CCMOnStage OPERA Presents
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte
Nov. 18-21, 2021, Corbett Auditorium
Enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at how CCM student Emma Marhefka becomes Susanna from Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro.
*CCM Student
The Marriage of Figaro will last three hours with a 15-minute intermission.
By Robin Guarino
It is so emotional for the students, faculty and staff to be back in the theater rehearsing and performing a fully staged opera for the first time since the start of the pandemic. Therefore, for the first order of business and as their envoy:
“The cast, orchestra, creative team and crew want to thank you for coming tonight and believing in us and coming back to be our audience. We dedicate this performance to you!”
About 15 years ago, I was directing Figaro at the Metropolitan Opera and rehearsing with my soon-to-be colleague at CCM, Marie-France Lefebvre, who was the assistant conductor, coach and prompter for the Met production. Our friendship was born in those rehearsals.
We were both very nervous and excited to be moving to Cincinnati and over the next months, whenever I questioned my decision to leave New York City, I thought of our collaboration and the work we would do together at CCM with the fantastic students I had already met. Now 15 years later, there is a certain harmony to the fact that we are here again rehearsing Figaro having brought our students back to the stage in this new world we are living in with Mozart’s masterpiece.
The great Italian Bass, Ferruccio Furlanetto once told me that he ‘was born as an artist in the role of Figaro.’ I know this is true for me as a director. The power of The Marriage of Figaro remains so prescient in its music, storytelling and relevance. Yes, it speaks of the four seasons of love portrayed in the household: Barbarina and Cherubino (spring), Susanna and Figaro (summer), the Countess and Count (fall), and Marcellina and Bartolo (winter), but it also reflects on more serious matters of class and privilege that is focused on specifically with the Droit du seigneur (lord's right), also known as jus primae noctis (right of the first night). Susanna’s right to choose who she “gives herself to” on her wedding night, something so personal and completely inalienable.
What also impresses me every time I direct Figaro is Mozart and Da Ponte’s ability to capture humanity at its fullest and most complex on the eve of revolution. Even the Count, who is clearly the foil in this story, is a man who is struggling between wanting to do the right thing and being perceived as weak and fundamentally questioning his role as Count and head of the estate.
On the first day of rehearsal we set our goal to explore a deeper humanity in all of the characters in the opera no matter the size of the role. I have also seen that attitude across the entire team. I know that all of the students: cast, creative team, orchestra and crew have worked harder than they ever have to earn this opera and achieve the large collaborative brain trust truly necessary to do a piece like this. I am so proud them; they are passionate and fearless. And they are so excited to perform for you tonight — so WE thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being here!
By Robin Guarino
My special thanks go to all my colleagues in Technical Design and Production — especially Steve Miller who convinced me that we could beautifully and fittingly recycle a beloved old production of The Barber of Seville into this gorgeous new production of The Marriage of Figaro, thereby saving countless thousands for future CCM productions! And thanks to Tom Umfrid, who turns everything he touches into a thing of beauty, my heartfelt appreciation. I also want to thank Michele Kay for leading her students and therefore leading all of us through the night! A very special thank you to Kelly Yurko, Kat Miller, Sharon Huizinga and Elizabeth Payne for their beautiful work and generous mentorship. Thanks to Stirling Shelton for holding up the walls. My special thanks to Marie-France Lefebvre for her friendship, collegiality, impeccable coaching and for musically leading an amazing team of student pianists, coaches and conductors. Lastly, all hail to our conductor, Brian McCann who is a deeply talented musician and wonderful artist and human being!
^ Thursday/Saturday Performances
~ Friday/Sunday Performances
Joseph O’Shea
Second-year MM Voice student from Mobile, Alabama
At CCM: The Doctor in Les Dialogues des Carmelites, Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro. Elsewhere: Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia and Cover of Escamillo in Carmen with Janiec Opera in Brevard, North Carolina. De Rocher Brother in Dead Man Walking at Pensacola Opera, Marquis D'Obigny in La Traviata at Mobile Opera, Ko-Ko in The Mikado and Cover of The Mikado in The Mikado at University of South Alabama, Dandini in La Cenerentola, cover of Elder McLean in Susannah, Belcore in L'elisir d'amore.
John Siarris (AD Opera: Vocal Performance, ’21)
Guest Artist from Spartanburg, South Carolina
John Siarris baritone has recently graduated from the AD program at CCM some of his role credits at CCM include Falstaff in Falstaff, Papageno in Magic Flute and Publio in La clemenza di Tito. John has been a chorister at Cincinnati Opera for two seasons and will appear as an apprentice artist for Sarasota Operas 2022 Winter Season this upcoming year.
Emma Marhefka
Second-year Master’s Vocal Performance student from Allentown, Pennsylvania
AT CCM: Mary Johnson in Fellow Travelers, Citizen Chorus in Les Dialogues des Carmelites, Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro. Elsewhere: Younger Alyce in Glory Denied at Knoxville Opera (Knoxville, Tennessee) and Opera Roanoke (Roanoke, Virginia), Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi with Opera Tampa (Tampa, Florida), Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro and Valeria in Mayo at The Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam (Potsdam, New York).
Tori Adams
Second-year MM Voice student from Minneapolis, Minnesota
At CCM: Bianca in La Rondine. Elsewhere: Ritchie/Angelica in The Hours with Opera Fusion (Cincinnati), Despina in Così fan Tutte with Oberlin Opera Theater (Oberlin, OH), Constance in Dialogues des Carmélites with Oberlin Opera Theater, Miles in Turn of the Screw with Oberlin Opera Theater, Flora in Turn of the Screw with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra (St. Paul, Minnesota), Gretel in Hänsel und Gretel with LAH-SOW Minneapolis workshop, Shepherd Boy in Tosca with Minnesota Opera.
