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AMERICAN APOLLO (2024)
Photos: Cory Weaver for Des Moines Metro Opera
Music by Damien Geter
Libretto by Lila Palmer
World Premiere
Expanded version commissioned by Des Moines Metro Opera
Original version commissioned by Washington National Opera
Performances: July 13, 18, 19
Venue: Pote Theatre, Blank Performing Arts Center
Conductor: David Neely
Director: Shaun Patrick Tubbs
Scenic Design: Steven C. Kemp
Costume Design: Jacob A. Climer
Lighting Design: Bridget S. Williams
Projection Design: David Murakami
Wig and Makeup Design: Brittany V.A. Rappise
Movement Director: Leah Tubbs
Dramaturg: Kate Pitts
Thomas Eugene McKeller: Justin Austin
John Singer Sargent: William Burden
Isabella Stewart Gardner: Mary Dunleavy
Ida Mae McDonald: Tesia Kwarteng
Nicola d'Inverno: Alex McKissick
Florence McKeller/Mrs. Smithson: Kendra Faith Beasley
Willie McDonald: Daniel Rich
Clarence/Master of Ceremonies: Shyheim Selvan Hinnant
George: Isaiah Traylor
Walter: Antonio Domino
Jimmy O'Donnelly/Mr. Carhart: Robert Frazier
Mr. Sparhawk: Hayden Smith
Mrs. Sparhawk: Sarah Rosales
PELLÉAS ET MÉLISANDE (2024)
Photos: Cory Weaver for Des Moines Metro Opera
Music by Claude Debussy
Libretto by Claude Debussy
Adapted from the play by Maurice Maeterlinck
Performances: July 6, 12, 17, 21
Venue: Pote Theatre, Blank Performing Arts Center
Conductor: Derrick Inouye
Director: Chas Rader-Shieber
Scenic Design: Andrew Boyce
Costume Design: Jacob A. Climer
Lighting Design: Connie Yun
Wig and Makeup Design: Brittany V.A. Rappise
Chorus Director: Lisa Hasson
Combat Director: Brian Robertson
Mélisande: Sydney Mancasola
Pelléas: Edward Nelson
Golaud: Brandon Cedel
Arkel: Matt Boehler
Geneviève: Catherine Martin
Yniold: Benjamin Bjorklund
Physician: Alan Williams
SALOME (2024)
Photos: Cory Weaver for Des Moines Metro Opera
Music by Richard Strauss
Libretto by Hedwig Lachmann after Oscar Wilde
Performances: June 29, July 7, 13, 19
Venue: Pote Theatre, Blank Performing Arts Center
Conductor: David Neely
Director: Alison Pogorelc
Scenic Design: Steven C. Kemp
Costume Design: Jacob A. Climer
Lighting Design: Connie Yun
Wig and Makeup Design: Brittany V.A. Rappise
Choreographer: Jessica Lang
Combat Director: Brian Robertson
Intimacy Coordinator: Stephanie Schneider
Salome: Sara Gartland
Jochanaan: Norman Garrett
Herod Antipas: Chad Shelton
Herodias: Gwendolyn Jones
Narraboth: Alex McKissick
First Soldier: Alan Williams
Second Soldier: Sergio Martínez
Page of Herodias: Audrey Welsh
First Jew: Will Upham
Second Jew: Michael Deshield
Third Jew: Shawn Roth
Fourth Jew: Sam Krausz
Fifth Jew: Matthew Soibelman
First Nazarene: Daniel Rich
Second Nazarene: Zachary Taylor
A Slave: Gabrielle Turgeon
A Cappadocian: Robert Frazier
THE BARBER OF SEVILLE (2024)
Photos: Cory Weaver for Des Moines Metro Opera
Music by Gioachino Rossini
Libretto by Cesare Sterbini
Performances: June 28, 30, July 5, 14, 16, 20
Venue: Pote Theatre, Blank Performing Arts Center
Conductor: Gary Thor Wedow
Director: Lindy Hume
Associate Director and Choreographer: Daniel Pelzig
Production Design: Tracy Grant Lord
Lighting Design: Matthew Marshall
Wig and Makeup Design: Brittany V.A. Rappise
Chorus Director: Lisa Hasson
Figaro: Alexander Birch Elliott
Rosina: Sun-Ly Pierce
Almaviva: Duke Kim
Bartolo: Ashraf Sewailam
Basilio: Vartan Gabrielian
Berta: Abigail Rethwisch
Fiorello: Michael Pandolfo
Ambrogio: Marc Kenison
Officer: Korin Thomas-Smith
Guitarist: Seth Hedquist
Notary: Noah Mond
CARMEN (2023)
Photos: Duane Tinkey for Des Moines Metro Opera
Music by Georges Bizet
Libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy
Based on Carmen by Prosper Mérimée
Performances: June 30, July 2, 7, 11, 13, 15, 23
Venue: Pote Theatre, Blank Performing Arts Center
Conductor: Kelly Kuo
Director: Brenna Corner
Scenic Design: David P. Gordon
Costumes: Sarasota Opera Association, Inc.
