lyric Opera; the title role in Florencia en el Amazonas for San Diego Opera; the title role in Cecilia Valdez for Teatro de la Zarzuela in Madrid; and several major role debuts at the Opera Royal de Wallonie in Belgium including Donizetti's infamous Tudor Queen, Anna Bolena, Elvira in Ernani, Hélène in Jerusalem, and her first performances as Aïda.

Mezzo-soprano Ronnita Miller returns to Opera Omaha after last performing in X, The Life and Times of Malcolm X . This season, Ms. Miller makes returns to San Francisco Opera as Filippyevna in Eugene Onegin and to Atlanta Opera as Erda in Das Rheingold. In concert, she joins Oberlin College at Carnegie Hall as the mezzo soloist for Dett’s The Ordering of Moses and the Indianapolis Symphony for Handel’s Messiah.

Last season, she returned to the Metropolitan Opera as Big Stone in Matthew Aucoin’s Eurydice, joined the San Diego Symphony and North Carolina Symphony for Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, appeared in recital with the New World Symphony, and sang Schwertleite in Die Walküre with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at The Hollywood Bowl.

Suor Angelica

Deborah Nansteel

La Principessa

Kelly Guerra

The Abbess

The Monitor

Mezzo-soprano Deborah Nansteel makes her Opera Omaha debut in Suor Angelica.

Ms. Nansteel made her debut with The Metropolitan Opera as Alisa in Lucia di Lammermoor, her debut with the Lyric Opera of Chicago as Gertrude in Roméo et Juliette, her Carnegie Hall debut in Mozart’s Coronation Mass, and her New York Philharmonic debut alongside Eric Owens in In Their Footsteps: Great African American Singers and Their Legacy. She performed the role of Mother in the world premiere of Blind Injustice with Cincinnati Opera which will soon be commercially released on the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s Fanfare Cincinnati label, as well as participated in Glimmerglass Opera Festival’s digital production of Jungle Book as Raksha.

Recently, Ms. Nansteel returned to the Metropolitan Opera as Annina in La Traviata, made her house debut with the San Francisco Opera in their productions of Eugene Onegin and Dialogues of the Carmelites, and performed as Gertrude in Hansel & Gretel for New Orleans Opera. Later this season, she will debut the role of Amneris in Aida for Opera Grand Rapids and sing Verdi’s Requiem for Orchestra Iowa.

Mezzo-soprano Kelly Guerra makes her Opera Omaha debut in Suor Angelica. Most recently, she performed the title role in Astor Piazzolla’s María de Buenos Aires with Kentucky Opera, reprised the role of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in Derrick Wang’s comic opera Scalia/Ginsburg at the Princeton Festival, debuted with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under the baton of John Adams in the Noon to Midnight Contemporary Festival, and premiered Katherine Balch’s orchestral song cycle Illuminate with the California Symphony. In the 2021-2022 season she toured …(Iphigenia) by Wayne Shorter and Esperanza Spalding, appearing as Iphigenia Unbound. Upcoming engagements include Cruzar la Cara de la Luna with West Edge Opera and a return to the Princeton Festival as Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia.

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SUOR ANGELICA | FEBRUARY 2023

Hilary Ginther

Jennifer Cherest

Mezzo-soprano Hilary Ginther returns to Opera Omaha after last performing in Opera Outdoors 2022 and Olga in Eugene Onegin. Ms. Ginther enjoys a career that embraces three centuries worth of operatic repertoire from contemporary to baroque. She made a debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra as a soloist in Berstein’s Mass under the baton of Yannick NézetSéguin, which was recorded

by Deutsche Grammophon and was internationally released in March 2018 in commemoration of the composer's centenary. During the 2019–2020 season Ms. Ginther performed as Anne Boleyn in Saint-Saens’s Henry VIII with Odyssey Opera in Boston. She was then heard in concert with Opera on the James, followed by her role debut as Joan of Arc in The Maid of Orléans with New Orleans Opera. Most recent engagements include the role of Elisabetta in Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda and Adalgisa in Bellini’s Norma with Musica Viva in Hong Kong, Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Fargo Moorhead Opera and Opera on the James, and Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with Maestro Joe Illick in Santa Fe. Future engagements include a debut with Opera Columbus as Maddalena in Rigoletto and with Central City Opera as Emilia in Rossini's Otello.

Soprano Jennifer Cherest makes her Opera Omaha debut in Suor Angelica. Since finishing her prestigious Adler fellowship with the San Francisco Opera in 2013, Ms. Cherest has debuted with such companies as Washington National Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Opera Delaware, The Aspen Music Festival and most recently returned to Cincinnati Opera to sing the role of High Priestess in Aida. Additionally, she is very honored to have sung on the Metropolitan Opera Stage in the national semifinals of the Metropolitan Opera National Council (MONC) Auditions. After a well-received debut as Zerlina with North Carolina Opera, Ms. Cherest was invited back to sing Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, a role she first debuted in Italy. She has won top honors in the Licia Albanese International Vocal Competition, the Boulder International Competition, the Partners for the Arts Competition, as well as placing 3rd in the regionals of the MONC competition in 2013 and 1st the following year sending her to the Met Semi-Finals.