Ryan Wolfe
First-year Artist Diploma Opera student from Arlington Heights, Illinois
At CCM: Conte Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro, Cardinal 3/Priest/Father in Galileo Galilei, Kecal in The Bartered Bride, Giove in La Calisto. Elsewhere: Sen. Potter’s Asst./Bookseller/French Priest/etc. in Fellow Travelers, Narumov in Pikova Dama, Papageno cover in Die Zauberflöte (Des Moines Metro Opera), Le fauteuil/un chêne in L’enfant et les sortilèges at Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Belcore in L'elisir d'amore at Chautauqua Institution.
Justin Burgess
Second-year Artist Diploma Opera student from South Lyon, Michigan
At CCM: Ormonte in Partenope, Actor in The Bartered Bride, Mercurio in La Callisto, Mr. Hatfield in Dinner at Eight, Chorus in La clemenza di Tito. Elsewhere: Chorus in Sweeney Todd, Fiorello in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Zerbin in L'ile de Merlin (Wolf Trap Opera), Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus, Escamillo in Carmen (Opera in the Ozarks), Figaro in Le nozze di Figaro, Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Gregorio in Roméo et Juliette (University of Michigan Opera).
Heidi Miller
Second-year DMA Voice student from Akron, Ohio
At CCM: Cunegonde in Candide, Ginevra in Ariodante, Paula Jordan in Dinner at Eight, Little Stone in Eurydice, La Fée in Cendrillon. Elsewhere: Frasquita in Carmen at Central City Opera, Adina in L’elisir d’amore with Cincinnati Opera Outreach, Ms. Wordsworth in Albert Herring at Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute at Opera NEO.
Saane Halaholo
Second-year Artist Diploma Opera student from Orinda, California
At CCM: Countess Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro, Chorus in The Bartered Bride. Elsewhere: Annina in La traviata, Susannah cover and chorus in Susannah, Léontine cover and chorus in L’Amant Anonyme with Wolf Trap Opera (Vienna, Virginia), Blanche de la Force in Dialogues des Carmélites, Cunegonde in Candide, and Nina in Chérubin with Bob Cole Conservatory Opera Institute (Long Beach, California).
Georgia Jacobson
Second-year Artist Diploma Opera student from Duluth, Minnesota
At CCM: Zweite Dame in Die Zauberflöte, Endimione in La Calisto, Dryade in Ariadne auf Naxos, Chorus in La Clemenza di Tito. Elsewhere: Mary Johnson (cover) in Fellow Travelers with Des Moines Metro Opera, Virginia Woolf in The Hours (workshop) with Opera Fusion: New Works/ Cincinnati Opera, Maman/La Tasse/La Libellule in L'Enfant et les sortilèges with Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Upcoming: Orfeo (cover) in Orfeo ed Euridice with Kentucky Opera.
Christina Hazen
Second-year Artist Diploma Opera student from Loveland, Colorado
At CCM: Rosmira in Partenope, Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro with CCM Opera Bootcamp, Giove in Diana in Calisto. Norman Treigle Award Winner 2020. Elsewhere: Flora in La traviata with Dayton Opera, Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel with Opera Steamboat, Sally in The Hours with Cincinnati Opera/Opera Fusion New works, Chorus in Carmen with Cincinnati Opera.
Kendra Beasley
Second-year Artist Diploma Opera student from Madison, Georgia
At CCM: Marcellina in Le Nozze di Figaro. Elsewhere: The Ordering of Moses with The Louisville Orchestra, Jungle Book, Ensemble in Carmen at The Glimmerglass Festival (Cooperstown, New York), Berta in Il Barbiere di Siviglia at The New Orleans Opera.
Atticus Rego
Second-year Master’s Vocal Performance student from Lawrenceville, New Jersey
At CCM: Claudio in Agrippina, Bartolo in Le Nozze di Figaro, John Styx in Orpheus in the Underworld (Opera d’Arte), Bass Chorus in Bullrusher with Opera Fusion: New Works. Elsewhere: Encouragement Award Winner in the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition (Kentucky District).
John Mburu
Second-year Master’s Vocal Performance student from Warwick, Rhode Island
At CCM Bartolo in Le Nozze di Figaro, Logger in Bulrusher (Opera Fusion: New Works), Pope Urban VIII/Cardinal Barabarini/Simplicio in Galileo Galilei, Young Paul/Frank Goode in Robeson Opera (Opera Fusion). Elsewhere: Chorister in Aida with Cincinnati Opera, Mr. Kofner in The Consul and Martin Avdeitch in What Men Live By with Lee University Opera Theatre (Cleveland, Tennessee).
Arieh Sacke
Second-year MM Voice student from Toronto, Canada
At CCM: Brighella in Ariadne auf Naxos. Elsewhere: Icarus in The Art of Love with COSA Canada (virtual), Don Curzio with University of Toronto Opera (Toronto, Canada), British Warrior and Chorus with University of Toronto Schola Cantorum (Toronto), Ralph Rackstraw in HMS Pinafore with COSI Connection (Kingston, Peterborough, and Toronto, Canada), Prince Bougrelas in Ubu Roi with the Wild Geese Chamber Ensemble (Hamilton, Canada), Un notaio and Chorus in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Opera5 (Toronto).
Logan Wagner
Second-year Master’s student from Villa Hills, Kentucky
At CCM: Timothy Laughlin in Fellow Travelers, L'Aumonier in Les Dialogues Des Carmelites, Don Basilio/Don Curzio in Le Nozze di Figaro, Colin in L'Amant Anonyme, Orfeo in L’Orfeo with Opera d’Arte. Elsewhere: Jumper (Cover) in The Falling and the Rising at Des Moines Metro Opera (Indianola, Iowa), Padre in The Man of La Mancha and Monostatos in The Magic Flute at Utah Festival Opera (Logan, Utah).
Erik Nordstrom (he/him)
First-year Artist Diploma Opera student from Saint Paul, Minnesota
At CCM: Marquis de la Force in Les Dialogues des Carmelites, Hawkins Fuller in Fellow Travellers, Young Galileo in Galileo Galilei, Ophémon in L’Amant Anonyme and Antonio in Le Nozze di Figaro. Elsewhere: Baritone in Hydrogen Jukebox, Raimbaud in Le Comte Ory, Celebrant in Bernstein’s Mass at Lawrence University, Marullo in Rigoletto at Central City Opera (Central City, Colorado).
