The Barber of Seville | Program Book

Oct 24 & 26

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE

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THE BARBER OF SEVILLE OCTOBER 24 & 26, 2025 Letter from the General Director ���������������������������������������� 4 Board of Directors ����������������������������������������������������������������� 6 Opera Omaha Staff ���������������������������������������������������������������� 7 Major Contributors �������������������������������������������������������������� 11 Conductor's Note ���������������������������������������������������������������� 12 Director's Note �������������������������������������������������������������������� 14 Title Page ������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 16 Synopsis �������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 18 Artist Biographies ��������������������������������������������������������������� 20 Opera Omaha Chorus �������������������������������������������������������� 23 Production & Music Staff �������������������������������������������������� 25 Omaha Symphony ��������������������������������������������������������������� 26 Poetry & Music Project ������������������������������������������������������ 28 Craftsman’s Guild ���������������������������������������������������������������� 30 Opera Omaha Guild ����������������������������������������������������������� 30 2025 Cotillion Graduates �������������������������������������������������� 31 Holland Community Opera Fellowship �������������������������� 34 Education Programs ����������������������������������������������������������� 36 Opera Omaha Donors �������������������������������������������������������� 38 Memorials & Tributes ��������������������������������������������������������� 41 Fortissimo Society & Special Funds �������������������������������� 44 Corporate & Foundation Donors ������������������������������������ 45 Repertoire History �������������������������������������������������������������� 46 OPA Board & Administration ������������������������������������������� 48 OPA General Information ������������������������������������������������� 49 Get Involved ������������������������������������������������������������������������� 50

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FROM THE GENERAL DIRECTOR

DEAR FRIENDS: It’s a genuine pleasure to welcome you to the first production of our 25/26 Season, Rossini’s The Barber of Seville.

Whether you are a long-time or a first-time operagoer, you know The Barber of Seville from its many pop culture appearances, including Bugs Bunny, Mrs. Doubtfire, and even The Simpsons.

It has been a hit since its second performance in 1816 – the premiere was marred by protests from a rival composer’s fans! – and it has been a mainstay on opera stages for over 200 years.

Why? The music is virtuosic, written in the bel canto style, which translated literally means “beautiful singing.” The comedy is timeless. We can still relate to the characters. And it’s a romance complete with a damsel in distress, except, as it happens, the damsel doesn’t need much help.

It has been 10 years since Opera Omaha last produced The Barber of Seville, and we are thrilled with our starry cast led by Alexander Birch Elliott, Minghao Liu, and Daniela Mack, under the direction of Stephen Lawless and musical leadership of Gary Thor Wedow. Even if you have seen The Barber of Seville before, you will never see this cast of illustrious artists perform together again. In this way, every production is a once-in-alifetime opportunity.

As the only opera company in the state of Nebraska, we balance each season with a blend of audience favorites, rarely performed works, and new operas that together span hundreds of years of composition and cultural influence. This season, we will feature operas written between 17442016, and we will bring to life comedy, tragedy, and everything in between.

Our next opera is Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah with performances on January 30 and February 1. This quintessential American opera follows the title character, a young woman coming of age in rural Tennessee, as she navigates small-town social politics, gossip, and the attention of Reverend Blitch. World-renowned soprano Patricia Racette directs.

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On March 13, Harry Bicket and The English Concert return for a one-night-only performance of Handel’s Hercules. Their performance of Giulio Cesare was the hit of last season. Tickets are already going fast!

Later in March, we will feature three-time GRAMMY Award-winning bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green, known for his stirring performances at the Metropolitan Opera in Terence Blanchard’s Champion, at our annual gala. If you are not familiar with his story, I encourage you to learn more about Ryan Speedo Green’s inspiring life, and join us for the gala on Friday, March 27 at Steelhouse Omaha.

Our busy spring continues with a collaboration with our beloved musical partners, the Omaha Symphony, in a concert presentation of Bartok’s Bluebeard’s Castle at the Holland Center on April 24 and 25. Artist David Murakami will cast the Holland Center in immersive projections of light and shadow, and conductor Lidiya Yankovskaya will lead both halves of the program, which also includes Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, the “Fate Symphony.”

Then, in June, we will produce the second installment of our Family Opera Series: UnShakeable by composer Joe Illick and librettist Andrea Fellows Fineberg. This modern Shakespeare love story is perfect for audiences of all ages, and we will offer four performances, including a relaxed performance, from June 5-7 at the Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center in Council Bluffs.

We hope you will join us for as many performances as you are able. It is our mission to bring joy and creativity to your life, and to make Omaha an even more wonderful place to live.

With gratitude,

Allison Swenson GENERAL DIRECTOR

PLACE AN IMAGE FROM YOUR ORG IN THIS AREA

The Nebraska Cultural Endowment is proud to support Opera Omaha

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OPERA OMAHA

BOARD OF DIRECTORS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ADVISORS

Kiley Freeman

Linda Andersen

CHAIR

Jo Bartikoski

Barbara Person VICE CHAIR

Dr. Ali Khan

Dr. Jawed Bharwani Nicholas Bjornson

SECRETARY

Roger Blauwet

Linda Burt Rebrovic

Sandra Bruns

TREASURER

Michael Chase

Dr. Jawed Bharwani

Dr. Karen Fannin

ADVISORS CHAIR

Carrie Nath COMMUNITY PANEL REPRESENTATIVE

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

EMERITUS BOARD

Betty Foster Lauren Garcia Dr. Fred Hanna Ryan Hansen Dr. Hamza Haqqi Lora Kaup Mark Allen Maser Sheila McNeil Patty Pandzik Deb Peterson Alysia Radicia Dr. Debra Reilly-Culver Dr. Jeffrey Robinson Karl Schwent Mary Ann Strasheim Jerry Syslo Dr. James Tracy

Terrence J. Ferguson

Jim Winner

Robert E. Owen

Connie Kinnear

Mary Ann Strasheim

OPERA OMAHA GUILD PRESIDENT

Chris Tombrello CRAFTSMAN’S GUILD PRESIDENT

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OPERA OMAHA STAFF

Allison Swenson GENERAL DIRECTOR

ADMINISTRATION

ENGAGEMENT

Shannon Walenta

Lauren Medici

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIPS & PROGRAMS

Jenny Daggett

Wendy Kaiser

FINANCE CONSULTANT

COMMUNITY OPERA FELLOWSHIP MANAGER

April Hartman

Abz Cameron

HUMAN RESOURCES CONSULTANT

HOLLAND COMMUNITY OPERA FELLOW

Cydnea Hoff

Tobias J. Garcia

OFFICE MANAGER

HOLLAND COMMUNITY OPERA FELLOW

ARTISTIC Katrina Thurman

Chloe Janae Gormley HOLLAND COMMUNITY OPERA FELLOW

Pat McEvoy

DIRECTOR OF ARTISTIC ADMINISTRATION

ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR

Trisha Berquist

Aiden James Poling

ARTISTIC OPERATIONS COORDINATOR

Josh Quinn

HOLLAND COMMUNITY OPERA FELLOW

HEAD OF MUSIC & CHORUS DIRECTOR

MARKETING

Steven White

Kyle Thomas

PRINCIPAL GUEST CONDUCTOR

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

DEVELOPMENT Joe Prickett DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

Rebecca Ihnen

Rachel Austin ART DIRECTOR

Howard Coffin AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT & SALES MANAGER

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

PRODUCTION

Laura Jaros

Kate Whitecotton

DEVELOPMENT DATABASE & ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER

DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION

Tim Combs TECHNICAL DIRECTOR THE BARBER OF SEVILLE | OCTOBER 2025

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“...One of the country’s most ambitious and successful smaller companies.”

THE NEW YORK TIMES

2026 FESTIVAL SEASON JUNE 26 - JULY 19

PUCCINI TOSCA FLOYD OF MICE AND MEN SZYMANOWSKI KING ROGER

For tickets, visit DMMO.ORG or call (515) 209-3257

Proud to have worked with

Opera Omaha for over 10 years!

We produce videos for

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

TO LEARN MORE, VISIT OPERAOMAHA.ORG

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

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

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WITH GRATITUDE

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

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

SEASON SPONSORS

PRODUCTION SPONSORS

ARTIST SPONSORS Jo Bartikoski and Don Westling

Anonymous

Dr. Betty Foster and Roger Blauwet

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT Firefly Scientists Foundation

Anonymous

Giger Foundation Jetton Charitable Fund

Allan and Ann Mactier Charitable Foundation

Mammel Family Foundation

Adah and Leon Millard Foundation

Whitmore Charitable Trust

GENEROUS PUBLIC SUPPORT PROVIDED BY

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

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FROM THE CONDUCTOR

A SONG OF PRAISE AND THANKS TO THE MIDWEST I am a Hoosier, an Indiana native, born in La Porte on the same latitude as Omaha, so I feel a magnetic connection there - I'm at home in Omaha. You have the mighty river; we have the Great Lake Michigan with Chicago shining on its banks. I want to praise and thank the great Midwest for the great musical education that led me to Rossini.