The Mistress of the Novices

Suor Genovieffa

SUOR ANGELICA | FEBRUARY 2023

21

OPERA OMAHA

CHORUS & SUPERNUMERARIES CHORUS REPRESENTATIVE

Laura Petry

SUOR OSMINA

Olivia Hacker SUOR DOLCINA

Rocio Valle

NURSING SISTER

Karina Brazas LAY SISTERS

CeCe Hastreiter Laura Petry NOVICE

Alexandria Plumb ALMS COLLECTORS

OFFSTAGE CHORUS

Dillon Edwards Jonathan Frazier David Petry Michael Petry Gavin Rasmussen

RAGAZZI CHORUS Vocal students from the Omaha Conservatory of Music

Judson Cloudt* Cecilia Merkle* Martin Prieto* Liam Richardson Thomas Rogers* SUPERS

Abby Thomas* Flora Thomas*

Mary Carrick Susan Linnell NUNS

Jensyn Bell Tara Cowherd Stephanie Curran* Crystal Dunning* Julia Ervin Carole Jeanpierre* Judi Unger

22

SUOR ANGELICA | FEBRUARY 2023

*Opera Omaha Debut

OPERA OMAHA

ARTISTIC & PRODUCTION STAFF STAGE MANAGER

PROPERTIES SUPERVISOR

WIG & MAKEUP ARTIST

Laura Peters

Candace Leyland

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

ASSOCIATE PROPERTIES SUPERVISOR

SUPERTITLE OPERATOR

Wes Clowers

Nicole Thoms

ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER

ASSISTANT LIGHTING DESIGNER

ASSISTANT TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

Christopher Brusberg

Curran, Chad+

ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER

LIGHTING PROGRAMMER

HEAD PRODUCTION CARPENTER

Aaron Craig

Al Dusek+

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

LIGHTING ASSISTANT

HEAD PRODUCTION ELECTRICIAN

Abbey Smith

Scott Wasson+

CHORUS DIRECTOR

COSTUME SUPERVISOR

HEAD PRODUCTION AUDIO

Amanda Jones

Brian Kinnaman+

REHEARSAL ACCOMPANIST

WARDROBE COORDINATOR

ENGAGEMENT ASSISTANT

Jeron Dooling

Matthew Schulz* Jessie Mhire

Anthony Rivera

Courtney Sidzyik Josh Quinn*

Sara Chiesa*

Alethea Larson

Patrick McEvoy

ENGAGEMENT DRAMATURG

Sarah Lynn Brown

*Opera Omaha Debut

+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.

SUOR ANGELICA | FEBRUARY 2023

23

OMAHA

SYMPHONY Ankush Kumar Bahl, Music Director

CELLO

TRUMPET

Ernest Richardson, Resident Conductor & Principal Pops Conductor

Paul Ledwon, Principal

Scott Quackenbush, Principal

Gregory Clinton, Associate Principal

Federico Montes, Associate Principal

VIOLIN

Samuel Pierce-Ruhland, Assistant Principal

Christopher Haas

Susanna Perry Gilmore, Concertmaster Ahra Cho, 1st Associate Concertmaster Henry Jenkins, 2nd Associate Concertmaster Christopher Hake, Assistant Concertmaster Keith Plenert, Principal 2nd Violin Frank Seligman, Associate Principal 2nd Violin

Timothy Strang Holly Gullen-Stout Mark Motycka InYoung Park Trevor Petersen BASS

TROMBONE

Patrick Pfister, Principal Jason Stromquist Jay Wise TUBA

Craig Fuller, Principal

Nate Olson, Principal

TIMPANI

Kevin Tompkins, Assistant Principal 2nd Violin

William Ritchie, Assistant Principal

Jack Rago, Principal

Ricardo Amador

Dani Meier

Phyllis Duncan Tracy Dunn Daniel Fletcher Rebecca Kia-Mills Anne Nagosky Scott Shoemaker

James Giles Robert Scharmann Michael Swartz FLUTE

Maria Harding, Principal Lisa Meyerhofer, Assistant Principal

PERCUSSION

Derek Dreier, Principal Paul Matthews, Assistant Principal HARP

Chloe Tula, Principal KEYBOARD

Christi Zuniga, Principal

Lucy Duke

OBOE

Michael Keelan

Alexandra Rock, Principal

Melissa Pruss

Heather Baxter, Assistant Principal

ARTISTIC OPERATIONS

Juliet Yoshida

Angela Christine Sallas

David Neely

CLARINET

Jennifer Boomgaarden, President & CEO

Nadia Maudhoo

Carmelo Galante, Principal

VIOLA

Rosiario Galante, Assistant Principal

Thomas Kluge, Principal

Madison Freed

Tyler Sieh, Associate Principal

BASSOON

Judy Divis Margo Romig-Motycka Sherrie Goeden Bozhidar Shopov Alexa Brown Sarah Curley

James Compton, Principal Nicholas Nelson, Assistant Principal Karen Sandene HORN

Brett Hodge, Principal Austin Ruff, Associate Principal Garrett Law Steven Schultz

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SUOR ANGELICA | FEBRUARY 2023

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 Sara Baguyos, Head Librarian Tracy Bass, Librarian Mark Haar, Assistant Librarian John Coate, Stage Manager Jeff Baron, Assistant Stage Manager

SHARE YOUR OPERA EXPERIENCE #SuorAngelicaOmaha @operaomaha

The Nebraska Cultural Endowment Proudly Supports Insert Nonprofit Name Here OPERA OMAHA Learn more about how the Nebraska Cultural Endowment ensures an endless tradition of arts and humanities in our state, visit NebraskaCulture.org

2022-23 National Performance Season

Friday March 17 7:30 PM

DSQ Electric Dallas String Quartet (DSQ) is an international music sensation that plays a fusion of contemporary classical and pop music. DSQ is referred to as “Bach meets Bon Jovi” and compared to artists like Lindsey Stirling, Vitamin String Quartet and 2Cellos. They use both traditional and electric string instruments performing as a quartet with the full accompaniment of drums and guitar and are known for their eclectic renditions of anything from Guns N’ Roses “Sweet Child of Mine” to Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello’s “Señorita.