Jinpark Choi
Second-year Master’s Vocal Performance student from Seoul, South Korea
At CCM: Chorus in Le Nozze di Figaro and Colin in L’Amant Anonyme. Elsewhere: Tamino in Die Zauberflöte.
Natasha Naik
Second-year MM Voice student from Edmond, Oklahoma
At CCM: Mercédès in the Fall 2020 Opera Gala, Maria Maddelena/Scribe in Galileo Galilei. Elsewhere: Dorabella in Così fan tutte, Amelfa in The Golden Cockerel, Maman in L’enfant et les sortilèges at the University of Oklahoma (Norman, Oklahoma), Mezzo-Soprano/Detective 3 in Murder at the Opera and Queen of the Fairies in Iolanthe with Cimarron Opera Company (Norman, Oklahoma).
Brian McCann, conductor
Alex Mason
Fourth-year MFA Lighting Design and Technology student from Virginia Beach, Virginia
Elsewhere: Cabaret, Mean Girls, Curious Incident..., Side Show, Assassins, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Les Misérables, Silent Sky and Honeymoon in Vegas.
Meredith Buckley
Third-year MFA Costume Design and Technology student from Bloomington, Indiana
At CCM: Our Town and The Marriage of Figaro. Elsewhere: The Comedy of Errors and the original production Snug (Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey), Little Shop of Horrors and Little Women (Indiana University).
Corbin White
Senior Sound Design and Technology student from Boston, Massachusetts
At CCM: The Secret Garden. Elsewhere: Souvenir (Arrow Rock, Missouri), Kiss of the Spider Woman and Dream Girls.
Madison Stone
Senior Stage Management student from Cincinnati, Ohio
At CCM: Production Assistant for Dinner at Eight, Production Stage Manager for CCM's Opera Bootcamp, Production Assistant for 42nd Street, Assistant Stage Manager for Clybourne Park, Production Stage Manager for Midsummer Night's Dream. Elsewhere: Stage Management Trainee for Cincinnati Opera’s The Coronation of Poppea.
Benjamin Beardon
Senior Stage Design, Props and Scenic Art student from Santa Clarita, California
At CCM: Scenic Designer for Light in the Piazza; Assistant Scenic Designer for Clybourne Park, 42nd Street, Yeast Nation, Our Country’s Good, Godspell. Elsewhere: Props Intern and Scenic Artist for Ariadne Auf Naxos, Romeo and Juliet, Porgy and Bess, Marriage of Figaro, Blind Injustice at Cincinnati Opera (Cincinnati, OH); Costume Intern and Dresser for A Christmas Carol, The Snow Geese, Burt & Me at Meadow Brook Theatre (Rochester, Michigan).
Madisen Frazier
Senior Stage Design, Props and Scenic Art from Gainsville, Florida
At CCM: Props Master for Punk Rock, The Marriage of Figaro, Galileo. Elsewhere: Props Designer for Hello Dolly and Crazy for You at the Southeastern Summer Theatre Institute (Hilton Head, South Carolina), Props Artisan for Perchance to Dream, Music in the Air, The Devil’s Rider, Pirates of Penzance, Into the Woods, South Pacific, and Girl Crazy at the Ohio Light Opera (Wooster, OH).
Aaron Graham
Senior Technical Production student from Columbus, Ohio
At CCM: Assistant Technical Director for Little Shop of Horrors (2020), Master Carpenter for The Bartered Bride (2019). Elsewhere: Carpenter for Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati (2018-19), Carpenter for Glimmerglass Opera Festival Summers (2019,2020,2021), Carpenter for Weston Playhouse (2018).
Sage Shepard
Junior Stage Management student from Cornwall Bridge
At CCM: Production Stage Manager for The Wild Party and Dance Works, Assistant Stage Manager for Cincinnati Dionysia, Sunday in the Park with George, and Le Nozze de Figaro, Production Assistant for Ariadne Auf Naxos Elsewhere: Stage Management Intern for Chicago, Camelot and Mary Poppins at The Muny (St. Louis, Missouri)
Kali Ashurst
Second-year Stage Management student from West Palm Beach, Florida
AT CCM: Production Stage Manager (PSM) for Spring Awakening, PSM for 30 Years of Stephen: A Musical Tribute to Stephen Flaherty, Assistant Stage Manager (ASM) for The Burials, ASM For The Marriage of Figaro. Elsewhere: ASM for Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical National Tour, PSM for Schwabacher Summer Concert at San Francisco Opera.
Annalee Crosser
Sophomore Stage Management student from Edmond, Oklahoma
At CCM: 2nd Assistant Stage Manager for L'Amant Anonyme, Production Assistant for The Marriage of Figaro Elsewhere: Assistant Stage Manager for The Bridges of Madison County with Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre (Winchester, Virginia), Assistant Stage Manager for Once Upon a Mattress at Lyric Thelma Gaylord Academy (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma).
Leah Berry
Senior Stage Management student from Lexington, Kentucky
At CCM: Assistant Stage Manager The Rocky Horror Show, Student Choreographers Showcase; Project Manager for Light in the Piazza, Little Shop of Horrors and,The Laramie Project; Assistant Production Manager for CCM 21-22 Season. Elsewhere: Assistant Stage Manager Holiday Inn, Flashdance, Mamma Mia!, and Matilda with Surflight Theatre (Beach Haven, New Jersey); Assistant Stage Manager James and the Giant Peach with Lexington Children's Theatre (Lexington, Kentucky).
Emma King
Senior Stage Management student from Cincinnati, Ohio
At CCM: Assistant Stage Manager of Wings, Assistant Production Manager of TDP Projects 2021, Production Assistant of Clybourne Park. Elsewhere: Production Stage Manager of Little Shop of Horrors and Newsies with Performing Arts, Inc. (Cincinnati).