Rossini was born in Pesaro, on the Adriatic Sea, another magnificent body of water. His mother was an opera singer, his father a trumpeter, and they made certain their precocious son had a solid musical education. My Swedish grandfather played the trumpet, I followed in his footsteps, piano and organ lessons followed with masterful teachers. Just as Rossini’s childhood was dominated by the Napoleonic wars, our band marched regularly honoring veterans of WWII with marches often by Rossini, sometimes in elaborate choreographed football half-time shows.

Rossini knew that "within rhythm lies all the power of music."

Rossini has the beat!

A summer music camp brought me to legendary Indiana University, and I stayed for my bachelor’s degree. My first live opera was The Rake’s Progress, and I was hooked. With luck, I was assigned to the studio of incoming faculty member, piano virtuoso, Jorge Bolet. I had never heard anything like his stunning playing; my mind exploded. Through him, I met Beverly Sills who laughingly explained that they were friends because they performed the same repertoire: the 19th century virtuoso vocal repertoire that Liszt and others had transcribed for piano. Rossini is for virtuosos.

IU was famous for opera, and I, a new acolyte, played for many rehearsals and lessons in the studios of the brilliant teachers.

Margaret Harshaw, a celebrated Wagnerian, had studied at Juilliard with Anna Schoen-Rene, who had studied with Pauline Viardot-Garcia whose father had created the role of the Count in Il barbiere di Siviglia. Music is a skill that is only learned by

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doing, and the passing down of technique and tradition; it was handed down to me, literally through the singers’ mouths. At IU, the musical world came to me. There was a quietly whispered dark nickname for IU: "The music school that Hitler founded," so many teachers were WWII refugees; all brilliant artists eager to pass on their valuable knowledge.

Glamorous Gianna d’Angelo, complete with Chanel suits and towering red hair, came to teach, and I was assigned to her studio. She had recorded Barbiere and that recording was my real introduction to these iconic characters. Her Barber on that recording, Renato Cappecchi, would later become a frequent colleague and friend completing another magical circle. No one other than Rossini could write an entrance aria like the Barber’s.

After Indiana, I traveled to Boston where my first professional job was with the Handel & Haydn Society; and I, like Rossini, developed a passion for earlier styles of music, and probably a bit of pretentiousness. It was always popular to belittle Rossini: "let’s leave the Rossini concert early, before we start to enjoy it!" But the truth is that everyone did enjoy it, a guilty pleasure, irresistible, one cannot help but enjoy Rossini. Rossini, with his martial, spirited rhythms and soaring virtuosic vocal lines, accomplished only by the greatest singers, and his roller coaster Rossini crescendos, inspires us, enlivens us, drags us along, exhausts us, and brings us joy. Resistance is futile!

Music is humans’ most primal language; Neanderthals communicated with song shapes before they spoke any language, it is deep in our DNA. Early music studies develop the brain in miraculous ways that support other skills: language, math, problem solving, physical coordination, emotional expression, and more. Participating in music, even as a listener, makes you healthier and happier—that’s science, not PR. Education in music for young children should be fundamental. Opera Omaha’s robust engagement programs, such as their Poetry & Music Project, and open dress rehearsals, bring in thousands of curious students every year, enriching their lives, changing their lives for better.

Thank you, Majestic Midwest, for your love and support of music and for introducing me to my friend and yours: Gioachino Rossini.

— Gary Thor Wedow

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FROM THE

DIRECTOR

Rossini's The Barber of Seville is probably the best known comic opera in the world. Even non-opera goers know its overture from countless films, cartoons, and advertisements, and Figaro's iconic, bravura aria “Largo al factotum” is even more famous. It was the first opera that I saw in the theater and I guess was the piece that got me hooked on opera. Yet beneath the comic veneer there exists another layer.

The opera is based on Beaumarchais's play of the same name, part of a trilogy of works (the others being The Marriage of Figaro and The Guilty Mother, both turned into operas by Mozart and Milhaud respectively) that the playwright used to attack the aristocracy and privilege in general in eighteenth century France. The Barber of Seville is often thought of as musical commedia dell'arte, but Beaumarchais subverts that tradition into something superior. He uses that most potent and subversive of political weapons - humour - to lampoon the foibles of the ruling class. Napoleon even described The Marriage of Figaro as "the (French) revolution put into action."

As with the Mozart opera, Rossini and his librettist Sterbini downplay the politics, but do not get rid of them entirely. Figaro's Act One aria mentioned above is the anthem of the self-made man, proudly boasting of and delighting in the success his wit and ingenuity have brought him. He is contrasted with the aristocratic Count Almaviva, who has the money that Figaro lacks, but whose privilege and wealth put him in the ridiculous position of being both too proud to soil his hands on intrigues and too indolent to even think for himself—he has to pay somebody else (in this case Figaro) to do it for him. Lacking Figaro's peasant ingenuity, he is too "thick" to think. His sense of his own nobility, due to his lineage and position in the social order, consistently trip up Figaro's plans. Their relationship may seem like friendship, but is in fact purely transactional...they both need something from each other.

Where they are united is in their dislike of Doctor Bartolo. The emergent bourgeoisie in the eighteenth century were figures of ridicule. The aristocracy's dislike stemmed from their fear of the increasing wealth and political clout of the "middling classes," and the lower orders disliked them out of envy at their growing dominance. Almaviva's dependence on Figaro is mirrored by Doctor Bartolo's dependence on Don Basilio, that least charitable and most hypocritical of priests, to do his dirty work for him (for a price), and it is Don Basilio who teaches Doctor Bartolo how to scheme in the same way that Figaro teaches Almaviva.

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Opera San Jose - Photo By David Allen

Where the operas and the plays are revolutionary, for me, is in their treatment of women, in particular Rosina, Doctor Bartolo's ward and Almaviva's romantic interest. In both The Barber of Seville and The Marriage of Figaro, the men may think of themselves as being cleverer than anyone else and in charge of events, but it is the women who eventually win the day.

Rosina's "butter wouldn't melt" appearance masks a determination to get what she wants.

Her quick-wittedness outshines even Figaro's.

So, despite its commedia dell'arte roots, I believe it is social satire that fuels the comic engine of Rossini's opera and adds to the piquancy of its comedy. Like any good comedy, it also has the capacity for tragedy (hence the storm in Act Two) through which the sun eventually and inevitably breaks through on this sunniest and warmest of comedies.

All this is reflected in Rossini's music. I know of few other operatic scores that are so sunny and stormy at the same time. Rossini seems to be saying that all interaction between the various strata in society will result in chaos (as happens at the end of both chorus scenes in Act One) but always concludes that the world will be restored to order and be in a better place after that chaos has subsided.

— Stephen Lawless

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THE BARBER OF SEVILLE Music by Gioachino Rossini Libretto by Cesare Sterbini Performed in Italian with English supertitles

October 24 & 26, 2025 Orpheum Theater, Slosburg Hall | Omaha, Nebraska First performance: Teatro Argentina, Rome – February 20, 1816 First Opera Omaha performance: April 30, 1964

CREATIVE

CAST

Gary Thor Wedow

Daniela Mack

CONDUCTOR

ROSINA

Stephen Lawless*

Minghao Liu*

DIRECTOR

COUNT ALMAVIVA

Adrian Linford*

Alexander Birch Elliott

SET & COSTUME DESIGNER

FIGARO

Thomas C. Hase

Dale Travis*

LIGHTING DESIGNER

DOCTOR BARTOLO

Ronell Oliveri

Matthew Anchel*

WIG & MAKEUP DESIGNER

DON BASILIO

Patricia Velazquez-Dunn*

Mary-Hollis Hundley*

CHOREOGRAPHER

BERTA

Thomas Gunther* FIORELLO

Tanner Engeseth* OFFICER *Opera Omaha Debut

Minghao Liu sponsored by Anonymous Gary Thor Wedow sponsored by Jo Bartikoski & Don Westling and Dr. Betty Foster & Roger Blauwet The Omaha Symphony Opera Omaha Chorus | Josh Quinn, director Production originally designed for and created by Opera San José.

The performance runs approximately 2 hours and 40 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.

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SYNOPSIS Opera San Jose - Photo By David Allen

ACT ONE A square in Seville at dawn, outside Doctor Bartolo's house.

Count Almaviva, disguised as a humble student named Lindoro, attempts to serenade Rosina with the help of his servant Fiorello, and a group of musicians.