Costume Design for Taylor Raven: Jacob A. Climer
Lighting Design: Kate Ashton
Wig and Makeup Design: Brittany V.A. Rappise
Chorus Director: Lisa Hasson
Choreographer: Todd Rhoades
Combat Director: Brian Robertson
Intimacy Director: Katherine Coyl
Youth Chorus Co-Directors: Sandy Miller, Mary Craven Bartemes
Carmen: Taylor Raven
Don José: Matthew Cairns
Micaëla: Yunuet Laguna
Escamillo: Christian Pursell
Zuniga: Allen Michael Jones
Frasquita: Emma Marhefka
Mercédès: Imara Miles
Dancairo: Ryan Wolfe
Remendado: Daniel Esteban Lugo
Moralès: Sankara Harouna
Lillas Pastia: Christopher Fusco
BLUEBEARD'S CASTLE (2023)
Photos: Duane Tinkey for Des Moines Metro Opera
Music by Béla Bartók
Libretto by Béla Balázs
Based on Barbe bleue by Charles Perrault
Performances: July 1, 9, 14, 21
Venue: Pote Theatre, Blank Performing Arts Center
Conductor: David Neely
Director: Kristine McIntyre
Digital Image Composer: Oyoram
Scenic Design: Luke Cantarella
Costume Design: Kaye Voyce
Lighting Design: Kate Ashton
Wig and Makeup Design: Brittany V.A. Rappise
Choreographer: Lisa Thurrell
Duke Bluebeard: Chistian Van Horn
Judith: Sara Gartland
Prologue: Viktoria Vizin
Dancer: Erin Arndorfer
Dancer: Melissa Dahms
Dancer: Chiyo Nishida
THE LOVE FOR THREE ORANGES (2023)
Photos: Duane Tinkey for Des Moines Metro Opera
Music by Sergei Prokofiev
Libretto by Sergei Prokofiev and Vera Janacopoulos
Based on Vsevolod Meyerhold’s adaptation of the play by Carlo Gozzi
Performances: July 8, 16, 18, 21
Venue: Pote Theatre, Blank Performing Arts Center
Conductor: David Neely (July 8, 16, 21)
Condcutor: Michael Sakir (July 18)
Director: Chas Rader-Shieber
Scenic and Costume Design: Jacob A. Climer
Lighting Design: Connie Yun
Wig and Makeup Design: Brittany V.A. Rappise
Choreographer: Isaac Martin Lerner
Prince: Chistopher Sokolowski
Trouffaldino: Michael Porter
King of Clubs: Scott Conner
Fata Morgana: Alexandra LoBianco
Ninette: Flora Hawk
Léandre: Alexander Birch Elliott
Clarice: Catherine Martin
Tchélio: Anthony Reed
Cook: Matt Boehler
Sméraldine: Sun-Ly Pierce
Pantalon: Benjamin Taylor
Linette: Ariana Maubach
Nicolette: Maggie Reneé
Farfarello: José Olivares
Herald: Jeremy Harr
Master of Ceremonies: Spencer Lawrence Boyd
THE FALLING AND THE RISING (2023)
Photos: Duane Tinkey for Des Moines Metro Opera
Music by Zach Redler
Libretto by Jerre Dye