PURCHASE TICKETS: 712.388.7140 | artscenter.iwcc.edu SUOR ANGELICA | FEBRUARY 2023

25

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

Samantha Antes

Bill Gaus

Cathy Schaefer

Mark & Cindy Baumer

Nora Mae & John Gibson

Rebecca Schaefer

Betty Beach

Julie Harmon

Mary Starr Smith

Harriet Beckenhauer

Mark Kalal

Shelby Snell

Jenny Bruce

Christine Lund

Leslie Vann

Ian Bugeja

Julie Mead

Annika Weber

Tom Burton

Christine & Patrick Peters

Gina Carusi

Hilarie Price

Kristen Drescher

Cheryl Sanwick

Melissa Fritz

Dick Serpan

Chris & Kate Gannon-Tombrello

Margret Sexton

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!

April 7

Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center

May 13 & 14 Orpheum Theater

amballet.org/tickets 26

SUOR ANGELICA | FEBRUARY 2023

The Opera Omaha Guild is a dedicated group of men and women 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 www.operaomaha.org for additional information.

We appreciate your interest and look forward to hearing from you soon!

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE PRESIDENT

Deb Peterson PRESIDENT ELECT

VP SOCIAL

AT LARGE BOARD MEMBERS

Lora Kaup

Betty Foster

CORRESPONDING SECRETARY

Sheila McNeill

Erin Sample

Vivian Davis

PAST PRESIDENT

RECORDING SECRETARY

Mary Ellen Mulcahy

Kelly Sanford

Mark Maser

Jon Nebel

VP EDUCATION

TREASURER

Pauline Quinn

VP FUNDRAISING

COTILLION LIAISON

Josie Wadman April Nebel

Gwen Olney Lisa Hagstrom

Dorene Sherman Sherry Taxman Sara Young

VP MEMBERSHIP

Connie Kinnear

When your financial goals are at center stage, let us take care of things behind the scenes.

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weitzinvestments.com

SUOR ANGELICA | FEBRUARY 2023

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OPERA OMAHA

23/24 SEASON A R E O U R C I R C U M S TA N C E S A LW AY S T H E C O N S E Q U E N C E O F O U R C H O I C E S ?

D O W E R E A L LY G E T W H AT W E D E S E R V E ?

W H AT D O W E B R I N G U P O N O U R S E LV E S A N D W H AT I S P R E D E S T I N E D B Y FAT E ?

Join three heroines: one who, to win her love, becomes a pain, one who, to cherish her love, hides her pain, and one who, to reunite with her love, remembers her pain. As each tends the paths given to them, they grow and adapt to own control of their stories.

M AY 3 & 5 , 2 0 2 4

EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO

OCTOBER 27 & 29, 2023

DON PASQUALE Composed by Gaetano Donizetti Libretto by Giovanni Ruffini Hijinks and hilarity flourish in this delightful comic opera. A crochety miser is thwarted in his attempts to thwart his nephew out of

F E B RUA RY 1 6 & 1 8 , 2 0 2 4

LA TRAVIATA Composed by Giuseppe Verdi Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave

(The last dream of Frida and Diego)

Composed by Gabriela Lena Frank Libretto by Nilo Cruz By the light of candles, through the fragrance of marigolds, the famous muralist

an inheritance. With the guise and wit of a

One of the most iconic, romantic, and tragic

Diego Rivera longs to see his deceased wife

clever young woman and a family friend, the

stories of all time. Scandalous love between

Frida Kahlo just once more before he dies.

old man becomes tangled in the vines of his

a courtesan, the iconic Violetta, and an

With the pathway back to earth open on

own buffoonery.

upper crust young man blissfully blooms

Día de los Muertos, Frida and Diego relive

until societal expectations force her to

their tumultuous love and passion by

confront what sacrifices she is willing to

journeying through her paintings and

make in exchange for his honor. This

memories, blossoming their relationship and

exquisite, traditional staging of one of the

exploring the cultivation of their lives.

art form’s most popular operas flourishes with the passion, hope and costs of love.

LEARN MORE AT OPERAOMAHA.ORG/23-24

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SUOR ANGELICA | FEBRUARY 2023

COMMUNITY PARTNER

MICAH HOUSE In the powerful tale of Puccini’s Suor Angelica, the protagonist experiences a series of traumatic events outside of her control. Because of her choices, she is judged unworthy and discarded by those who should have protected her. Her ability to be a mother is taken from her. In this new identity forced upon her, there is no escape; there is no alternative. The only solace she has is in the hope that her son is thriving.

Although written over 100 years ago, many of the themes of Suor Angelica still ring true: socio-economic status power-plays, sexual and gender inequality, and spiritual abuse to name a few. However perhaps the most profound element of this melancholic tapestry is the effect of trauma on an individual. Trauma and the loss of hope can crush the spirit as can be seen in this tragic tale. But the good news is, this is not the end of the story.

MICAH House is a shelter for families and women experiencing the crisis of homelessness located in Council Bluffs. In 2022, the shelter provided supportive services and trauma-informed care to over 728 individuals, 249 of whom were single women. The Adverse Childhood Experiences questionnaire shows us that of single women surveyed, most have experienced 5 or more of the 10 acute traumas in their lifetime such as sexual abuse or having an incarcerated parent. The more experiences a person has, the higher impact this has on their physical and emotional health. This will be evident in the person’s ability to cope, overcome adversity, and deal with stress.