The serenade fails to rouse Rosina, and the Count, annoyed by the musicians' loud demands for payment, dismisses them. Soon after, Figaro, the famous barber, enters singing about his bustling life as the "factotum of the city." The Count recognizes Figaro as his former servant. Upon learning the Count is infatuated with Rosina, Doctor Bartolo's ward, Figaro sees an opportunity for reward. Rosina appears on her balcony and, in a clever move, drops a note to the Count, which Figaro retrieves, expressing her curiosity about her admirer and her desire to escape her tyrant guardian. Figaro devises a plan for the Count to disguise himself as a drunken soldier and demand lodging in Doctor Bartolo's house, believing he would trust someone tipsy from wine. The Count readily agrees, promising Figaro gold galore.

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Inside Doctor Bartolo's house.

Rosina expresses her love for Lindoro, and her determination to outwit her guardian. Figaro arrives and informs her of Doctor Bartolo's plan to marry her the very next day, much to her dismay. He cunningly extracts a love letter from Rosina, which she had already prepared for Lindoro, showcasing her own cleverness. Doctor Bartolo enters, immediately suspecting Rosina has been communicating with Figaro, noticing ink on her finger and a missing sheet of paper, which Rosina quickly covers up with fabricated excuses. Meanwhile, Don Basilio, Rosina's music teacher, arrives to warn Doctor Bartolo that Count Almaviva is in Seville, and suggests slandering him to prevent his pursuit of Rosina. Doctor Bartolo, eager to secure his marriage, decides to prepare the marriage contract immediately. The Count then arrives, disguised as the drunken soldier, demanding lodging. A chaotic exchange ensues with Doctor Bartolo, during which the Count attempts to pass a note to Rosina, but he intercepts it.

Rosina cleverly switches the love letter for a laundry list, fooling him. The commotion attracts the attention of the police, but the Count reveals his true identity to the officer, leaving everyone in astonishment.

ACT TWO Doctor Bartolo, still suspicious of the soldier, remains oblivious when the Count reappears, now disguised as Don Alonso, a music teacher and pupil of the supposedly ill Don Basilio.

The Count (as Don Alonso) gains Doctor Bartolo's trust by showing him Rosina's letter to "Lindoro," and proposing a plan to slander the Count to Rosina, suggesting it would prove the Count was merely toying with her. During Rosina's "music lesson," she and the Count, with Doctor Bartolo present, communicate their affection through the lyrics of a song.

Figaro arrives to shave Doctor Bartolo and, using a feigned eye injury, manages to secretly obtain the key to the balcony window. The plan is nearly jeopardized when Don Basilio unexpectedly appears, in perfect health. The Count, Figaro, and Rosina quickly bribe Don Basilio with a purse of gold, and convince him he is severely ill and should go to bed. While Doctor Bartolo is being shaved, the lovers plan their midnight elopement. Doctor Bartolo overhears their conversation about the disguise and the letter, finally realizing he's been tricked. That night, Figaro and the Count enter through the balcony, but Rosina, having been misled by Doctor Bartolo that Lindoro was merely a pawn of the Count, initially rebuffs her suitor. The Count then reveals his true identity as Almaviva, leading to Rosina's joyous realization. They discover the ladder for their escape has been removed by Doctor Bartolo.

However, Don Basilio arrives with the notary, whom Doctor Bartolo had summoned to draw up his own marriage contract with Rosina. Figaro quickly intervenes, claiming the notary is there for the marriage of Count Almaviva and his niece (Rosina). The Count bribes Don Basilio again and threatens him with two bullets in the head if he resists, securing him as a witness. Doctor Bartolo returns with an officer and soldiers, intending to arrest the Count, but it's too late: the marriage contract is signed, and Rosina is now Countess Almaviva.

Doctor Bartolo acknowledges his defeat as the others celebrate their happy ending.

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ARTIST

BIOGRAPHIES Gary Thor Wedow

Stephen Lawless

Gary Thor Wedow returns to Opera Omaha after last conducting Don Pasquale. Mr. Wedow has established an enviable reputation for dramatically exciting and historically informed performances with opera companies, orchestras, festivals, and choral organizations throughout North America. During his 24/25 Season Mr. Wedow lead Mozart’s masterpiece Le nozze di Figaro with Palm Beach Opera, joined Cincinnati Conservatory of Music for the same composer’s La finta giardiniera, and returned to the Santa Fe Symphony for Handel’s Messiah. In the fall of 2023 he collaborated with Opera Southwest for Carmen, and returned to Des Moines Metro Opera for Il barbiere di Siviglia. The 22/23 Season found Mr. Wedow at The Juilliard School to lead their production of Atalanta. A favorite with Seattle Opera audiences, Mr. Wedow has also been a frequent guest of Florida Grand Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, Canadian Opera Company, Arizona Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, Portland Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, Utah Opera, Chautauqua Opera, among others.

Stephen Lawless makes his Opera Omaha debut with The Barber of Seville. Born in Warrington Cheshire, UK, Mr. Lawless was Director of Production for Glyndebourne Touring Opera from 1986-1992, where he directed a production of Britten’s Death in Venice.

Subsequently, he has worked for most of the world’s leading opera houses including the Metropolitan Opera (Don Giovanni, 2000), the Royal Opera Covent Garden (La clemenza di Tito, 2002), Glyndebourne Festival (Die Fledermaus, 2003 and 2006), the Bolshoi (Der Rosenkavalier, 2013), and San Francisco Opera (Capriccio, 1992 and Roberto Devereux, 2018). In North America, he has also worked for the opera companies in Los Angeles, Dallas, San Diego, Houston, Toronto, Kansas City, San Jose, Cincinnati, Minneapolis, Chicago, Philadelphia, New York City, Seattle, and Portland, as well as the Santa Fe, Saint. Louis, and Glimmerglass festivals. His work has been seen at opera houses in Beijing, Seoul, Glasgow, Strasburg, Graz, Vienna, Berlin, Nuremberg, Magdeburg, Oldenburg, Lubeck, Erfurt, Genoa, Turin, Amsterdam, Ghent, Venice, Madrid, Barcelona, and St. Petersburg, as well as festivals in Innsbruck, Potsdam, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Grange Park, and Buxton.

Conductor

Thomas C. Hase

Director

Ronell Oliveri

Lighting Designer

Wig & Makeup Designer

Thomas C. Hase is excited to be back at Opera Omaha for his fifth production with the company.

Mr. Hase’s work has been seen at companies such as Santa Fe Opera, Washington National Opera at the Kennedy Center, LA Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Seattle Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, Opera Philadelphia, and The Atlanta Opera.

He has also been the Resident Designer for Cincinnati Opera for 30 years. In New York, he has designed for the Broadway production of Company (Tony Award Best Revival), as well as New York City Opera, and BAM Next Wave Festival. Outside the US, he has designed for The Vienna State Opera, Bayerische Staatsoper, Staatstheater Kassel, Deutsche Oper am Rhein, Theater Erfurt, The Barbican and Sadler’s Wells in London, Opera North in the UK, The Abbey Theater and Riverdance in Dublin, The Gran Teatre de Liceu, Göteborg and Malmö Operas, The Dutch, Finnish and Columbian National Operas; Nederlandse Reisopera, Disney/Stage Entertainment; The Helikon Opera in Moscow, Opéra National de Bordeaux, Opéra de Marseille; Canadian Opera Company; The Luminato Festival in Toronto; Singapore Arts Festival, and Tokyo Metro Arts Center.

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 Lyric Opera of Chicago, LA Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, and Boston Ballet. She was a Primetime 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 Mitridate at Boston Lyric Opera, La bohème at Opera Colorado, and The Marriage of Figaro at Columbus Opera. Upcoming engagements include La traviata at Opera Colorado, The Anonymous Lover with Opera Columbus, and Susannah at Opera Omaha.

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Patricia Velazquez-Dunn

Daniela Mack

Patricia Velazquez-Dunn makes her Opera Omaha debut in The Barber of Seville. Mrs. Velazquez-Dunn started her dance journey at the bright young age of six in Santa Barbara, CA, where she studied ballet, Spanish classical folk, and Flamenco dance. After more than ten years of participating in Old Spanish Fiesta Santa Barbara, Patricia developed a great love to continue to train and grow in Spanish and Flamenco dance.

Throughout her adult years, she continued to train in Phoenix, Albuquerque, and Spain, while living in the Midwest. Moving to Omaha has given her an abundance of opportunities to share Spain’s most beautiful art form with our community. At one time, she was a guest performer at the very popular local España Restaurant in Benson for many years, and has since established her local group Flamenco Omaha which performs in many community festivals and cultural events.