Sean Haffey
Senior Stage Design, Props and Scenic Art student from Mentor, Ohio
At CCM: Assistant Designer for The Laramie Project, Prop Master for Little Shop of Horrors, Hope After Hate. Elsewhere: Set Advisor for The Secret Life of Bros at Cincinnati Lab Theatre.
Natasha Cox
Third-year MFA Costume Design and Technology student from South Orange, New Jersey
Elsewhere: Designer for A Doll's House: Part Two with PURE Theatre (Charleston, South Carolina), True West with PURE Theatre (Charleston, South Carolina), Fool For Love with PURE Theatre (Charleston, South Carolina), Student Choreographer Concert with College of Charleston, (Charleston, South Carolina) Enron with College of Charleston (Charleston, South Carolina).
Emily O’Donnell
Senior Costume Design and Technology student from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
At CCM: Wig and Makeup Crew for 42nd Street, Dresser for The Secret Garden.
Kristen Peck
Second-year Masters Lighting Design student from Fontana, California
At CCM: The Burials, Danceworks 2022. Elsewhere: God of Carnage at The Wayward Artist (Santa Ana, California), Titus Andronicus at Southern California Shakespeare Festival (Pomona, California), Heathers, Bee-luther-hatchee, Real Women Have Curves at California State Polytechnic University (Pomona, California).
William Baker
Senior Lighting Design and Technology student from Frisco, Texas
At CCM: Lighting Designer for La Voix Humaine, Wings, Pas De Quatre; Projection Designer for Wings, Assistant Lighting Designer for 42nd Street, Master Electrician for L'Orfeo. Elsewhere: Lighting Fellow at Rock the House AV (Cleveland, Ohio), Lighting Intern at Cincinnati Ballet (Cincinnati, Ohio).
Quinn Collins
Senior Costume Design and Technology student from Mason, Ohio
Elsewhere: Costume department at Kinds Island, Costumes Intern at Kentucky Shakespeare in Louisville.
Iris Harmon
Senior Costume Design and Technology student from Cincinnati, Ohio
At CCM: Wardrobe Head for 42nd Street, Costume Design Assistant for The Rocky Horror Show, Costume Designer for Sunday in the Park with George. Elsewhere: Stitcher for Book of Mormon National Tour (Aronoff), Dresser for Mean Girls 1st National Tour (Aronoff), Principal Dresser for Hello, Dolly! National Tour (Aronoff), Principal Dresser for Les Misérables National Tour (Aronoff), Costume Designer for Berlin Opera Academy, Wardrobe on the film Bones and All, Wardrobe Assistant for Hostess commercial.
Mia Adrian
Sophomore Stage Design, Props and Scenic Art student from Mason, Ohio
At CCM: Our Town.
Shelby Allred
Sophomore Technical Production student from Cincinnati, Ohio
Elsewhere: Set crew in Puffs, Student Technical Director in Indecent with CAST Kentucky Theatre.
Abby Fluck
Sophomore Lighting Design and Technology student from Wayne, Pennsylvania
At CCM: Board Operator for Xanadu, Assistant Master Electrician for Pippin and The Burials, Production Electrician for 30 Years of Stephen: The Music of Stephen Flaherty, Production Electrician 2 for Hughes Project 2.0 Elsewhere: Electrician Apprentice for Grease, Private Lives, Always Pasty Cline, God Of Carnage, An American in Paris, and Murder on the Orient Express at The Cape Playhouse (Dennis, Massachusetts).
Melanie Reitman
Sophomore Stage Design, Props and Scenic Art from Buffalo Grove, Illinois
At CCM: Scenic Running Crew for Xanadu, Blue Stockings, and Pippin, Assistant Scenic Designer/Scenic Charge Artist for A Dream Play. Elsewhere: Props Crew for the Celebrate Cedar Point Spectacular Parade and Night Show at Cedar Point (Sandusky, Ohio).
Declan Smith
Freshman Musical Theatre student from West Hartford, Connecticut
CCM: Lord Clapham/Master of Justice in Something Rotten. Elsewhere: Jamie in The Last Five Years,, Algernon in The Importance of Being Earnest at Conard High School (West Hartford, Connecticut).
Samuel Wilson
Senior Lighting Design and Technology student from Cincinnati, Ohio
At CCM: Master Electrician and Programmer for Wings, Master Electrician and Programmer for Magic Flute, Assistant Master Electrician and Programmer for The Good Trouble Project, Spot Op. for 42nd Street. Elsewhere: Programmer for Shrek at Performing Arts Inc, Lighting Design Intern for Commonwealth Artists Student Theatre, Live Entertainment Tech for Kings Island.
William Meckstroth
Junior Lighting Design and Technology student from San Jose, California
At CCM: Assistant Lighting Designer for Frankenstein, Dance Works (Fall 2022), Something Rotten!, Production Electrician for L'Amant Anonyme, Assistant Lighting Designer for Student Choreographer’s Showcase (Fall 2021) Elsewhere: Lighting Designer for Romeo and Juliet with Silicon Valley Shakespeare (San Jose, California), Programmer/Board Operator for Shylock with Tabard Theatre Company (San Jose, California).
Sarah Patisaul
Junior Stage Management student from Cary, North Carolina
At CCM: Production Stage Manager for Frankenstein, Assistant Stage Manager for The Burials, ASM for Julius Caesar, Production Assistant for A Midsummer Night's Dream, Spotlight Operator for Pippin. Elsewhere: PSM for the Spring Recital with Pirouette Dance Company (Cary, North Carolina) ASM for Little Women at the Virginia Theatre Festival (Charlottesville, Virginia) ASM on Fidelio with Queen City Opera (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Katie Reus
Junior Stage Management student from St. Louis, Missouri
At CCM: Production Stage Manager for A Dream Play, Assistant Stage Manager for Giselle, Blue Stockings, Dance Works (Fall 2021), Student Choreographer's Showcase 2021, Production Assistant for From Broadway with Love.
Thomas Iodice
Senior Technical Production student from Fairfax, Virginia
At CCM: Technical Director for Something Rotten!, Assistant Technical Director for The Marriage of Figaro.