PARTNERSHIP WITH OPERA OMAHA Since 2019, Opera Omaha’s Holland Community Opera Fellowship program has been providing classes for women living at MICAH House. Opera Omaha runs its program two times each year for 8 week sessions. During their time together, the group builds an environment of trust with the Fellows. Through music, words, and fine art, the women connect with and move through painful experiences using art as a way to self-express.

Often, at the end of the session, the group will create a project together such as a collage poem. Being able to have this moment of validation and togetherness makes a world of difference to individuals who are suffering.

Often, that is what makes the difference for a person to face and embrace the pain or sink into despair.

The class has become one of the most popular programs at MICAH House.

For 2023, a goal is to be able to provide the same classes to parents, where currently childcare is a challenge.

LEARN MORE IN THE LOBBY Visit with MICAH staff in the Orpheum Theater lobby during Suor Angelica or visit the website at www.themicahhouse.org and discover ways to support the MICAH House mission.

SUOR ANGELICA | FEBRUARY 2023

31

HOLLAND COMMUNITY OPERA FELLOWSHIP

& MICAH HOUSE Since 2019, our Holland Community Opera Fellows lead a series of weekly creative workshops for the women of MICAH House. The activities in the workshops take on many forms, but they are all towards the goals of creating joy, inspiring creative expression, and building connections.

In a workshop there may be music appreciation and sharing, the creation of visual art, and creative writing and on themes like friendship, support, confidence, and community.

For the last two years, a group poem has been created at the end of each series with all participants contributing, word, line or phrase. These poems celebrate our time together, and many of them can be found proudly on displayed on room doors at the facility. The poem from the Fall 2022 workshop series “We Are One” is shared here, and you can view other examples in the lobby.

We want the women to feel valued and empowered, know they are creative people and they can use the arts and music and creativity as a form of expression and an outlet not only in our workshops, but as part of their tool kit they have when they leave MICAH House.

BELOW IS SOME FEEDBACK FROM PARTICIPANTS IN OUR MOST RECENT SERIES OF WORKSHOPS: “This was the best class I have taken and helped me heal and open up and write again.”

“You got me in my creative mood and got me thinking more positively. I was surprised my creativity came back so fast.”

“I wrote a positive poem for myself and for the group. I hadn’t wrote a poem in 16 years and my last one was about suicide, but the one you had me write was entitled “I Am A Warrior.” I can heal.”

“This program was beneficial, expanding my creative side and self-love are skills I’ll use in the future.”

"The workshops were positive, very helpful. I have been able to express my feelings through art + music. So fun. I opened up a lot more and was surprised by my creativity. Please keep doing these programs. "

“I love the Opera Omaha workshops. They sparked my creative inner child! I thought I was a terrible artist, but looks like I’m a pro.

Look out Bob Ross!”

SUOR ANGELICA | FEBRUARY 2023

33

HCOF Fellows use all different artistic mediums and formats for participants to explore their creativity and express themselves.

Included is artwork created during our workshop at QLI where participants used colors to describe a setting for their story and artwork created by MICAH House participants in response to music.

MEET OUR 22/23 HCOF FELLOWS

TAYLOR ADAMS

Taylor is a multiple awardwinning scenic designer focused in creating community through art.

34

FERNANDO ANTONIO MONTEJANO

Fernando is a Mexican American writer, author, storyteller, and poet.

SUOR ANGELICA | FEBRUARY 2023

CHARISA RAMSEY

JAIME MARIE WEBB

Charisa is a teaching artist, actor, director, and playwright.

Jaime is a coloratura soprano and teaching artist.

OPERA OMAHA

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

HCOF 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.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS & PROGRAMMING We bring our artistic talents and resources to the table to partner with experts in the field who are actively working to solve the most pressing issues in our communities, like homelessness, income disparity, immigration, and segregation.

We create responsive programming that acknowledges the specific strengths of each participating individual or community partner. Opera is our toolbox and all forms of art and creativity that make up opera make their way into programming.

22/23 PROGRAMMING PARTNERS

Sarpy County Juvenile Justice Center

THE COMMUNITY PANEL

22/23 COMMUNITY PANEL

The HCOF Community Panel represents a cross-section of the community including organizations, businesses, neighborhoods, and community groups. Those serving on the Community Panel develop a partnership with Opera Omaha to engage in meaningful conversations around community issues, program development, potential partners and opportunities across different neighborhoods and sectors.

Ang Bennett, Inclusive Communities Camtrice Bexten, NU Foundation Tiffiny Clifton, Gotta Be Me Rachel Morgan, Nebraska Arts Council Erin Painter, Learning Community Center of South Omaha Rita Paskowitz, Storyteller Paula Wallace, Artist/Hot Shops Angie Williams, MICAH House Gwyn Williams, Independent Leadership Coach Nancy Williams, No More Empty Pots

FIND MORE INFORMATION AT OPERAOMAHA.ORG/FELLOWSHIP SUOR ANGELICA | FEBRUARY 2023

35

OPERA OMAHA

DONORS It is our honor to recognize community members who, through their generosity to Opera Omaha’s Annual Fund, enable the company to create this season's large-scale opera productions and deliver groundbreaking, free community programming, including the nationally acclaimed Holland Community Opera Fellowship, that engage tens of thousands of people in meaningful, artistic experiences.