Argentine mezzo-soprano Daniela Mack returns to Opera Omaha after last performing in The Marriage of Figaro. This season, Ms. Mack sings Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia at Houston Grand Opera and returns to Lyric Opera of Chicago in El último sueño de Frida y Diego as Frida. In her 24/25 Season, Ms. Mack returned to both the Metropolitan Opera and LA Opera as Federico García Lorca in a new production of Ainadamar. She also appeared with Lyric Opera of Chicago as Angela in Missy Mazzoli’s The Listeners, with San Francisco Opera as Idamante in Idomeneo, and made her house debut at the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma as Orsini in Lucrezia Borgia.

Notable highlights include her Metropolitan Opera debut as the Kitchen Boy in Rusalka, Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia at the Royal Opera House, Rosmira in Partenope at Teatro Real, Romeo in Bellini’s I Capuleti e i Montecchi at Teatro de la Maestranza, Béatrice in Béatrice et Bénédict with the BBC Philharmonic, and Carnegie Hall in a performance of Serse with The English Concert.

Minghao Liu

Alexander Birch Elliott

Leggero Tenor Minghao Liu makes his Opera Omaha debut in The Barber of Seville. In his 25/26 Season, Mr. Liu will make debuts with the Merola Opera Program as the title role in Le comte Ory, Opera Philadelphia as Belfiore in Il viaggio a Reims, Glyndebourne Festival as Narciso in Rossini's Il turco in Italia, and San Diego Opera as Count Alamaviva in Il barbiere di Siviglia.

Recent engagements include Opera Naples as Ernesto in Don Pasquale, Florida Grand Opera as Nemorino (cover) in L’elisir d’amore, Opera Tampa as Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, St. Petersburg Opera as Lindoro in L’italiana in Algeri, Miami Music Festival as Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, Gulfshore Opera as Count Almaviva in Il barbiere di Siviglia, and Opera in Williamsburg as Alfred in Die Fledermaus. Mr. Liu has won top competition prizes including The Lissner Charitable Fund Award for the 2024 Opera Index Vocal Competition and the 2025 Luciano Pavarotti Foundation Opera Naples International Voice Competition. A native of Qingdao, China, he received training at the S.S. Prokofiev Music Conservatory, University of Alberta, Frost School of Music, Sherrill Milnes Voice Experience Program, and Franz-Schubert-Institut.

Alexander Birch Elliott returns to Opera Omaha after last performing in Eugene Onegin. Last season, Mr. Elliott made his debut with Florida Grand Opera, returning to the role of Escamillo in Carmen.

The baritone also returned to the roster of The Metropolitan Opera, covering Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia. Mr. Elliott’s concert calendar last season included performances of the Brahms German Requiem with the Charlotte Symphony, Handel’s Messiah with the Nashville Symphony, and an appearance with the Pacific Vocal Series in Newport Beach, CA. His 23/24 Season featured a role debut with Houston Grand Opera as Captain von Trapp in The Sound of Music, and a return to The Metropolitan Opera singing Papageno in The Magic Flute and covering Schaunard in La bohème. With the Grand Teton Music Festival, he performed Papageno under the baton of Sir Donald Runnicles. He recently made a role and house debut as Enrico in Simon Stone’s production of Lucia di Lammermoor with LA Opera.

Choreographer

Count Almaviva

Rosina

Figaro

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE | OCTOBER 2025

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ARTIST

BIOGRAPHIES Dale Travis

Matthew Anchel

Dale Travis makes his Opera Omaha debut in The Barber of Seville. With a repertoire encompassing over 50 roles in a wide variety of styles from Mozart, Donizetti, and Rossini to Strauss, Puccini, and Wagner, Mr. Travis has been a frequent guest artist at the most prestigious opera companies in the world, including the Metropolitan Opera, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the San Francisco Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Washington Opera, LA Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Spoleto Festival USA, the Saito Kinen Music Festival, Teatro Regio in Torino, Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa, the Berlin Komische Oper, and the New Israeli Opera in Tel Aviv. During his 24/25 Season he returned to the San Francisco Opera as Benoit/Alcindoro in La bohème and joined Palm Beach Opera as Bartolo in Le nozze di Figaro. This season also includes Don Alfonso in Così fan tutte with Opera San Jose. In 2022, he was presented with the San Francisco Opera Medal for 34 years of exemplary artistic servitude.

Bass Matthew Anchel makes his Opera Omaha debut as Don Basilio in The Barber of Seville.

Recent performances include The Metropolitan Opera’s season opener Grounded by Jeanine Tesori, Bartolo in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Minnesota Opera, The King in Aida with both Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Opera Maine, and The Grand Inquisitor in Don Carlo with the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra. Upcoming engagements include returns to The Metropolitan Opera for The Magic Flute and Andrea Chenier, as well as a debut with the Nederlandse Reisopera in the world premiere of To Die For by Elena Langer. A versatile artist equally at home on the stage and in the studio, Mr. Anchel maintains a thriving private voice studio in New York City. He also made his television debut on season 29 of Worst Cooks in America on Food Network. Praised for his rich tone and commanding presence, Anchel continues to bring depth and distinction to roles across the operatic and symphonic repertoire.

Doctor Bartolo

Mary-Hollis Hundley

Berta

Mary-Hollis Hundley makes her Opera Omaha debut in The Barber of Seville. Fresh off her first season on the roster of the Metropolitan Opera, covering Sister Catherine and Sister Lillian in Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking, Ms. Hundley kicked off her 24/25 Season as Lady Macbeth in Macbeth with Opera Orlando. She also performed the roles of Gertrude in Hänsel und Gretel with the Helena Symphony, Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors with Dayton Opera, and sang as soprano soloist in a concert of “Beethoven Vocal Rarities” with the Amadeus Chamber Ensemble. The previous season, she traveled to her hometown of Louisville, Kentucky for a recital featuring all Appalachian music, including two commissioned song cycles from Kentucky artists. She also reprised the role of Joella “Jo” Jenner in The Knock for Cincinnati Opera, a role she originally created for its world premiere on film with the Glimmerglass Festival in 2021. This summer, she made her Central City Opera debut to reprise the role once more.

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THE BARBER OF SEVILLE | OCTOBER 2025

Don Basilio

OPERA OMAHA

CHORUS Thomas Gunther

Fiorello

Baritone Thomas Gunther makes his Opera Omaha debut in The Barber of Seville. Favorite stage performances include Marcello in La bohème (Dominican Republic), Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire (Merola Opera), Germont in La traviata (Soo Opera and Bay View), Guglielmo in Così fan tutte (Schenectady Symphony), Captain Corcoran in H.M.S. Pinafore (Union Avenue Opera), Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus (Winter Opera of St. Louis), Billy Bigalow in Carousel (Soo Opera), Javert in Les Miserables (University of Kentucky), Dandini in La Cenerentola (Opera in the Heights), Silvio in Pagliacci (Sugar Creek), Raoul in Phantom of the Opera (University of Kentucky), and the title roles in Sweeney Todd and Don Giovanni. He was most recently seen reprising his role as Count Almaviva in The Marriage of Figaro in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Mr. Gunther is an adjunct voice professor at Doane University in Crete, NE and at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he works with musical theatre students. He also maintains a private voice studio.

TENOR Todd Brooks Elmer Ellefson Brian Jay Aiden James Poling Gavin Rasmussen Daniel Schreiber

BASS Matthew Brown Tanner Engeseth* Jiabo Gao Thomas Gunther* Kirby Le

FLAMENCO DANCERS/ SUPERNUMERARIES Arlem I Nuñez Pacheco* Laura Petry

Tanner Engeseth

Officer

Baritone Tanner Engeseth makes his Opera Omaha debut in The Barber of Seville. Later this season, Mr. Engeseth will also be seen as First/Second Man in Susannah with Opera Omaha. Originally from De Forest, WI, Mr. Engeseth’s recent engagements include Marcello in La bohème with the Vienna Summer Music Festival, Marquis de la Force in Dialogues of the Carmelites with UNL Opera, Melchior in Amahl and the Night Visitors with UNL Opera, and Dandini in La Cenerentola with FIO Italia. He is a regional finalist of the West Central NATS chapter and has previously won first place in his category at the Wisconsin NATS auditions. He is currently a graduate student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, studying under Dr. Jamie Reimer Seaman.

He holds a BM Music Education degree from the University of WisconsinWhitewater.

Julie Stanfill* Patricia Velazquez-Dunn* *Opera Omaha Debut

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE | OCTOBER 2025

23

CHECK OUT OUR HOLIDAY PRODUCTIONS!

Nov. 21 — Dec. 21, 2025

Dec. 5 — 21, 2025

For tickets, visit OmahaPlayhouse.com or call the OCP Box Office at (402) 553-0800

Season tickets available through November 9th.

For more information about the artists and programs, go to www.LFCM.US Single tickets available through the Lied Center and at the door.