Lukas Hummeldorf
Junior Technical Design and Production student from Covington, Kentucky
At CCM: Assistant Technical Director for Something Rotten!, Master Carpenter for Marriage of Figaro. Elsewhere: Intern Technical Director for Indecent and Big Fish at the Commonwealth Artists Student Theatre (Covington, Kentucky), and the Shop Foreman for Radium Girls and Tuck Everlasting at Notre Dame Academy (Covington, Kentucky). Overhire with IATSE Local 5, and carpenter with CVG Made.
Mia Adrian
Sophomore Stage Design, Props and Scenic Art student from Mason, Ohio
At CCM: Our Town.
Shelby Allred
Sophomore Technical Production student from Cincinnati, Ohio
Elsewhere: Set crew in Puffs, Student Technical Director in Indecent with CAST Kentucky Theatre.
Annalee Crosser
Sophomore Stage Management student from Edmond, Oklahoma
At CCM: 2nd Assistant Stage Manager for L'Amant Anonyme, Production Assistant for The Marriage of Figaro Elsewhere: Assistant Stage Manager for The Bridges of Madison County with Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre (Winchester, Virginia), Assistant Stage Manager for Once Upon a Mattress at Lyric Thelma Gaylord Academy (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma).
Iz Dillon
Sophomore Technical Direction student from Carmel, Indiana
At CCM: Head Carpenter for Frankenstein, Run Crew for Xanadu and Blue Stockings, Wigs and Makeup for Once, Spotlight Crew for She Loves Me.
Peggie Dona
Sophomore Costume Design and Technology student from Toledo, Ohio
At CCM: Set/Props Running Crew for Our Town, Costume Running Crew and Set construction Crew for Xanadu.
Abby Fluck
Sophomore Lighting Design and Technology student from Wayne, Pennsylvania
At CCM: Board Operator for Xanadu, Assistant Master Electrician for Pippin and The Burials, Production Electrician for 30 Years of Stephen: The Music of Stephen Flaherty, Production Electrician 2 for Hughes Project 2.0 Elsewhere: Electrician Apprentice for Grease, Private Lives, Always Pasty Cline, God Of Carnage, An American in Paris, and Murder on the Orient Express at The Cape Playhouse (Dennis, Massachusetts).
Sophia Gamble
Sophomore Stage Management student from Fort Thomas, Kentucky
At CCM: Production Assistant for Our Town and Sunday in the Park with George.
Hannah Kate Hawver
Sophomore Stage Management student from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
At CCM: Assistant Stage Manager for Cincinnati Dionysia and Choreographer's Showcase; Production Assistant for Xanadu, Orpheus in the Underworld and Galileo Galilei; Deck Electrician for Something Rotten and Dance Works 2023
Ashton Karp
Sophomore Lighting Design and Technology student from Kingwood, Texas
At CCM: Our Town.
Bri Kelly
Sophomore Lighting Design and Technology student from Gaithersburg, Maryland
Elsewhere: Assistant sound designer and A1 on Jekyll and Hyde an Immersive Musical Thriller, A1 on Always, Patsy Cline with Free Range Humans (Fredrick, Maryland), A2 on Cabaret with Southeastern Summer Theatre Institute (Hilton Head, South Carolina), Sound Designer and Audio engineer on Pippin with The Free Theatre (Gaithersburg, Maryland), A1 on Romeo and Juliet with The Endangered Species Theatre Project (Fredrick, Maryland).
Benji Lookatch
Sophomore Technical Production student from Milwaukee, Wisconsin
At CCM: Head Carpenter for Something Rotten and Cinderella, Wardrobe Crew for Our Town, Scenic Crew for The Marriage of Figaro, L'Amant Anonyme and Galileo Galilei.
Emily Mallendick
Sophomore Stage Management student from Toledo, Ohio
At CCM: Assistant Stage Manager for Dialogues of the Carmelites and Spring Awakening. Production Assistant for Blue Stockings and The Burials. Deck Electrician for Cincinnati Dionysia and Frankenstein. Wig and Makeup Crew for The Marriage of Figaro, Scenic Crew for Xanadu and Pippin Elsewhere: Stage Manager for Rent with Stone Productions (Toledo, Ohio).
Nate Miller
Sophomore Lighting Design and Technology student from Cincinnati, Ohio
Elsewhere: Lighting Tech with I.A.T.S.E. Local 5 at the Cincinnati Opera.
Liz Mitan
Sophomore Stage Design, Props and Scenic Art student from Mason, Ohio
At CCM: Our Town.
Arcadia Paff
Sophomore Lighting Design and Technology student from Cincinnati, Ohio
Elsewhere: Running Crew in Legally Blonde with CYPT, Assistant Lighting Designer in Shrek with CAST, Light Board Operator in Spring Awakening with CAST, Lighting Designer in Puffs with CAST, Lighting Designer and Projections Operator in Big Fish with CAST.
Meredith Randall
Sophomore Costume Design and Technology student from Toledo, Ohio
At CCM: Wardrobe Crew Head for Cinderella, Wardrobe Crew Head for Fellow Travelers.
Melanie Reitman
Sophomore Stage Design, Props and Scenic Art from Buffalo Grove, Illinois
At CCM: Scenic Running Crew for Xanadu, Blue Stockings, and Pippin, Assistant Scenic Designer/Scenic Charge Artist for A Dream Play. Elsewhere: Props Crew for the Celebrate Cedar Point Spectacular Parade and Night Show at Cedar Point (Sandusky, Ohio).
Anika Shirvaikar
Sophomore Stage Management student from Millburn, New Jersey
At CCM: Assistant Stage Manager for She Loves Me and Thirty Years of Stephen: The Music of Stephen Flaherty, Production Assistant for Julius Caesar and Pippin, Wardrobe Crew for Our Town, Scenic Crew for Once and Sunday in the Park With George. Elsewhere: Assistant Stage Manager for Thirteen Jr., Seussical Kids, and Something Rotten Jr. with Pixie Dust Players (Rahway, New Jersey).