This listing reflects gifts received between July 15, 2021-December 15, 2022

CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE

$100,000+

Cindy and Mogens Bay Richard D. Holland* Annette and Paul Smith

PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE $50,000- $99,999

Ann Mactier* Mary and Richard Parrish Julie M. Schroeder

PRODUCER $25,000-$49,999

Carol and David Domina Terrence and Catherine Ferguson Joan O'Brien* Robert and Kay Owen William and Patricia Ritchie Drew and Meredith Weitz Tim Wilson and Katie Weitz Donald Wurster and Joan Gibson*

BACKER

$10,000-$24,999

Sharon and Randy Blackburn Anne and Stephen Bruckner Sandi and Bill Bruns Vivian and Allen Hager Vernie and Carter Jones Janet and H. Frederick Kuehl Susan and Michael Lebens Joan and Ed McCarthy Pauline Quinn Linda Burt Rebrovic and John Rebrovic Mary Ann Strasheim Kate and Roger Weitz

36

BENEFACTOR $5,000-$9,999

Anonymous Sara and Jawed Bharwani Barbara Person and Scott Burger Debra Reilly-Culver and Robert Culver, Jr. Kyoko and Jonathan Fuller Linda and David Gardels Linda and Jerome Gordman Jerry C. Gose Ali Khan Vicki and David Krecek Dr. Joanne Li and Frank Stalla Sheila McNeill Sharee and Murray Newman Katherine and Jerry O'Flanagan Ann and Paul O'Hara Rita and Donald Otis Constance Ryan Ann and Kenneth Stinson Janet and Jerry Syslo Dr. and Mrs. James Tracy

GUARDIAN $3,500-$4,999

Anonymous Dr. Betty L. Beach Roger Blauwet Betty Foster Carol and James Healy Silvia Greene Roffman Phyllis and Delmer* Toebben Mary Beth and James Winner

SUSTAINER $1,500-$3,499

Emma and Lee Addams Linda Matson Andersen Jo Bartikoski and Don Westling Maria Carlson Janet and Samuel Cohen Linda and Tim* Daugherty

SUOR ANGELICA | FEBRUARY 2023

Elisa and Drew Davies Kiley and Michael Freeman Bill L. Gaus Mary Jetton Mr. and Mrs. James H.* Keene III Deana and Michael Liddy Carolina and Michael Mapes Cheryl and Luke Matranga Joan and Robert Miller Connie and H. Don* Osborne Kim and James Simon Shirley and Michael Sorrell Kara and Joe Spitzenberger Ginger Talbot Terry Tomcsik Shelby VanNordstrand Gail and Irving Veitzer Cindy Weil Anne and Arnold Weitz

PATRON

$750-$1,499

Laura and Bryan Alexander Samuel M. Bierner Teri and David Black Ann and David Burkholder Murray Joseph Casey Hillary Nather-Detisch and John R. Detisch Viv and John Ewing Dr. Jon Flanagin Diana and Robert Foster Jeffrey Grinnell and Daniel Gallagher Lisa Hagstrom Dr. Gerald Christensen* and Ms. Mary Clare Haven Sally and Gary* Kaplan Sandra and Jon Kayne Alfred G. Kelley Marilyn and Mark Kirchhoff Barbara and Marshall Kushner Paul Ledwon and Mark Allen Maser Janet and Louis Pol Ana Lopez Shalla and Hassan Shalla

Donna and Coyner Smith Anne Stoddard Janet Strauss Sherry and Jeff Taxman Susan Thomas and Steven Hutchinson Patricia Victor Verne Weber Melanie and John Wright Sarah and Adam Yale

ADVOCATE $300-$749

Susan Grant and Rex Beck Nicholas Bjornson Kathleen Joan Bradley Thomas Carr Tiffiny Clifton Cora and Maurice Conner Daniel Cox Melissa and John Dahir Mary Dragoo Sarah Marie Ferneding Mary Fieber Judith and Craig Fuller Elizabeth and John Fullerton Kate Gannon and Chris Tombrello Carey and Brian Hamilton Marilyn and Robert Hansen Mary Helms and Kenneth Olson Shari Hofschire Stanton Hoppe Dr. Linda Matson and Mr. Michael Howland Bonnie and David Jaros Jeffrey Johnston Joanne and David Kolenda Kathy and Leonard Kwapiszeski Heike and Adam Langdon Julie and Joseph Lecci Lourdes Secola and Sheldon Lerner Cheryl Logan Deborah and John McCollister

*Deceased

Dorothy* and Daniel McKinney Angenette and Bob Meaney Christine and Jim Medici Karen and Paul Mullen Karen and Larry Nelsen Gwendolyn Olney and Scott Peters Elizabeth and Jerry Powell H. Margo Prentiss Casimiro Rangel and Erik Henningsen Tom Richter Greta Vaught and John Ritland Victoria and Edward Roche Joan and Charles Shapiro Kay M. Shilling, M.D. Sissy Katelman Silber Donald Slaughter Andrew R. Smith Joan H. Squires Ann Stephens and John Vasiliades Jaymi Victor Raymond W. Vondrak Ann and John Williamson Laura Wilwerding James Wink Sara and John Young

FRIEND $1-$299

Anonymous (6) Laureen Ackermann Megan Addison Elvira Lizeth Ahkothe Elaine and Chris Allen Marian Andersen Jon Anderson Ann Antlfinger Cheryl Arends Kelsey E Arends Ronald Bailey Marti Baumert and Richard Jeffrey Susan Baumert Erna Beach Lorraine Beadell and Greg Love Mark Beck Janelle Bender Alicia Bennett Denise and Robert Bennett Mayrene Bentley Tamien Blackamore Franz Blaha Amy Bones Abby Borgmann Crystal Bothel Lyn and Stephen Bouma Frank Bramlett Lisa and Martin Braun