Catalyst Quartet

Sunday, Nov 9, 2025 | 3:00 PM Johnny Carson Theater Beethoven, Joseph Bologne, Aftab Darvishi, Toru Takemitsu, and Florence B. Price

New York Polyphony Tuesday, Jan 20, 2026 | 7:30 PM Johnny Carson Theater Anton Bruckner, Franz Schubert, Akemi Naito, Paul Moravec, and Andrew Smith

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THE BARBER OF SEVILLE | OCTOBER 2025

Junction Trio

Thursday, Feb 19, 2026 | 7:30 PM Johnny Carson Theater Beethoven, John Cage, John Zorn, and Franz Schubert

Zodiac Trio

Wednesday, April 15, 2026 | 7:30 PM Kimball Recital Hall George Gershwin, Peter Schickele, Arturo Marquez, and Greg Simon

OPERA OMAHA

PRODUCTION & MUSIC STAFF Kimberley S. Prescott*

Amanda Jones

PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER

COSTUME SUPERVISOR

Stephanie Smith

Gary Bosanek

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

WARDROBE COORDINATOR

Benjamin Kulwanoski

Candace Leyland

ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER

WIG & MAKEUP ASSISTANT

Kassandra Joy*

Bryan Stanley

ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER

SUPERTITLE OPERATOR

Katie Blice

Al Dusek+

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

HEAD PRODUCTION CARPENTER

Deniz Uz*

Scott Wasson+

RÉPÉTITEUR & PERFORMANCE PIANIST

HEAD PRODUCTION ELECTRICIAN

Laura Peters

Chad Curran

PROPERTIES SUPERVISOR

ASSISTANT TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

+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.

Alex Mason* ASSISTANT LIGHTING DESIGNER

S A V E : T H E : D A T E

GALA OPERA OMAHA

Friday, March 27, 2026 Steelhouse Omaha

Honoring the memory of

Richard J. Parrish Featuring three-time GRAMMY® Award-winning bass-baritone

Ryan Speedo Green

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE | OCTOBER 2025

25

OMAHA

SYMPHONY VIOLINS

BASS

TROMBONE

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 Kevin Tompkins, Assistant Principal 2nd Violin Ricardo Amador Phyllis Duncan Tracy Dunn Daniel Fletcher Rebecca Kia-Mills Anne Nagosky Lucy Duke Yi-Miao Huang Melissa Pruss Mary Perkinson David Neely

Nathaniel Olson, Principal Bobby Scharmann, Associate Principal Danielle Meier Jeremy Baguyos James Giles Michael Swartz

Patrick Pfister, Principal Jason Stromquist Jay Wise

FLUTE

PERCUSSION

VIOLA

BASSOON

Thomas Kluge, Principal Tyler Sieh, Associate Principal Margo Romig-Motycka Alexa Brown Juliet Yoshida Bozhidar Shopov 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 Trev Petersen

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THE BARBER OF SEVILLE | OCTOBER 2025

TIMPANI Jack Rago, Principal

Maria Harding, Principal Nicholas Fitton, Assistant Principal Lisa Meyerhofer, 3rd Flute and Piccolo

Paul Matthews, Principal Derek Dreier, Assistant Principal

OBOE

Janna Young, Principal

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

KEYBOARD

CLARINET

Jennifer Boomgaarden, Daoud President & CEO Kyra Hansen, Chief Operating Officer & Director of Production John Coate, Operations & Production Manager Tim Fogarty, Operations & Production Manager Emily E. Duffin, Orchestra Personnel Manager Erica Ostermiller, Operations Coordinator Nicholas Buonanni, Head Librarian Ryland Muñoz, Librarian Nicole Cowan, Assistant Librarian Margaret Shumate, Stage Manager Alex Jacobsen, Assistant Stage Manager

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

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

HARP

Christi Zuniga, Principal

ORCHESTRA OPERATIONS

Energizing Impact Husch Blackwell proudly supports Opera Omaha’s 2025-2026 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.

David E. Gardels | Partner david.gardels@huschblackwell.com | 402.964.5027

huschblackwell.com

SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR THE 25/26 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. Over the last 8 years, more than 1,000 poems have been submitted to the Poetry & Music Project. These poems varied in topic, but one thing was very clear: the young writers in our region have both immense talent, and unique perspectives.

THEME FOR POETRY SUBMISSIONS

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

• Open to all K-12 students in Nebraska and Iowa • Students may only submit one (1) poem • All work must be original

SUBMISSION DEADLINE November 30, 2025

MEMORY This year, we welcome your poems on memories — big and small — that made an impact on you, forever changed you, that are worth reliving, that are so delicious you want to gift them to others. Your mind is magic! We can’t wait to read about the unique way it sorts information, and makes powerful, meaningful memories.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PROMPTS, AND FULL SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS VISIT:

OPERAOMAHA.ORG/POETRY

28

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE | OCTOBER 2025

PRODUCING PARTNER:

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

Cindy & Mike Baumer

Patti Jaynes

Valerie Proctor

Betty Beach

Mark Kalal

Margret Sexton

Tom Burton

Christine Lund

Toni Shelton

Gina Carusi

Dean Manternach

Brendy Shishido

Kate & Chris Gannon–Tombrello

Julie Mead

Saprina Thiesen

Bill Gaus

Patty Pandzik

Joe Torchia

Melissa Gebauer

Christine & Patrick Peters

Leslie Vann

Nora Mae & John Gibson

Hilarie Price

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 Connie Kinnear PRESIDENT

Elizabeth Peters PRESIDENT ELECT

Lora Kaup PAST PRESIDENT

Mark Maser VP ENGAGEMENT

Kelly Sanford VP FUNDRAISING

Betty Foster VP MEMBERSHIP

Lisa Hagstrom COTILLION LIAISON

Vivian Davis CORRESPONDING SECRETARY

Connie Kinnear RECORDING SECRETARY

April Nebel TREASURER

GUILD STANDING COMMITTEES

AT LARGE BOARD MEMBERS

VICTORIAN TEA

Dana Carlton-Flint

Lora Kaup

SPRING LUNCHEON

Connie Kinnear

Laura Hale

COTILLION

Marilyn Martin

Lisa Hagstrom

Sherry Taxman

PATRON PARTY

Sara Young

Linda Andersen Connie Kinnear Mark Maser Deb Peterson Kelly Sanford OPENING NIGHT OVERTURES

Christina Miller NEWSLETTER

Lora Kaup

SOCIAL MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS

Lauren Garcia STUDY GROUP

Deb Peterson NE DISTRICT METROPOLITAN OPERA LAFFONT COMPETITION AUDITIONS

Mary Ellen Mulcahy 30

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE | OCTOBER 2025

Kathy Gross

OPERA OMAHA GUILD

COTILLION GRADUATES

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

2025 GRADUATES Olivia Alexander Charlie Anderl Liam Ash Caroline Baker Amelia Balus Ava Bartelt Ruby Bartling Ophelia Bartman James Beran Hudson Blakeman Addison Blumkin Dillon Bogard Lucy Bolin Teddy Boone Evelyn Bost Maddie Campos Michael Carley Oliver Carpenter Stephen Chartrand Cooper Chartrand William Christensen Monica Cooper Enzo Cricenti Annabelle Davidson Zella DeFord Kaycie DeLaet Gemma DiMaio Mila DiPrima Jett Dubas Declan Dugger Lucas Dugger Lucy Dugger Ronan Dunne William Durham Lidia Edwards Andrew Eiland

Clare Fay Quinn Foley Finn Galley Grant Gibson Surrenity Glandon Ruby Glock Gus Goranson Harrison Greenwald Annie Grosshans Callie Guenzel Maxwell Halbkat Wesley Halbkat Ani Hamilton Ezra Harlow Evie Harwell Fitz Hawkins Heidi Herdzina Violet Himebaugh Barrett Holm Maggie Hope Mackenzie Jewell Ana Jurisevic Peter Kalhorn Lydia Key Reese Kinsella Ted Klinker Jack Knowles Isabelle Knowles Micah Kohen Talia Kohen Kelli Kotera Sam Kutler Emerson Ladd Siena LaFleur Miles Lankhorst John Lauer

Graham Lienemann John Macaulay Ximena Machuca Britta Mahler Harper Mainelli Liam Malmstrom Elizabeth Marshall Otis Mauer Chandler McGuire Blaise McLaughlin Ethan McLeay Lilly McMahon Grayson Mead Charlene Metcalf Maise Meysenburg Eleanore Michelic Jackson Montgomery Connor Moore Brecken Morrison Kasen Morrison Madeline Oliver Breckin Palmquist Louis Pape Charlotte Parker Emmett Pavlish Henry Pedersen Carter Poots Taylor Poots Madelyn Potter Charlotte Raetz Carson Reding Lucas Regier Julian Rider Quinn Rider Violet Ritter Peru Robinson

Ruthie Robinson Clinton Rushing Mitchell Sauser Lillian Scherer Evelyn Schlattmann Miranda Self Mackenzie Senn Clare Sheedy Mary Ann Shehan Keeland Sierawski Lydia Siner Virginia Spatz Owen Stiles Lola Stoller Owen Strese Izabela Sutton Vivian Svacina Chuck Taylor Michael Tettenborn Masahiro Ueda Owen Visty Kayden Wallace Leo Wares Ella Weingarten Amelia West Charlie Wetta Carlos Willkom James Woodke Eleanor Woods Maeve Wythers Reed Wythers Truett Yates Emily Zabrowski

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE | OCTOBER 2025

31

Jan 30 & Feb 1

SUSANNAH TICKETOMAHA.COM

ORPHEUM THEATER

DEC 13

7:30PM

The Grand Ol’ Christmas Show PURCHASE TICKETS: 712.388.7140 | artscenter.iwcc.edu

The Grand Ol’ Christmas Show is a live, one-of-a-kind musical variety show.