Brady Smith
Sophomore Sound Design and Technology student from Amelia, Ohio
At CCM: Debut production in Our Town.
Declan Smith
Freshman Musical Theatre student from West Hartford, Connecticut
CCM: Lord Clapham/Master of Justice in Something Rotten. Elsewhere: Jamie in The Last Five Years,, Algernon in The Importance of Being Earnest at Conard High School (West Hartford, Connecticut).
Lucia Thill
Sophomore Sound Design and Technology student from Minneapolis, Minnesota
At CCM: Our Town. Elsewhere: Wizard of Oz at Southwest Community Education (Minneapolis, Minnesota).
Sam Verba
Sophomore Stage Management student from Lebanon, Ohio
Elsewhere: A. Burr and Prop Manager in Hamilton: The Musical with Z Company Arts (Monroe, Ohio), Light Programmer in Electronic Music Group (EMG) under Will Kuhn (Lebanon, Ohio).
Lauren Wooten
Sophomore Costume Design and Technology student from West Chester Township, Ohio
McKenna Brennan
Senior Technical Production student from Los Alamitos, California
At CCM: Automation Op on Clybourne Park, Wardrobe Crew on 42nd Street, Master Carpenter on Little Shop of Horrors, Automation Op on Light in the Piazza.
Aaron Graham
Senior Technical Production student from Columbus, Ohio
At CCM: Assistant Technical Director for Little Shop of Horrors (2020), Master Carpenter for The Bartered Bride (2019). Elsewhere: Carpenter for Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati (2018-19), Carpenter for Glimmerglass Opera Festival Summers (2019,2020,2021), Carpenter for Weston Playhouse (2018).
Thomas Iodice
Senior Technical Production student from Fairfax, Virginia
At CCM: Technical Director for Something Rotten!, Assistant Technical Director for The Marriage of Figaro.
Grace Mayo
Senior Technical Production student from Dublin, Ohio
At CCM: Technical Director for Cinderella, Assistant Technical Director for Galileo Galilei and Dance Works 2021-22, Head Carpenter for The Good Trouble Project. Elsewhere: Technical Director for The Addams Family and Smokey Joe's Café, Assistant Technical Director for Legally Blonde, Cinderella, The Comedy of Errors, and Brigadoon, Carpenter for Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts (Warsaw, Indiana).
Stephanie O’Rear
Senior in Technical Production student from Houston, Texas
At CCM: Technical Director for Xanadu, Galileo; Assistant Technical Director for The Good Trouble, The Magic Flute; Master Carpenter for 42nd Street, The Secret Garden. Elsewhere: Intern at Scenic Solutions.
Janay Sukkarieh
Senior Technical Production student from Irvine, California
At CCM: Master Carpenter for Opera Gala, Scenic Carpenter for CCM’s 2019-20 season. Elsewhere: 2021 Stage Crew at the Santa Fe Opera, Production Assistant at South Coast Repertory, Lighting Assistant for The Britney Runs a Marathon Movie Premiere.
Logan Vanderpool
Senior Technical Production student from Fairfield, Ohio.
At CCM: Assistant Technical Director for Xanadu, Master Carpenter for Say What You Want to Say, Scenic Crew for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, The Rocky Horror show, Secret Garden. Elsewhere: Carpenter for Cinderella at Trollwood Performing Arts School.
Ashton Karp
Sophomore Lighting Design and Technology student from Kingwood, Texas
At CCM: Our Town.
Benji Lookatch
Sophomore Technical Production student from Milwaukee, Wisconsin
At CCM: Head Carpenter for Something Rotten and Cinderella, Wardrobe Crew for Our Town, Scenic Crew for The Marriage of Figaro, L'Amant Anonyme and Galileo Galilei.
Brady Smith
Sophomore Sound Design and Technology student from Amelia, Ohio
At CCM: Debut production in Our Town.
Lauren Wooten
Sophomore Costume Design and Technology student from West Chester Township, Ohio
Alec Group
Senior Sound Design and Technology student from Dayton, Ohio
At CCM: Sound Board Operator for Dance Works (Fall 2019), Mic Crew for The Secret Garden, Production Sound Engineer for Little Shop of Horrors, Sound Designer for Dance Works (Spring 2021). Elsewhere: Sound Engineer for The Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival.
Brady Smith
Sophomore Sound Design and Technology student from Amelia, Ohio
At CCM: Debut production in Our Town.
Alex Brock
Third-year MFA Sound Design and Technology student from Greenfield, Indiana
At CCM: Production Sound Engineer for 42nd Street, Assistant Designer for The Bartered Bride. Elsewhere: Utah Shakespeare Festival, Indiana Repertory Theater, Bay Street Theater, Syracuse Stage, Chautauqua Theater Company and New York Stage and Film.
Ryan Hurt
Third-year MFA Sound Design and Technology student from Lincoln, Nebraska
At CCM: A1 of The Rocky Horror Show, Production Sound Engineer of Bright Star, Sound Designer of Clybourne Park, Assistant Sound Designer of Lady Windermere's Fan, Sound Designer of Association of Controlled Dreamers. Elsewhere: Sound Designer of The Niceties at Interlochen Center for the Arts, Sound Designer of Woyzeck at South Dakota State University, A1 of Seussical at South Dakota State University
Patrick Kiernan
Second-year MFA Sound Design and Technology student from Kingston, New York
Elsewhere: Off-Broadway productions of A Salute to the Brave (world premiere) and She Stoops to Conquer (The Actors Company Theater); Simon Dawes Becomes a Planet (Time Shared Productions); Richard III, As You Like It, Around the World in 80 Days (world premiere), Julius Caesar (co-design, Matt Webb), Stuart Little, The Shakespeare, Stealer (Idaho Shakespeare Festival); Henry VI Part One, Breach (Baldwin Wallace University); The Hunting of the Snark (The Players NYC/University of Michigan).