Conceived by Sergeant First Class Benjamin Hilgert
Performances: July 20, 22
Venue: Freedom Center Drill Hall, Camp Dodge
Condcutor: Michael Sakir
Director: Joshua Borths
Scenic Design: Adam Whittridge
Costume Design: Ashleigh Poteat
Lighting Design: Bridget S. Williams
Wig and Makeup Design: Margaret Sackman
Soldier: Tess Altiveros
Doctor/Toledo: Sun-Ly Pierce
Doctor/Colonel: Matt Boehler
Doctor/Homecoming Soldier: Sankara Harouna
Doctor/Jumper: Sam Mathis
Soldier's Daughter: Grace Altiveros Ritter
dwb (driving while black) (2023)
Photos: Luke Behaunek for Des Moines Metro Opera
Music by Susan Kander
Libretto by Roberta Gumbel
Performances: June 16, July 8, 15, 21
Venues: African American Museum of Iowa, Mainframe Studios, Hope + Elim, Viking Theatre at Grand View University
Director: Chip Miller
Mother: Roberta Gumbel
Cello: Cremaine Booker
Percussion: David Leon Verin
A THOUSAND ACRES (2022)
Photos: Duane Tinkey for Des Moines Metro Opera
Music by Kristin Kuster
Libretto by Mark Campbell
Based on the novel by Jane Smiley
Performances: July 9, 13, 17, 19, 22
Venue: Pote Theatre, Blank Performing Arts Center
Conductor: David Neely
Director: Kristine McIntyre
Scenic and Projection Design: Luke Cantarella
Costume Design: Valérie Thérèse Bart
Lighting Design: Kate Ashton
Make-Up/Hair Design: Kellen M. Eason
Ginny: Elise Quagliata
Rose: Sara Gartland
Larry: Roger Honeywell
Caroline: Grace Kahl
Jess: John Moore
Ty: Keith Phares
Pete: Taylor Stayton
Harold: Kristopher Irmiter
Marv Carson: Wei Wu
Pamela: Mara Stoa
Linda: Ansley Mason
PORGY AND BESS (2022)
By George Gershwin, Dubose and Dorothy Heyward and Ira Gershwin
Performances: July 1, 3, 8, 14, 16, 24
Venue: Pote Theatre, Blank Performing Arts Center
Photos: Duane Tinkey for Des Moines Metro Opera
Conductor: Michael Ellis Ingram
Director: Tazewell Thompson
Scenic Design: R. Keith Brumley
Costume Design: Harry Nadal
Lighting Design: Robert Wierzel
Make-Up/Hair Design: Kellen M. Eason
Porgy: Kevin Deas
Bess: Michelle Johnson
Serena: Leah Hawkins
Crown: Norman Garrett
Sportin' Life: Jermaine Smith
Clara: Jacqueline Echols
Jake: Blake Denson
Maria: Lucia Bradford
Lawyer Frazier: Simon Estes
Robbins: Errin Duane Brooks
Undertaker: Patrick Blackwell
Peter: Roland Hawkins, II
Mingo: David Morgans Sanchez
Jim: Brandon Bell
Crab Man: Demetrious Sampson, Jr.