This raucous, rollicking, retro radio show features your all-time favorite Christmas classics like you’ve never heard them before.

2025-26 NATIONAL PERFORMANCE SEASON

SHARE YOUR OPERA EXPERIENCE #BarberOmaha @operaomaha

WHAT IS THE HOLLAND COMMUNITY OPERA FELLOWSHIP? Launched in 2017, the Holland Community Opera Fellowship (HCOF) leads the opera field in civic practice by deepening relationships outside of performance venues.

Across the Omaha metro, our team engages with the community, bringing artistry and connection to a variety of long-term and short-term co-created programs. Programming focuses on creativity and inspiration, utilizing the elements of opera (drama, word, art, movement, and music) in community-based settings.

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.

Pictured above: An HCOF workshop at Intercultural Senior Center

25/26 FELLOWSHIP TEAM Pictured from left to right: Tobias J. Garcia, First Year Fellow | Chloe Janae Gormley, First Year Fellow | Wendy Kaiser, Community Opera Fellowship Manager | Aiden James Poling, Second Year Fellow | Lauren Medici, Director of Partnerships and Programs | Abz Cameron, First Year Fellow.

HCOF VALUES Collaborative | Creative | Engaging | Expressive | Innovative | Responsive | Transformational | Pride in Service

25/26 COMMUNITY PARTNERS

25/26 COMMUNITY PANEL

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

The Community Panel represents a diverse group of local community members who are committed to the success and future of the Holland Community Opera Fellowship.

The panel considers high level strategic decisions and priorities, helping guide the Fellowship as it grows.

Ang R. Bennett, I Be Black Girl & Artist Tiffiny Clifton, Gotta Be Me Geri Knight, RISE Rachel Morgan, Nebraska Arts Council Carrie Nath, Arts Access & Outreach Consultant Rita Paskowitz, Storyteller John Paul, Joslyn Castle & Gardens Wildey Rodriguez, Intercultural Senior Center

Sarpy County Juvenile Justice Center

Lee Emma Running, Artist Justin Spooner, Colliers Nebraska Gina Tranisi, Writer Paula Wallace, Artist Gwyn Williams, Independent Leadership Coach

FIND MORE INFORMATION AT OPERAOMAHA.ORG/HCOF

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE | OCTOBER 2025

35

OPERA OMAHA

EDUCATION PROGRAMS

OPERA OMAHA EDUCATION PROGRAMS Each year Opera Omaha education programs serve over 2,000 students from early childhood to graduate school level at more than 75 partner schools and universities.

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

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

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

directing, and conducting. These conversations give students extra insight into the careers 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.

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

TO LEARN MORE VISIT OPERAOMAHA.ORG/EDUCATION 36

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE | OCTOBER 2025

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OPERA OMAHA

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

This listing reflects gifts received between February 15, 2024- August 15, 2025

CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE

$100,000+

Steve Menzies Constance B. Meunier Trust Jane and David Offutt Mary and Richard* Parrish Donald Wurster

PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE $50,000- $99,999

Cindy and Mogens Bay Carol E. and David A. Domina Robert E. Owen Linda Burt Rebrovic and John Rebrovic The Carl Rohman Trust Donna and Coyner* Smith Kate and Roger Weitz

PRODUCER $25,000-$49,999

Anonymous Barbara Person and Scott Burger Catherine and Terry Ferguson Polina and Bob Schlott Julie M. Schroeder Betiana and Todd Simon Katie Weitz, PhD and Tim Wilson

BACKER

$10,000-$24,999

Anonymous (2) Dr. Betty L. Beach Roger Blauwet Tina and John Cherica Anna-Karin and David* Dillard Carol L. Dworak Estate Frances and David Ertel Betty Foster Kyoko and Jonathan Fuller

38

Vivian and Allen Hager Belle and Ryan Hansen Dr. Ali Khan Vicki and David Krecek Janet and H. Frederick Kuehl Susan F. Morris Pauline Quinn Constance Ryan Annette and Paul Smith Jean and Eugene Stark Jr. Mary Ann Strasheim Janet and Jerry Syslo Dr. and Mrs. James Tracy Jo Bartikoski and Don Westling Gail and Michael Yanney Charese E. Yanney

BENEFACTOR $5,000-$9,999

Anonymous Linda Matson Andersen Sara and Jawed Bharwani Sharon and Randy Blackburn Devin J. Fox, MD and Rob Block Dr. Anne and Stephen Bruckner Sandi and Bill Bruns Debra Reilly-Culver and Robert Culver, Jr. Linda and David Gardels Anne Gardner Mr. Jerry C. Gose Vernie and Carter Jones Joanne and David Kolenda Wade Leak and John Yost Paul Ledwon and Mark Maser Sharee and Murray Newman Ann and Paul O'Hara Rita and Donald Otis Silvia Greene Roffman Ava and Bruce Ross Howard B. Silberg Revocable Trust Jacqueline Sorrels and Alex Ritter Kara and Joe Spitzenberger Ellen and Robert Vladem Mary Beth Winner and James Winner

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE | OCTOBER 2025

GUARDIAN

PATRON

Kate and Chris GannonTombrello Mary Jetton Ruth Keene Sheila McNeill

Anonymous Yoko and Tom Arthur Nicholas Bjornson Kathleen Joan Bradley Nancy Ward and Toby Bright Ann and David Burkholder Murray Joseph Casey Samuel Cohen Kris Vikmanis and Denny Creighton Carolyn and David Diamond Gloria Dinsdale Larry Domina Christine and Mauro Fiore Joan Flesch Bill L. Gaus Lisa Hagstrom Timothy Held and Jay Worden Linda Matson and Michael Howland Constance Heiden Kammandel and Henry Kammandel Sandra and Jon Kayne Alfred G. Kelley Molly Burns and Thomas Klein Leslie Kuhnel Susan and Alan Langnas Katie LeDoux Lara Marcon Marilyn and Robert Marion Martin Kevin Murray Karen and Larry Nelsen Stephen Osberg Elizabeth and Jerry Powell Barbara and Gordon Reisinger Lynda Thomas-Reed and John Reed Greta Vaught and John Ritland Donald Slaughter Lisa Sock Sherry and Jeff Taxman Paul Vladem Verne Weber Kate Rahel and Dennis Whelan Ann and John Williamson Laura Wilwerding Shirley Young

$3,500-$4,999

SUSTAINER $1,500-$3,499

Laura and Bryan Alexander Sidney Marquez Boquiren Joan Desens and Simon CarrEllison Dawn and Sid Dinsdale Brian Eaton Leslie Garth Judy and George Haecker, Jr. Sarah Baker Hansen and Matthew Hansen Carol and James Healy Janeanne and Joseph Heidenreich Megan and Thomas Heidenreich Anne Marie Hubbard Susan Thomas and Steven Hutchinson Jeffrey Johnston Lora Kaup and Michael Pray Deana Liddy Sharon L McGill Matthew Messner and Neil Sechan Connie Osborne Deb and Eric Peterson Dr. Jeffrey A. Robinson, M.D. Kelly and Mark Sanford Sarah Billinghurst Solomon Jill Steinberg Anne Stoddard Marika and Peter Stone Dr. Terry Tomcsik