Mary Brennan Katie and Corey Broman Kate W. Brown Kelleen Browning Rob Buckley Janice and Mario Buda Janet* and Donald Bumgarner Gertrude L. and Donald Burge Judeen Bursovsky Clare and Tom Burton Thad Call Karen and David Campbell Leanne and Mark Carlson Karlyn and Richard Carson Carol Casey Tom Chandler and Bill Schaffer Melanie and Jeffrey Chapman Susan and Robert Chenoweth Tina and John Cherica Lynne Chesire Christine and Bob Chilcoat Jay Chlebinski Donna Christian Philip Chung Holly and John Cimino Joan and Don Cimpl Joshua Cink Joseph Clanton Julie Clawson Patricia Cody Mary Jo and Richard Coffey Shannon Monique Coleman Elizabeth A. Collins Lindsay Coppock Miller Kara Cordell Carmelita Cox Eileen Crinklaw Alexander Dahlquist Susan Schonlau and David Danielson Timothy F. Daugherty James and Jennifer Davenport Jaclyn Joan Davis Vivian and Spencer Davis Carole DeBuse Linda and Charles Duckworth Rosemary and Bernard Duhaime Michael Eason Martha Elias Amanda and Alex Ely Delores Ericson Karla Ermel Marleen and TImothy Evans Karen and Richard Everett Mary A. Ferdig Mary and Ronald Ferdig Kim and Adrian Ferguson Sherry Fletcher Rick Fortner Terry and Mollie Foster

Hon. Marcena Hendrix and Dr. Howard Fox Andrew Frost Kyle Galas Mary and Barry Gerken Leanne Gifford Lauren T. Anderson Rose Glock Paul Godinez Ann and Donald Goldstein Sarah E. Goucher Sonya and Christian Gray Bob Graybosch John K. Green Mary Green Barbara Mueting and Herman Greenwald Susan Greni Jan Grimes Rex-Ann Gualco Taylor Gunnels Carol Gutchewsky and Leslie Valentine Carol and Peter Gwilt Cindy Hadsell Judy and George Haecker, Jr. Suzanne Hafey Daniel Hamann Belle and Ryan Hansen Nancy and Randall Hanson Ellen Hargus William and Gretchen Harvey Adam Haverman Mary Jo Havlicek Jane and Edward Hawks Cheryl and Joe Hazel Constance Heiden Kammandel and Henry Kammandel Erica Heiden Jason Helleloid Jennifer Helms Michael Hennessy Ann and Gary Henningsen Eddiy Hilliard Jefferson Hillman Marilyn Hoegemeyer T. Hepfinger Courtney Holland Margaret Horvath Ann and Don Hosford Emily Hough Annette and Steven Huff Nikolas Huffman Karyn and William Huffman Susan and Craig Ihnen Christopher Jackson Laura Jaros Stephen Jensen Vibeke Jensen Kelly M. Johns Nancy Johnson

Barbara Johnston Emili Carter Jones Donna and James Kalar Zachary Kallman Sean Kelly and Sam Tepanossian Kendra and Victor Kelly LaNita Kirby Victoria Kirilloff Julia Kleinschmit Krysten Knott Dr. Merlyn Knudson and Mr. James F. Davis Maria Knudtson Paul Koenig Victoria and Joe Kohout Derek Kordash Elaine Kruse Barbara Kuhn Eugenia Kuhn Leslie Kuhnel Robert Kuzelka Dr. Timothy J. Crowley and Ms. Celann LaGreca Carole and Wayne Lainof Julie Langholdt Pattie Anderson Gary Oscar Laun O'Terrell Dane Leatherman Della and Jack Lee Elaine Leise Ryan P. Lewis Stan Lewis Sherryl and Hiram Lilley Emily and Tom Lischer Douglas Little Megan Loberg Kathleen and John Lohr Jeffrey B. Loomis Jan and Blake Lund Masood Mahdavifar Nicole Makovec Candi Marcantel Charles Mason Mary Mattingly Charles Mausser Catherine and Marcus Maydew Bruce McKeefry and Geoff Yeoman Nicholas McMIllan Lauren Medici Taliah Merritt Jane and Philip Meyer Ann Jansen Michelson and Brent Michelson Robert Miller Cindy Miserez Mary Mitchell and John C. Mitchell, Sr.* Richard Morris Sue Moskovits

*Deceased

SUOR ANGELICA | FEBRUARY 2023

37

OPERA OMAHA

DONORS Matthew Munderloh Rose Ann Murphy Tari Hendrickson and Clayton Naff Anne Nagosky Ann Nelson Tirimba Obonyo Neil Odonnell Tom Olsen Ellen Osborn Sean Otterberg Jeanie and Donald *Owen Jennifer and Thomas Pansing Michael Pellecchia Susan Petersen Deb and Eric Peterson Rick Peterson James Pyrzynski Barbara K. Rainey Silva Raker TaTanisha Ranney Jenene and Herman Rauth Cynthia and David Rector Toni Reese Laurance Ring Noyes W. Rogers Dr. Debra J. Romberger Molly Romero Laura Roost Emmanelle and Allen Rose Kathleen and Robert Rose Steven Roselli Jane and Ralph Ross Mark Rousseau Courtney Rudick Carol and Richard Russell Rev. David Rykwalder Cherie Sadler Sawsan Saeed Judy* and Larry Sampier Erin Sample Jon Austin Linda and Paul Sather Larry Saxton Kathryn Riesz Schapper and Aaron Schapper Rita and Dean Schechinger Susan Scherl Nancy Schultz Victory and Karel Sedlacek Lila Cassandra Shakur Joseph W. Shea MacKenzie Shinbara Ellen and Richard Shubart Jean and Thomas Sitzman