Strawberry Woman: Lynnesha Crump
Detective: Richard Cordova
Coroner: Thaddeus Ennen
Lily: Imara Miles
Annie: GeDeane Graham
Nelson: Sankara Harouna
Policeman: Jonathan Patton
Second policeman: Kellen Schrimper
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (2022)
Music by Benjamin Britten
Libretto by Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears, after the play by Shakespeare
Performances: July 2, 10, 15, 23
Venue: Pote Theatre, Blank Performing Arts Center
Photos: Duane Tinkey for Des Moines Metro Opera
Conductor: Elizabeth Askren
Director: Chas Rader-Shieber
Scenic and Costume Design: Jacob A. Climer
Lighting Design: Connie Yun
Make-Up/Hair Design: Brittany V.A. Rappise
Oberon: John Holiday
Tytania: Sydney Mancasola
Bottom: Barnaby Rea
Puck: Liam Beck-O'Sullivan
Demetrius: Alexander Birch Elliott
Helena: Susanne Burgess
Lysander: Isaiah Bell
Hermia: Tamara Gura
Quince: Matt Boehler
Flute: Michael Kuhn
Snug: Wei Wu
Snout: Corey Trahan
Starveling: Michael Pandolfo
Thesues: Alan Williams
Hippolyta: Sydney Frodsham
Peaseblossom: Véronique Filloux
Mustardseed: Naomi Brigell
Moth: Miya Higashiyama
Cobweb: Emma Rothfield
AMERICAN APOLLO (2022)
Music by Damien Geter
Libretto by Lila Palmer
Performances: July 20, 21, 24
Venue: Levitt Auditorium, Des Moines Art Center
Photos: Duane Tinkey for Des Moines Metro Opera
Conductor: David Neely
Director: Kimille Howard
Video/Projection Design: David Murakami
Scenic Design: Calvin Stara
Costume Design: Harry Nadal
Lighting Design: Bridget S. Williams
Make-Up/Hair Design: Kellen M. Eason
Thomas McKeller: Justin Austin
John Singer Sargent: Thomas Glenn
Isabella Stewart Gardner: Mary Dunleavy
Jimmy: Jason Zacher
THE MAGIC FLUTE (2022)
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder
Performances: March 5, 6
Venue: Des Moines Civic Center
Photos: Duane Tinkey for Des Moines Metro Opera
Conductor: Christopher Allen
Revival Director: Erik Friedman
Original Co-Director: Barrie Kosky
Original Co-Director: Suzanne Andrade
Animation: Paul Barritt
Set and Costume Design: Esther Bialas
Wig and Makeup Director: Amanda Clark
Tamino: Aaron Blake
Pamino: Raven McMillon
Papageno: Andrew Wilkowske
The Queen of the Night: Audrey Luna
First Lady: Mathilda Edge
Second Lady: Sun-Ly Pierce
Third Lady: Kathleen Felty
Monostatos: John Robert Lindsey
Sarastro: Christian Zaremba
Papagena: Denis Vélez
First Spirit: Ashley Fabian
Second Spirit: Briana Moynihan
Third Spirit: Shannon Keegan
First Armored Man: Robert Gerold
Second Armored Man: Kellen Schrimper
SWEENEY TODD (2021)
(c) Duane Tinkey for Des Moines Metro Opera
Music and lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
Book: Hugh Wheeler, from an adaptation by Christopher Bond
Performances: July 2, 4, 9, 17, 20, 22, 25
Venue: Pote Theatre, Blank Performing Arts Center
Conductor: David Neely
Director: Kristine McIntyre
Scenic Design: R. Keith Brumley
Costume Design: Jonathan Knipscher
Lighting Design: Kate Ashton
Make-Up/Hair Design: Joanne Weaver
Choreography: Todd Rhoades
Fight Director: Brian Robertson
Sweeney Todd: Zachary Nelson
Mrs. Lovett: Lucy Schaufer
Anthony: Ben Edquist
Johanna: Grace Kahl
Judge Turpin: Wayne Tigges
Beggar Woman: Zoie Reams
Tobias Ragg: Christian Sanders
Beadle Bamford: Corey Bix
Adolfo Pirelli: Peter Scott Drackley
THE QUEEN OF SPADES (2021)
Photos by Jen Golay for Des Moines Metro Opera
Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Libretto: Modest Tchaikovsky
Performances: July 3, 11, 13, 16, 23
Venue: Pote Theatre, Blank Performing Arts Center
Conductor: David Neely
Director: Matthew Ozawa
Scenic Design: Andrew Boyce
Costume Design: Jonathan Knipscher
Lighting Design: Sarah Riffle
Make-Up/Hair Design: Joanne Weaver
Choreography: Todd Rhoades
Gherman: Jonathan Burton
Countess: Joyce Castle
Lisa: Sara Gartland
Prince Yeletsky: Alexander Birch Elliott
Count Tomsky/Zlatagor: Benjamin Taylor
Pauline/Milovzor: Taylor Raven
Tchekalinsky: Peter Scott Drackley
Sourin: Andrew Gilstrap
Mascha: Symone Harcum
Governess: Cierra Byrd
Master of Ceremonies: Jonas Hacker
Prilepa: Cadie J. Bryan
Tchaplitsky: Andrew Turner
Narumov: Ryan Wolfe
Catherine the Great: Susan E. Voss
PLATÉE (2021)
(c) Duane Tinkey for Des Moines Metro Opera
Music: Jean-Philippe Rameau
Libretto: Adrien-Joseph le Valois d'Orville
Performances: July 10, 15, 18, 23
Venue: Pote Theatre, Blank Performing Arts Center
Conductor: Gary Thor Wedow
Director: Chas Rader-Shieber
Scenic and Costume Design: Jacob A. Climer
Lighting Design: Nate Wheatley
Make-Up/Hair Design: Sondra Nottingham
Choreography: Isaac Martin Lerner
Platée: Taylor Stayton
La Folie: Elizabeth Sutphen
Jupiter: Scott Conner
Juno: Zoie Reams
Momus: Alexander Birch Elliott
Mercury: Jonas Hacker
Citheron: Alex Rosen
Clarine: Cadie J. Bryan
Thespis: James Stevens
Thalie: Camille Sherman
Amour: Véronique Filloux
Satyre: Benjamin Taylor
FELLOW TRAVELERS (2021)
(c) Duane Tinkey for Des Moines Metro Opera
Music: Gregory Spears
Libretto: Greg Pierce, based on the 2007 novel by Thomas Mallon
Performance: July 17, 2021
Venue: Hoyt Sherman Place, Des Moines
Conductor: Carolyn Watson
Director: Marcus Shields
Scenic Design: Victoria Tzykun
Costume Design: Paul Carey
Supplemental Costume Design: Heather Lesieur
Lighting Design: Nate Wheatley
Make-Up/Hair Design: Sondra Nottingham
Hawkins Fuller: Joseph Lattanzi
Timothy Laughlin: Christian Sanders
Mary Johnson: Grace Kahl
Tommy McIntyre: Benjamin Taylor
Miss Lightfoot: Amanda Sheriff
Senator Joseph McCarthy: Nathaniel Hill
Senator Charles Potter: Craig Juricka
Lucy: Claire Lopatka
Estonian Frank/Interrogator: Kellen Schrimper
Sen. Potter's Assistant/Bookseller/Priest/Technician: Ryan Wolfe
BON APPÉTIT! (2019)
(c) Duane Tinkey for Des Moines Metro Opera
Music: Lee Hoiby
Text: Julia Child, adapted by Mark Shulgasser
Performances: July 18, 19, 21
Venue: Iowa Culinary Institute, Des Moines Area Community College - Ankeny Campus
Julia Child: Joyce Castle
Pianist: Elden Little
Director: Nathan Troupe
Scenic Design: Adam Crinson
Lighting Design: Nate Wheatley
Costume Design: Heather Lesieur
Make-Up/Hair Design: Sarah Norton
WOZZECK (2019)
(c) Duane Tinkey for Des Moines Metro Opera
Music: Alban Berg
Libretto: Alban Berg, after a play by Georg Büchner
Performances: July 6, 14, 16, 19
Venue: Pote Theatre, Blank Performing Arts Center
Conductor: David Neely
Director: Kristine McIntyre
Scenic and Costume Design: Vita Tzykun
Lighting Design: Kate Ashton
Make-Up/Hair Design: Brittany Crinson
Choreography: Lisa Thurrell
Fight Director: Gina Cerimele-Mechley
CANDIDE (2019)
(c) Duane Tinkey for Des Moines Metro Opera
Music: Leonard Bernstein
Book: Hugh Wheeler, after Voltaire
Libretto: Richard Wilber, Stephen Sondheim, John La Touche, Lillian Hellman, Dorothy Parker and Leonard Bernstein. Utilizing the Scottish Opera version.