$750-$1,499

*Deceased

ADVOCATE $300-$749

Anonymous Eileen and Timothy Arkebauer Denise Arnold Paula Ashen Kelli and Brian Bello Ang Bennett Mayrene Bentley Samuel M. Bierner and Joseph Pinson Teri and David Black Joan and Don Cimpl Eleanor Shirley and Dan Cox Ryan Cwach Mary and Hal Daub Rosemary J. Pauley and Timothy F. Daugherty Jennifer and James Davenport Vivian and Spencer Davis Sandy and Paul Epstein Karen and Richard Everett Bev and Dick Fellman Mary Fieber Tamara and Thomas Foley Andrew Frost Elizabeth and John Fullerton Daniel Gallagher and Jeffrey Grinnell Patrick Galvin Barbara Glauber John K. Green Cathy and Guy Gronquist Joan H. Squires Allison Hardy Robert Hawkey and Katrina Thurman Stanton Hoppe Susan and Craig Ihnen Bonnie and David Jaros Marlin and Gayle Jeffers Sylvia Jones Donna and James Kalar Ruth Ann Keene Mr. and Mrs. Tom Kerr Marilyn and Mark Kirchhoff Barbara and Marshall Kushner Ronna and Joseph Kutlas Julie and Joseph Lecci Lourdes Secola and Sheldon Lerner Bruce McKeefry and Geoffrey Yeomans Dorothy* and Daniel McKinney Christine and Jim Medici Ann Jansen Michelson and Brent Michelson Cindy Miserez Donald Moran Karen and Paul Mullen

April and Jonathan Nebel Ashley Olson Polly and Frank Partsch Jessica and Dennis Pate Judy Pfeifer Lisa and Dan Prickett Abigail Kutlas-Prickett and Joseph Prickett Silva Raker Tom Richter Dr. Debra J. Romberger Kathleen Crawford-Rose and Robert Rose David Sampson Libby Murphy and Ray Schueneman Sissy Katelman Silber Jara and Kenley SturdivantWilson Ginger Talbot Kiley and James Thiele Ann Stephens and John Vasiliades Patricia Victor Sarah Watson James Wink Melanie and John Wright Mary* and Anthony Yonkers Sara and John Young

FRIEND $1-$299

Anonymous (4) Gay and Steve Abraham Rebecca Noble and Keith Allerton Deisy Ivonne Andrew Barbara Antonides Backer Family Charitable Trust Ronald Bailey Joshua Bassan Susan Baumert Erna Beach Richard Berkland Shana Lynn Bernache Duane Bier Eric Bildt Valerie Bullock Dawn Ann Boll Shelia G. Brantley Katie and Corey Broman Shawntae Brown Michelle Cartwright Bruckner Rob Buckley Janice and Mario Buda Erin and Bob Busch Karen and David Campbell David Campbell Felicia Cervantes

Tom Chandler and Bill Schaffer Edward Chaperon Melanie and Jeffrey Chapman Susan Chenoweth Christine and Bob Chilcoat Jeannine Christensen Donna Christian Grace Chu Julie Clawson Tiffiny Clifton Diane and Howard Coffin Elizabeth Collins Cora and Maurice Conner Caitlin Flynn Copenhaver Carmelita Cox Eileen Crinklaw Clifford Davis Sarah L Davis Carole DeBuse Michael Del Core Susan and Stephen Dolezal Mark Draper Joan Ellingson Karla Ermel Chelsey Erpelding Michael Faust Mary and Ronald Ferdig Sarah Ferneding Andrea and Donald Fineberg Beverly Fleckten Terry and Mollie Foster Sandra Franklin Morgann Freeman Karen Gahl-Mills Rose Glock Mary Green Robert Griffin Jan Grimes M. Kathlyn and R. Michael Gross Jackie and Douglas Grote Cindy Hadsell Ellen Hargus Darrel Harris Mary Jo Havlicek Lisa K Hawk Jane and Edward Hawks Cheryl and Joe Hazel Marilyn Hoegemeyer Shari Hofschire Ann and Don Hosford Connor Howard Annette and Steven Huff Rebecca Ihnen Xavier Jackson Marti Baumert and Richard Jeffrey Vibeke Jensen Ollie and Jerry Johnson John Philip Johnson

Neil Jouvenat Julia Kleinschmit Mike Klug Michele and Thomas Kluge Geri Knight Mihaela and Brett Kobjerowski Wende and John Kotouc Stacy Kozisek Mary J. Krance Candida Kraska Morgan Kreiser Adam Kucirek Barbara Kuhn Jane Stieren Lacy Heike and Adam Langdon Mathew Leaf Elaine Leise Patricia and Edmund Leslie Sherryl and Hiram Lilley Lori D Liu Billie D. Logan Gerald Lohman III Kathleen and John Lohr Lorraine Beadell and Greg Love Cedric Ludlow Christine Lund Meredith Fuller and James Luyten Kathryn and William Lydiatt Charles MacKay Maria C Magana Karla and John Marburger Dr. Cliff Mason Amy Mather Mary Mattingly Catherine and Marcus Maydew Ali Rensch McBride Linda and Terry McClain Jim McGough Laura McLean Ann Meschery Richard Morris Dorothy Davis Morrow and Jim Morrow Fred Mytty Ann and Kevin Naylor Jon Nelson and Jerry Tyrrell Dawn and John Nielsen Patricia and Anthony Nogg Robert Nordt Tirimba Obonyo Neil O'Donnell Kathleen and Louis O'Konski Mary Helms and Kenneth Olson Duane Ostlund Erin Owen Mike Pape Lois Pesek Jean Ann Ballinger and Ward Peters

*Deceased

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE | OCTOBER 2025

39

Glen Peterson Margery Radek Pope Sabrina Potterpin H. Margo Prentiss Kathleen Doak Pyper James Pyrzynski Jacqueline Quigley Patricia and Robert Ranney TaTanisha Ranney Paula and William Rasmussen Diane and Robert Peabody Toni Reese Victoria and Edward Roche Jheam Rodriguez Britt Roeder Noyes W. Rogers Diana Roucka Courtney Rudick Rev. David Rykwalder Dawn Braaten Salsman Marissa Sanford Rita and Dean Schechinger Margret Sexton Lori and Scott Shaddy Joan and Charles Shapiro Kay M. Shilling, M.D. Janelle Siffring

Tom Simmons Edward Cohn Kim Smith-Ferguson Neil Solomon Kim Sosin Eric Spruth-Janssen Dr. Sandra Squires Glenda and George Steinsberger Del Stites Anna and Rock Sumner Dr. Greg Sutton Allison and Hunter Swenson Monte and Duane Thompson Gina Tranisi Mitch Treu Jillian Tuck Pia Ulrich Barbara Van Dyke Deidre Vasquez Caitlin Volz Joachin Voss and Don Horn Shannon and Michael Walenta Kathleen Ann Ward Annika and Allen Weber Carolyn B. Weber Kevin Wetzel

Mathew Whitlock Wendi and Curtis Wilson Patricia Wise Wendy Wiseman Kathleen Wittbrot Nicholas Wilwerding Kimberly and Michael Wohlwend Sarah Woodhouse Brad Woolbright Edith and Robert Zahniser Inna Zevakina

*Deceased

EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY EVER TOLD (AND THEN SOME!) NOVEMBER 20 – DECEMBER 20 SPONSORED BY

Dave & Jane Offutt

ART BY ANTHONY DEON BROWN 40

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE | OCTOBER 2025

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 February 15, 2024 - August 15, 2025

IN MEMORY OF: GLORIA DINSDALE Linda Andersen

JODY KERSSENBROCK Dr. Sandra Kay Squires

RICHARD (DICK) SERPAN

Mary Jetton Mary Ellen Mulcahy Mike Pape Margery Radek Pope Annika and Allen Weber

MR. AND MRS. BILLIE F. LOGAN

DR. MICHAEL SORRELL

RICHARD PARRISH

ELOUISE SQUIRES

Billie D. Logan

Linda Andersen Cindy and Mogens Bay Kelli and Brian Bello Richard Berkland Sara and Jawed Bharwani Duane Bier Jeannine and Dale Christensen Sarah Davis Tamara and Tom Foley Polly Goecke Kathy and Michael Gross Janet and H. Frederick Kuehl Patricia and Edmund Leslie Deana F. Liddy Linda and Terry McClain Mary Ellen Mulcahy Duane Ostlund Jacqueline Quigley Diana and Steve Roucka Dawn Suing Joan Swahn Allison and Hunter Swenson Mary Ann Strasheim The Des Moines Opera Shannon and Michael Walenta Mary Beth and James Winner

THOMPSON ROGERS

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

Mary Ellen Mulcahy

Dr. Sandra Kay Squires

PAUL TRANISI

Gina Tranisi

BROTHER WILLIAM WOEGER

Bill Gaus Opera Omaha Craftsman’s Guild

IN HONOR OF: BETTY BEACH Bill Gaus

SANDI BRUNS

Joanne and David Kolenda

SCOTT BURGER AND BARBARA PERSON

Joseph Pinson and Samuel Bierner

MARK MASER AND PAUL LEDWON Libby Murphy and Ray Schueneman

MARY PARRISH Kelli and Brian Bello

MARY AND RICHARD* PARRISH Dr. Betty Beach, Ph.D.

