Opera and Musical Theatre

Directed by Peter Kozma, OSU Opera performs the full range of operatic repertoire from early baroque operas to contemporary American musicals. The productions utilize students and faculty from the School of Music, the Department of Theater, Department of Dance and other collaborators within the university and beyond to explore the future of the operatic genre as an interdisciplinary venture including applications such as modern dance, video and photo multi-media integration, architectural design, and other three-dimensional arts and to provide the community with a complete operatic experience. The students get an opportunity to perform in different venues, ranging from the intimate Thurber Theater to the 2,500 seat Mershon Auditorium, collaborating with the OSU Symphony Orchestra, a baroque orchestra or a jazz ensemble.

The students enrolled each year perform 1-2 fully staged opera or musical theater pieces and an evening of opera scenes. This year students will also have an opportunity to sing in the OSU Urban Arts Space for the Opera Cabaret event performing famous opera excerpts, musical theater and cabaret songs and connect with the downtown Columbus community.

Past productions include: The Magic Flute (2008), La Calisto (2007), L’Elisir D’Amore (2007), The Cradle Will Rock (2006), The Coronation of Poppea (2006).

The Spring 2009 production was The Marriage of Figaro.

Auditions are open for both undergraduate and graduate students and all have equal opportunity to be cast in principal roles, the opera chorus and sing in other events. Students also get instruction in audition techniques, movement, acting for singers, stage combat, critical analysis of opera productions and the basics of the opera business. Professional artists are invited to hold master classes and instruction throughout the year. Graduate Assistantships are available for students at the Masters and Doctoral levels.