38

Scott Slegl Kim Smith-Ferguson Erin Sobansky Kim Sosin Sandra Spellmire Mary Spurgeon John Stavropoulos Glenda and George Steinsberger Marika and Peter Stone Barb Stratman Mary A. Sturek Renee Sullivan Cathy Swanson Geralyn Terwey Monte and Duane Thompson Lindsey J. Tomaso Michael Torkelson Judy Torrens Mr. Donaciano Torres Ginny Tworek Jerry Tyrrell Judi Unger Ann Van Hoff Holly Vander Anthony Vargas Alison Vaughan Bonny Venditte Mary Lee and John Vitton Windy Vo Anonymous Natalie N Wallace Corinne Wardian Sarah Watson Annika and Allen Weber Carolyn B. Weber Barbara and Wallace Weitz Nancy Williams Terrie L Wood Cody Joseph Wooldrik Timothy Held and Jay Worden Mary and Anthony Yonkers Edith and Robert Zahniser Susan and John Zeilinger Michael Zimmerman

SUOR ANGELICA | FEBRUARY 2023

*Deceased

MARCH 31 & APRIL 2 ORPHEUM THEATER TICKETOMAHA.COM

SUOR ANGELICA | FEBRUARY 2023

39

Seize the day and prepare to prosper.

You’re a creative spirit who strives for both a solid performance and a solid financial plan. We applaud you, we celebrate you, and we’re here to help you prepare for the journey ahead.

Plan. Invest. Prosper.

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OPERA OMAHA

CORPORATE, FOUNDATION & GOVERNMENT DONORS CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE

BACKER

ADVOCATE

Anonymous Douglas County Board of Commissioners Omaha Steaks Peter Kiewit Foundation Weitz Family Foundation

Adah and Leon Millard Foundation Conagra Brands Foundation Giger Foundation Gilbert M. and Martha H. Hitchcock Foundation HDR, Inc. Kinghorn Gardens Sylvia B. Cohn (Rose Blumkin Foundation Inc.) Union Pacific Corporation University of Nebraska Medical Center University of Nebraska Omaha

Backer Family Charitable Trust Barnhart Press Classical 90.7 KVNO Cobank Edward and Lida Robinson Charitable Trust Humanities Nebraska Koley Jessen P.C., LLC Lincoln Financial Group Minnesota Opera Nebraska Tourism Commission OPERA America Paypal Giving Fund Stowell, Geweke & Piskorski Strauss Charitable Fund The Fred and Sally Bekins Foundation U.S. Bank

$100,000+

PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE $50,000-$99,000 Bailey Lauerman First National Bank of Omaha Holland Foundation Nebraska Arts Council / Nebraska Cultural Endowment

PRODUCER

$25,000-$49,999

Heider Family Foundation Iowa West Foundation Jetton Charitable Fund Mutual of Omaha Nebraska Cultural Endowment Omaha Magazine Valmont Industries, Inc.

$10,000-$24,999

BENEFACTOR $5,000-$9,999

Fraser Stryker Husch Blackwell LLP Peter Kiewit Sons', Inc. RSM US LLP Whitmore Charitable Trust

$1-$4,999

SUOR ANGELICA | FEBRUARY 2023

41

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 recognize the following 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 Debra and Bob Culver Ike and Roz Friedman Foundation Linda and David Gardels Connie and Geof* Heiden Mary and Charles* Heider Mary* and Richard* D. Holland Aline Hosman* Sally and Gary* Kaplan Joanne and David Kolenda Graham Lusk* Ann* and Allan* Mactier

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 Mary and Richard Parrish Thompson H. Rogers Ruth and William Scott Eve and Fred* Simon Dr. and Mrs. Michael 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) 661-8435 or jprickett@operaomaha.org. *Deceased

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OMAHA MAGAZINE – it’s about all of us.

Omaha Magazine publishes stories about interesting people who live next door and fascinating former Omahans. It is the place to read stories about the arts, the food, the music, and the events that are making Omaha the cultural epicenter of the Midwest.

OmahaMagazine.com/Pages/Subscribe SUOR ANGELICA | FEBRUARY 2023 THE

E ISSU

od Issue Fo

43

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 July 15, 2021-December 15, 2022.

IN MEMORY OF: HARRIET BECKENHAUER

Anonymous Carol Casey Kara Cordell Mary Dragoo Martha Elias Delores Ericson Sarah Marie Ferneding Mary Clare Haven Stephen Jensen Mary Jetton Kelly M Johns Victor and Kendra Kelly Krysten Knott Mary Ellen Mulcahy Stowell, Geweke & Piskorski

EDWARD CARUSI

IN HONOR OF: ANN MACTIER

Joanne and David Kolenda Mary Ellen Mulcahy

SANDY MATTHEWS

Anonymous

Joan and Robert Miller

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

BETSYE PARAGAS

ROBERT G. RUETZ

BRUCE HANEY

Joanne and David Kolenda

ANDA HOWE

Tom Chandler and Bill Schaffer

DIANNE L. JONES

Jon Anderson Tom Chandler and Bill Schaffer

SALLY LUSK

Tom Chandler and Bill Schaffer Joanne and David Kolenda Sheila McNeill Mary Ellen Mulcahy

