Opera Workshop

The Opera Workshop was started by Dr. Jeanne Robison in 1995, when she joined the music faculty at Biola. The workshop is offered for credit to students who want to learn acting, stage movement, and production skills or audition for a full-scale opera or opera scene. Most of the students who participate are voice students, but some are other music and non-music majors. Auditions happen in the early part of fall semester each year for a production that takes place usually the last week of the following January and the first week of February. There are usually six performances plus one understudy night, in which understudies have the opportunity to perform. Productions over the years have ranged from Classical and Romantic era opera productions and scenes to musical theater productions.

When full-length opera productions are performed, the entire cast is required to contribute at least 20 hours to the production by forming teams which build the sets, sew/find costumes, publicize the shows, acquire and manage props, and put stage make-up on performers during the shows. Dr. Robison usually directs and stages the opera, and the performances usually include an orchestra lead by Marlin Owen, who acts as musical director of the cast. The opera productions are among the most well-attended events on campus.

The Workshop has performed:

The Marriage of Figaro, (W.A. Mozart), 2009.

The Merry Wives of Windsor, (Otto Nicolai), 2008.

Carmen, (Georges Bizet), 2007.

The Magic Flute, (W.A. Mozart), 2006.

Hansel and Gretel, (Engelbert Humperdinck), 2005.

Don Giovanni, (W.A. Mozart), 2004.

Carousel, (Rodgers and Hammerstein), 2003.

"Scenes from American Operas," 2002.

The Magic Flute, (W.A. Mozart), 2001.

Cosi fan tutte, (W.A. Mozart), 1998.

Scenes from La Boheme, Suor Angelica, and Madama Butterfly, (Giacomo Puccini), 1997.

HMS Pinafore, (Gilbert and Sullivan), 1997.

Scenes from Cosi fan tutte and The Marriage of Figaro, (W.A. Mozart), 1996.