Aaron Harris Woodstein (they/them)
Third-year MFA Sound Design and Technology student from Chicago, Illinois
At CCM: Sound Designer for Our Town, Unfortunate Mechanism (CCM Radio Play) and The Missing (Radio Play). Elsewhere: Sound Designer for It’s a Small World at Bristol Valley Theater (Naples, New York), Macbeth and Twelfth Night at The Stella Adler Studio of Acting (New York, New York), Casa Valentina with Pride Films and Plays (Chicago, Illinois), The Peacebook Festival 2019 and The Light 2019 with Collaboraction (Chicago, Illinois), Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead with Saint Sebastian Players (Chicago, Illinois).
Emily Mallendick
Sophomore Stage Management student from Toledo, Ohio
At CCM: Assistant Stage Manager for Dialogues of the Carmelites and Spring Awakening. Production Assistant for Blue Stockings and The Burials. Deck Electrician for Cincinnati Dionysia and Frankenstein. Wig and Makeup Crew for The Marriage of Figaro, Scenic Crew for Xanadu and Pippin Elsewhere: Stage Manager for Rent with Stone Productions (Toledo, Ohio).
Meredith Randall
Sophomore Costume Design and Technology student from Toledo, Ohio
At CCM: Wardrobe Crew Head for Cinderella, Wardrobe Crew Head for Fellow Travelers.
Lucia Thill
Sophomore Sound Design and Technology student from Minneapolis, Minnesota
At CCM: Our Town. Elsewhere: Wizard of Oz at Southwest Community Education (Minneapolis, Minnesota).
Suzanne Barnes
Junior Stage Design, Props and Scenic Art student from Cincinnati Ohio
At CCM: Co-scenic charge artist for L’Amant Anonyme, assistant scenic designer for Pippin, props manager for Sunday in the Park with George. Elsewhere: Assistant scenic charge artist and props artisan for Twelfth Night at the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company.
Paige Baumann
Senior Lighting Design and Technology student from Cincinnati, Ohio
At CCM: Lighting designer for The Magic Flute, associate lighting designer for Student Choreographers' Showcase and assistant lighting designer for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. Elsewhere: Assistant lighting designer for Pippin, Bonnie & Clyde, Mamma Mia!, Sylvia and The 39 Steps with Summer Repertory Theatre Festival (Santa Rosa, California).
Benjamin Beardon
Senior Stage Design, Props and Scenic Art student from Santa Clarita, California
At CCM: Scenic Designer for Light in the Piazza; Assistant Scenic Designer for Clybourne Park, 42nd Street, Yeast Nation, Our Country’s Good, Godspell. Elsewhere: Props Intern and Scenic Artist for Ariadne Auf Naxos, Romeo and Juliet, Porgy and Bess, Marriage of Figaro, Blind Injustice at Cincinnati Opera (Cincinnati, OH); Costume Intern and Dresser for A Christmas Carol, The Snow Geese, Burt & Me at Meadow Brook Theatre (Rochester, Michigan).
Maddy Byrnes
Senior Stage Design, Props and Scenic Art student from Cleveland, Ohio
At CCM: Assistant Prop Master for Magic Flute, Assistant Prop Master for Xanadu, Prop Master for L'Amant Anonyme.
Noam Denenberg
Senior Stage Design, Props and Scenic Art student from Washington D.C.
At CCM: The Laramie Project, props mastered Xanadu, and scenic assisted Bartered Bride, La Clemenza Di Tito, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Our Country’s Good, and The Turn of The Screw. Elsewhere: Moana Jr., Descendants, Frozen Jr., Mulan Jr., and Aladdin Jr. with Rock Ridge Performing Arts and freelancing as an interior designer.
Madisen Frazier
Senior Stage Design, Props and Scenic Art from Gainsville, Florida
At CCM: Props Master for Punk Rock, The Marriage of Figaro, Galileo. Elsewhere: Props Designer for Hello Dolly and Crazy for You at the Southeastern Summer Theatre Institute (Hilton Head, South Carolina), Props Artisan for Perchance to Dream, Music in the Air, The Devil’s Rider, Pirates of Penzance, Into the Woods, South Pacific, and Girl Crazy at the Ohio Light Opera (Wooster, OH).
Brian Haack
Third-year Sound Design and Technology student from Katy, Texas
At CCM: Load-in/out Crew for Brightstar, Prep and Sound Board Operator for A Midsummer Night's Dream, Boom Operator for E-Media short film project.
Sean Haffey
Senior Stage Design, Props and Scenic Art student from Mentor, Ohio
At CCM: Assistant Designer for The Laramie Project, Prop Master for Little Shop of Horrors, Hope After Hate. Elsewhere: Set Advisor for The Secret Life of Bros at Cincinnati Lab Theatre.
Rachel Ledington
Junior Stage Management student from Round Rock, Texas
At CCM: Magic Flute. Elsewhere: Little Mermaid at Zilker Hillside theatre, Kids Act Out productions at Liberty Exhibition Hall.
Sarah Patisaul
Junior Stage Management student from Cary, North Carolina
At CCM: Production Stage Manager for Frankenstein, Assistant Stage Manager for The Burials, ASM for Julius Caesar, Production Assistant for A Midsummer Night's Dream, Spotlight Operator for Pippin. Elsewhere: PSM for the Spring Recital with Pirouette Dance Company (Cary, North Carolina) ASM for Little Women at the Virginia Theatre Festival (Charlottesville, Virginia) ASM on Fidelio with Queen City Opera (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Katie Reus
Junior Stage Management student from St. Louis, Missouri
At CCM: Production Stage Manager for A Dream Play, Assistant Stage Manager for Giselle, Blue Stockings, Dance Works (Fall 2021), Student Choreographer's Showcase 2021, Production Assistant for From Broadway with Love.