44

Sheldon Lerner and Lourdes Secola

HELEN AND FRANK MATTHEWS

GLORIA DUNBAR Victory Sedlacek

HOWARD COFFIN

JOYCE DIXON AND JOHN KIDD

Victory Sedlacek

PETER CLOGG

Sissy Katelman Silber

Mary Ellen Mulcahy Kate and Roger Weitz

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

Gina Carusi

TOM CHANDLER AND BILL SCHAFFER

Bill L. Gaus Joanne and David Kolenda Mary Ellen Mulcahy

CHERYL SANWICK

Betty L. Beach Clare and Thomas Burton Annika and Allen Weber

MARY SCHROEDER Ruth Keene

FRED SIMON

Carmen and Toma Ovici

MIMI TANNER

Victory Sedlacek

SUOR ANGELICA | FEBRUARY 2023

Mary Mitchell

HAL FRANCE RICHARD PARRISH’S BIRTHDAY Betty L. Beach Mary Jetton

JAMES F. PYRZYNSKI Bill L. Gaus

KELLY AND MARK SANFORD

Taylor Gunnels

ROGER WEITZ

Sheldon Lerner and Lourdes Secola Minnesota Opera Mary and Richard Parrish Nicholas Russell Anne and Arnold Weitz

SARA YOUNG

Betty Foster Ellen and Richard Shubart

SUOR ANGELICA | FEBRUARY 2023

45

OPERA OMAHA

REPERTOIRE HISTORY 1958-59

Madama Butterfly Tosca Oklahoma!

Hansel and Gretel

1959-60

Carousel Pagliacci/Quivera

1960-61

1971-72

Rigoletto The Tales of Hoffmann

1972-73

Madama Butterfly Romeo and Juliet Un Ballo in Maschera

1973-74

Die Fledermaus La Traviata

Tosca The Marriage of Figaro The Elixir of Love

1961-62

1974-75

The Merry Widow La bohème

1962-63

Carmen La Périchole

1963-64

Aida The Barber of Seville

1964-65

Lucia di Lammermoor The Marriage of Figaro

1965-66

Rigoletto Madama Butterfly

1966-67

Il Trovatore The Ballad of Baby Doe

1967-68

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

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

46

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

SUOR ANGELICA | FEBRUARY 2023

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

2008-09

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

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

2000-01

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

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

2001-02

2010-11

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

2002-03

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

2003-04

La bohème Lucia di Lammermoor Cold Sassy Tree*

2004-05

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

2005-06

Paul Bunyan Madama Butterfly* The Abduction from the Seraglio*

2006-07

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

2007-08

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

2009-10

Opera for the Cure* Don Giovanni Madama Butterfly

2011-12

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

2012-13

La Traviata The Magic Flute* Bluebeard’s Castle*

2013-14

Opera Outdoors* Carmen Agrippina* La cenerentola

2014-15

Opera Outdoors* Rigoletto* A Flowering Tree* Fidelio

2015-16

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

2016-17

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

2017-18

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

2018-19

Opera Outdoors* Pagliacci The Elixir of Love (L’elisir d’amore) 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 * New production + American Premiere *** World Premiere † Commissioned Work ++ Film/Digital Premiere

SUOR ANGELICA | FEBRUARY 2023

47

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.

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

Bianca Harley, Vice President of Human Capital & Inclusion

Dr. H. Dele Davies

Sabrina Weiss, Vice President of Development

Margaret Lauritzen Dodge

Aaron Ott, Director of IT

Scott C. Heider

Bev Carlson, Director of Public Relations and Communications

Todd L. Johnson

Andy Cassano, Vice President of Programming and Education

Rodrigo López

Ryan Murray, Senior Director of Operations

Carl G. Mammel

Alyssa Stieren, Director of Finance

Sharlon Rodgers

Lee Turkovich, Vice President of Marketing and Communications Ashley Voorhees, Associate Vice President of Administrative Services

John Gottschalk, Chair Emeritus John K. Boyer, Secretary

48

SUOR ANGELICA | FEBRUARY 2023

Charles Shanahan, Director of Food & Beverage Operations

OMAHA PERFORMING ARTS

GENERAL INFORMATION COVID PRECAUTIONS

PARKING

Nothing is more important than the health 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.

• Masks are recommended for this performance • Enhanced cleaning and sanitation • Virus filtering heating and cooling • Staff and patron precautions • Touchless experience

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.

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.

FIRE OR TORNADO NOTICES

FOOD SERVICES The Orpheum Theater and Holland Center 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.

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 are also available.

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.

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.

SUOR ANGELICA | FEBRUARY 2023

49

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 men and women who actively support Opera Omaha’s fundraising and community engagement and education activities. Members plan and promote events such as Cotillion (etiquette classes for area sixth graders), social luncheons, educational activities, opera study groups and pre-performance parties. If you are interested in joining the Opera Omaha Guild please call us at (402) 346-7372 or visit our website for additional information.

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 operaomaha.org.

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

50

SUOR ANGELICA | FEBRUARY 2023

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. You must be at least 18 years old to audition. 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.

TWEET SEATS Social media savvy people with great knowledge of the Twitterverse attend the final dress rehearsal of each opera and tweet throughout the production offering real-time reviews of the productions before opening night.

Perfect

DUET Omaha Steaks is proud to support Opera Omaha and the local arts.

96th & J Street North of L Street

Lakeside Plaza 17390 West Center

Tower Plaza 78th & Dodge

1.800.228.9055 | OmahaSteaks.com Omaha Steaks, Inc. 22PR2723