Performances: June 29, July 7, 10, 12, 20
Venue: Pote Theatre, Blank Performing Arts Center
Conductor: David Neely
Director: Michael Shell
Scenic Design: Steven C. Kemp
Lighting Design: Nate Wheatley
Costume Design: Linda Pisano
Make-Up/Hair Design: Brittany Crinson
Choreography: Todd Rhoades
LA BOHÈME (2019)
(c) Duane Tinkey for Des Moines Metro Opera
Music: Giacomo Puccini
Libretto: Giuseppe Giacosa, Luigi Illica
Performances: June 28, 30, July 5, 11, 13, 21
Venue: Pote Theatre, Blank Performing Arts Center
Conductor: Michael Christie
Director: Octavio Cardenas
Scenic Design: Robert Little
Lighting Design: Sarah Riffle
Make-Up/Hair Design: Brittany Crinson
Costumes: Malabar, Ltd.
GLORY DENIED (2018)
(c) Duane Tinkey for Des Moines Metro Opera
Music: Tom Cipullo
Libretto: adapted by the composer from the oral history Glory Denied by Tom Philpott
Performances: November 16, 17, 18, 2018
Venue: Drill Hall, Freedom Center at Camp Dodge
FLIGHT (2018)
(c) Duane Tinkey for Des Moines Metro Opera
Music: Jonathan Dove
Libretto: April de Angelis
Performances: June 30, July 8, 10, 13, 2018
Venue: Blank Performing Arts Center, Indianola
THE TENDER LAND (2018)
(c) Duane Tinkey for Des Moines Metro Opera
Music: Aaron Copland
Libretto: Horace Everett (Erik Johns)
Performances: July 5 and 8, 2018
Venue: Maytag Dairy Farms, Newton, Iowa
DIE FLEDERMAUS (2018)
(c) Duane Tinkey for Des Moines Metro Opera
Music: Johann Strauss, Jr.
Libretto: Richard Genée, Carl Haffner
Performances: June 23, 24, 29, July 7, 12, 15, 2018
Venue: Blank Performing Arts Center, Indianola
RUSALKA (2018)
(c) Duane Tinkey for Des Moines Metro Opera
Music: Antonín Dvořák
Libretto: Jaroslav Kvapil
Performances: June 22, July 1, 3, 6, 14, 2018
Venue: Blank Performing Arts Center, Indianola
AS ONE (2017)
(c) Duane Tinkey for Des Moines Metro Opera
Music and concept: Laura Kaminsky
Libretto: Mark Campbell and Kimberly Reed
Film: Kimberly Reed
Performances: November 17, 18, 19 of 2017
Venue: Stoner Theater, Des Moines Civic Center
BILLY BUDD (2017)
(c) Duane Tinkey for Des Moines Metro Opera
Music: Benjamin Britten
Libretto: E. M. Forster & Eric Crozier
Performances: July 1, 9, 11, 14 of 2017
Venue: Pote Theatre, Blank Performing Arts Center
A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (2017)
(c) Duane Tinkey for Des Moines Metro Opera
Music and lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
Book: Hugh Wheeler
Performances: June 24, July 2, 5, 7, 15, 2017
Venue: Pote Theatre, Blank Performing Arts Center
This Houston Grand Opera production of A Little Night Music is an original production of Opera Theatre of Saint Louis.
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TURANDOT (2017)
(c) Duane Tinkey for Des Moines Metro Opera
Music: Giacomo Puccini
Libretto: Renato Simoni and Giuseppe Adami
Performances: June 23, 25, 30, July 8, 13, 16, 2017
Venue: Pote Theatre, Blank Performing Arts Center
MARÍA DE BUENOS AIRES (2017)
(c) Duane Tinkey for Des Moines Metro Opera
Music: Astor Piazzolla
Libretto: Horacio Ferrer
Performances: July 6, 13, 2017
Venue: Temple Theater, The Temple for Performing Arts
SOLDIER SONGS (2017)
(c) Duane Tinkey for Des Moines Metro Opera
Music and libretto: David T. Little
Performances: January 27, 28, 29, 2017
Venue: Freedom Center Drill Hall, Camp Dodge