Sage Shepard
Junior Stage Management student from Cornwall Bridge
At CCM: Production Stage Manager for The Wild Party and Dance Works, Assistant Stage Manager for Cincinnati Dionysia, Sunday in the Park with George, and Le Nozze de Figaro, Production Assistant for Ariadne Auf Naxos Elsewhere: Stage Management Intern for Chicago, Camelot and Mary Poppins at The Muny (St. Louis, Missouri)
Samuel Wilson
Senior Lighting Design and Technology student from Cincinnati, Ohio
At CCM: Master Electrician and Programmer for Wings, Master Electrician and Programmer for Magic Flute, Assistant Master Electrician and Programmer for The Good Trouble Project, Spot Op. for 42nd Street. Elsewhere: Programmer for Shrek at Performing Arts Inc, Lighting Design Intern for Commonwealth Artists Student Theatre, Live Entertainment Tech for Kings Island.
Jie Min
Second-year MFA Stage Management student from Harbin, China
At CCM: Production Stage Manager for Dance Works 2022, Assistant Stage Manager for L'Amant Anonyme, Assistant Stage Manager for Dance Works 2021 Elsewhere: ASM for Ushuaia Blue, ASM for Babel at Contemporary American Theater Festival (Shepherdstown, West Virginia), Co-director and Media Designer for Am I Still Alive, Film Producer for A Painting at Beijing Dance Academy (Beijing, China), Executive Director and Dance Choreographer of Gala Celebrate the Spring Festival at China Central Television (Beijing, China).
We will continue to announce our 2021-22 schedule of public performances in two-month intervals — audiences will learn more about our programming for November and December events in October! Performance information and updates will be shared on the CCM website and in our Next OnStage e-newsletter.
Be the first to know about future ticket on-sale dates and more: sign up for our email list.
April 4, 2024
The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music's Opera Series transforms the stage into a treacherously alluring garden in a masterful production of Rappaccini’s Daughter (La hija de Rappaccini) on April 4-6, 2024, in CCM’s Cohen Family Studio Theater. Get your tickets now through the CCM Box Office!
March 29, 2024
UC’s College-Conservatory of Music will welcome a variety of new faculty and staff members to its roster of distinguished performing and media arts experts this fall. The following new appointments have been announced as of Aug 15, 2023. Additional new hires will be announced later this summer.
March 13, 2024
Twenty-two current and incoming students competed for six full-tuition scholarships and $62,500 in additional awards during CCM's 2024 Opera Scholarship Competition. Since its inauguration in 1976, this annual competition welcomes current and incoming CCM voice students to compete for scholarships and cash prizes. A panel of judges composed of opera industry professionals selects each year’s class of prizewinners. Six students won awards in this year’s competition, which was conducted Saturday, March 9, 2024, in CCM’s Corbett Auditorium.
CCMpower is a volunteer group of fans, advocates and alumni dedicated to empowering students and fueling the future of the arts through scholarship opportunities and more.
The competitive scholarships CCMpower provides help attract and retain the best and brightest students, nurture professional development opportunities and – in turn – continue CCM’s tradition of excellence for the next generation of student-artists. Join or renew your CCMpower membership today to help provide critical scholarship funds.
Join or renew your CCMpower member today to help provide critical scholarship funds. Visit ccm.weshareonline.org to learn more.
Located in the CCM Atrium, the Box Office is open Monday through Friday, 12:30-6 p.m.; Saturday, noon-4 p.m.; and one hour prior to curtain for all ticketed performances. MasterCard, Visa and Discover cards are accepted.
Convenient parking is available in the CCM Garage at the base of Corry Boulevard off of Jefferson Avenue. Additional parking is available in garages throughout the UC campus. Any questions concerning on-campus parking should be directed to UC Parking Services at 513-556-2283.
If you find that you cannot attend your performance, your tickets may be donated for tax credit as a charitable contribution. Simply notify the Box Office prior to the performance to release your seats, and give your name and address. A tax donation receipt will be mailed to you.
The health and safety of our community remains our top priority. Based on current conditions, performance venues will be reduced to 50% capacity and all individuals, including audience members and performers, are required to wear facial coverings indoors, following guidelines from the CDC and UC's physician-led COVID response team. Additional measures may be in place as conditions develop based on guidance from the CDC and UC's physician-led COVID response team. Visit the UC Public Health website and CCM's COVID-19 website for additional information and updates.
If you have lost an item, contact lost and found at 513-556-9413.
The House Manager has been instructed to minimize the disturbance to patrons already seated when accommodating latecomers. The director and producer of each production select times that are least likely to interrupt the performance, and latecomers will be seated only during these times. Latecomers who miss these opportunities will not be admitted until intermission. Children under the age of 6 will not be admitted.
The video or audio recording of performances is prohibited.
The use of cameras, with or without flashes, recording devices, cellular phones and other electronic devices inside the theater is prohibited. Please leave them with the House Manager.
Smoking and refreshments are not permitted in the theater. Effective May 1, 2017, smoking and tobacco use (including chewing tobacco and electronic cigarettes) shall be prohibited by students, staff, faculty, visitors, vendors and contractors at all times in or on University of Cincinnati properties, including events on university property during non-school hours. This includes all shelters, indoor and outdoor theaters and athletic facilities, bridges, walkways, sidewalks, residence halls, parking lots, and street parking and garages owned by the university.
Telex listening devices are available for checkout during performances in both Patricia Corbett Theater and Corbett Auditorium. Please inquire at the Box Office.
Wheelchair seating is available in both Corbett Auditorium and Patricia Corbett Theater. Seating is limited, so reservations should be made with the Box Office when ordering tickets. These seats are subject to availability.
The Box Office can accommodate groups for major productions and concerts. Preview and benefit performances are also available for some productions. For more information, call the CCM Box Office at 513-556-4183.
CCM's faculty and staff and its state-of-the-art facilities make possible the professional training and exceptional education on which CCM believes the future of the arts relies. The school's roster of eminent faculty regularly receives distinguished honors for creative and scholarly work, and its alumni have achieved notable success in the performing and media arts. More than 150 internationally recognized faculty members work with students from around the world, specializing in eight areas of study.
Performance dates and repertoire are subject to change. View CCM's current calendar of events.
The purpose of these performances is educational, and they are part of a University of Cincinnati academic program.