JAMES PYRZYNSKI Bill Gaus

LINDA BURT REBROVIC

Jessica and Dennis Pate

LINDA BURT REBROVIC AND JOHN REBROVIC Carolyn and David Diamond Mr. and Mrs. Tom Kerr

KELLY AND MARK SANFORD Marissa and Mitchell Sanford

ALLISON SWENSON

Connor Howard Neil Sechan and Matthew Messner Caitlin Volz

GAIL AND MIKE YANNEY

Heider Family Foundation Constance Ryan The Walter Scott Family Foundation

SCOTT BURGER’S BIRTHDAY

Allison and Hunter Swenson

CAROL AND DAVID DOMINA

*Deceased

Joan Desens and Simon Carr-Ellison Connor Howard Ann Meschery Caitlin Volz

CAROL DOMINA Patrick Galvin

CAROL DOMINA’S BIRTHDAY

Joan Desens and Simon Carr-Ellison

MALLORY HAYS Howard Coffin

DR. ALI KHAN

Dr. Anne Marie Hubbard

MARK MASER

Joanne and David Kolenda Wendy Wiseman

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE | OCTOBER 2025

41

MADAMA BUTTERFLY Giacomo Puccini

THE MAGIC FLUTE Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

EUGENE ONEGIN Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

RODELINDA George Frideric Handel

LILI ELBE Tobias Picker / Aryeh Lev Stollman

santafeopera.org 505-986-5900

Opening Nights Sponsor 855-674-5401 fourseasons.com/santafe

42

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE | OCTOBER 2025

photo by Robert Godwin for the Santa Fe Opera

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opens March 2026 o-pa.org/Tenaska

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

We proudly and gratefully acknowledge our Fortissimo Society members: Peppy* and Norman* Bahr Jo Bartikoski and Don Westling Betty L. Beach, PhD Kathleen Joan Bradley Sandra L.E. and William C. Bruns Dr. Debra Reilly-Culver and Bob Culver 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* 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 Gina Tranisi Bruni and Roy* Thylin Mary Beth and James Winner

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

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

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

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

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

OPERA OMAHA

CORPORATE, FOUNDATION & GOVERNMENT DONORS CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE

BACKER

ADVOCATE

Anonymous Applied Underwriters, Inc. Douglas County Board of Commissioners Holland Foundation Peter Kiewit Foundation Weitz Family Foundation The William Randolph Hearst Foundation

Adah and Leon Millard Foundation Baxter Conagra Brands Foundation Heider Family Foundation Iowa West Foundation Jetton Charitable Fund Kiewit Mutual of Omaha Opera Omaha Craftsman's Guild Opera Omaha Guild

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

$100,000+

PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE $50,000-$99,000

Anonymous Allan and Ann Mactier Charitable Foundation Omaha Magazine Omaha Steaks/Simon Legacy Ventures LLC.

PRODUCER

$25,000-$49,999

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

$10,000-$24,999

BENEFACTOR $5,000-$9,999

CL Werner Foundation Giger Foundation HDR, Inc. Husch Blackwell LLP Security National Bank The FS Foundation Inc Union Pacific Corporation University of Nebraska - Omaha University of Nebraska Foundation Walter Scott Family Foundation Whitmore Charitable Trust Wintrust Financial Corporation

$1-$4,999

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE | OCTOBER 2025

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OPERA OMAHA

REPERTOIRE HISTORY 1958-59

Madama Butterfly Tosca Oklahoma!

Hansel and Gretel

1959-60

Carousel Pagliacci/Quivera

1960-61

1971-72

Rigoletto The Tales of Hoffmann

1972-73

Madama Butterfly Romeo and Juliet Un Ballo in Maschera

1973-74

Die Fledermaus La traviata

Tosca The Marriage of Figaro The Elixir of Love

1961-62

1974-75

The Merry Widow La bohème

1962-63

Carmen La Périchole

1963-64

Aida The Barber of Seville

1964-65

Lucia di Lammermoor The Marriage of Figaro

1965-66

Rigoletto Madama Butterfly

La bohème Lucia di Lammermoor La Périchole

1975-76

1969-70

Faust Cavalleria Rusticana/ Pagliacci

1970-71

Aida Die Fledermaus

1977-78

The Barber of Seville Werther La bohème

1979-80

Die Fledermaus* La traviata* The Pirates of Penzance

1980-81

Così fan tutte Susannah Rigoletto

1981-82

The Daughter of the Regiment Carmen The Magic Flute

46

1984-85

Tosca Falstaff Gianni Schicchi/Pagliacci

1985-86

Turandot Lucia di Lammermoor The Marriage of Figaro

1987-88

Aida The Merry Widow Don Pasquale Don Giovanni

1978-79

La traviata Carmen

Aida* The Tales of Hoffmann Don Giovanni

1976-77

1967-68

1968-69

1983-84

1986-87

Il Trovatore The Ballad of Baby Doe Tosca La bohème

Don Pasquale Faust Madama Butterfly

La traviata Manon Bilby’s Doll The Barber of Seville

Madama Butterfly The Abduction from the Seraglio* The Bartered Bride

1966-67

1982-83

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE | OCTOBER 2025

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

Amahl & the Night Visitors* Carmen La bohème

1988-89

Oklahoma!

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

1989-90

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

1990-91

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

1991-92

My Fair Lady Tosca Don Giovanni*

1992-93

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

1993-94

Vive Toulouse!

Requiem Variations*** Fidelio The Pirates of Penzance

1994-95

The Merry Widow La traviata Carmen

1995-96

The Daughter of the Regiment* Turandot The Barber of Seville

1996-97

Così fan tutte* La bohème Faust

1997-98

Don Pasquale Madama Butterfly La Cenerentola Opera Omaha 40

1998-99

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

1999-00

2008-09

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

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

2000-01

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

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

2001-02

2010-11

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

2002-03

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

2003-04

La bohème Lucia di Lammermoor Cold Sassy Tree*

2004-05

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

2005-06

Paul Bunyan Madama Butterfly* The Abduction from theSeraglio*

2006-07

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

2007-08

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

2009-10

Opera for the Cure* Don Giovanni Madama Butterfly

2011-12

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

2012-13

La traviata The Magic Flute* Bluebeard’s Castle*

2013-14

Opera Outdoors* Carmen Agrippina* La Cenerentola

2014-15

Opera Outdoors* Rigoletto* A Flowering Tree* Fidelio

2015-16

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

2016-17

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

2017-18

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

2018-19

2023-24

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

2024-25

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

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

2019-20

2025-26

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++

Opera Outdoors* The Barber of Seville Susannah Hercules Bluebeard's Castle* UnShakeable*

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

2021-22

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

2022-23

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

DON PASQUALE | OCTOBER 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, and Steelhouse Omaha

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

STAFF

Jack Koraleski, Chair

Joan H. Squires, President

D. David Slosburg, Vice Chair

Arnold Reeves, Senior Vice President and COO

Michael S. Cassling, Vice Chair

Gennean Scott Gray, Senior Vice President and CSO

Avner M. Applbaum H. Dele Davies, M.D. Meg Lauritzen Dodge Scott C. Heider

Bianca Harley, Vice President of Impact Sabrina Weiss, Vice President of Development Andy Cassano, Vice President of Programming and Education Erika Hansen, Vice President of Commercial Entertainment

Todd L. Johnson Christopher Leitner Rodrigo López

Ryan Murray, Associate Vice President of Operations Alyssa Stieren, Associate Vice President of Finance & Information Services Ashley Voorhees, Vice President of Administrative Services

Sharlon Rodgers Rachel Werner John K. Boyer, Secretary

NOVEMBER 22 & 23*, HOFF CENTER

MONARCH

*SENSORY-FRIENDLY PERFORMANCE

DECEMBER 4–7, ORPHEUM

Restaurant & Bar

The Art of Culinary Before or After The Performance

ED ADD W! O SH Thursday-night Orpheum performance added by popular demand

amballet.org 48

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE | OCTOBER 2025

Your Artisan Experience Awaits At H

O

T

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L

HotelDecoOmaha.com

OMAHA PERFORMING ARTS

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 – easy-access 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@o-pa.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.

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE | OCTOBER 2025

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OPERA OMAHA

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

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

OPERA OMAHA GUILD

VOLUNTEERS

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

Members plan and promote events such as Cotillion (etiquette classes for area sixth graders), social luncheons, educational activities, opera study groups and 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 shareomaha.org/ nonprofit/opera-omaha.

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

SUPERNUMERARIES

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

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

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

ADVERTISING For Opera Omaha program book advertising, please contact: Gil Cohen, Omaha Publications Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing

50

402.884.2047- O 402.612.9378- C gil@omahapublications.com THE BARBER OF SEVILLE | OCTOBER 2025

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