Kent State Opera Theatre
Kent State Opera Theatre continues to grow and expand, offering scene programs and fully staged productions.
Kent State Opera Theatre is dedicated to developing and nurturing young artists in the craft of opera performance by recognizing their individual strengths as they build the skills necessary to achieve their creative, academic and career goals.
About the Program
Over the past decade, the Kent State Opera Theatre has continued to grow and diversify, presenting scene programs and fully staged productions with the 5X社区 Orchestra to great acclaim each academic year. Students in the program experience a rich curriculum of vocal coaching, acting lessons, and production best practices.
Learn about of Voice Division here
Faculty
Jay White
Professor, Director of Opera Studies and Music Director
Timothy Culver
Professor, Stage and Production Director
Who can join the cast?
Open to all Kent State undergraduate and graduate students through audition.
Auditions
Typically, auditions are held during the first full week of classes each semester.
An collaborative pianist will be provided.
Auditionees can expect two sing two selections.
- Arias preferred but art song accepted.
- One selection can be in English.
- It is preferred that the other selection be in a language other than English.
Audition Sign-up
- to let us know you're interested in the Opera Theatre cast!
- We'll let you know when the audition sign-up ready and other details.
2024-2025
Fall
P.D.Q. Bach鈥檚
鈥淭he Abduction of Figaro鈥
2023-2024
Spring
"Radio Hour"
Ludwig Recital Hall | Center for the Performing Arts
Fall
"Not/Ordinary: Scenes of Life and Love"
Wright-Curtis Theatre | Center for the Performing Arts
2022鈥2023
Spring
鈥淒ouble Feature鈥
- 鈥淭he Telephone鈥 | Gian Carlo Menotti
- 鈥淭rial by Jury鈥 | Gilbert and Sullivan
Ludwig Recital Hall | Center for the Performing Arts
Fall
Opera Scenes | 鈥淪ceneworks: A Sampling from 400 Years of Opera鈥
Wright-Curtis Theatre | Center for the Performing Arts
2021鈥2022
Spring
鈥淟et the Party Begin鈥
- 鈥淏on App茅tit鈥 | Lee Hoiby
- 鈥淎 Musical Evening at the Choufleuris鈥" | Jacques Offenbach
Ludwig Recital Hall | Center for the Performing Arts
Fall
鈥淎n Evening of Opera鈥
Fine Arts Building | 5X社区 at Stark
2020鈥2021
Spring
鈥淥nward鈥 鈥 Audition Reels
Virtual
Fall
Opera Scenes | 鈥淎rias for the Pandemic鈥
Virtual
2019鈥2020
Spring (Canceled 鈥 Coronavirus Pandemic)
鈥淭he Medium鈥 | Gian Carlo Menotti
"Dido & Aeneas鈥 | Henry Purcell
Ludwig Recital Hall | Center for the Performing Arts
Fall
Opera Scenes | 鈥淥peretta: The Land of Smiles, Pirates and Pinafores鈥
Wright-Curtis Theatre | Center for the Performing Arts
2018鈥2019
Spring
"The Tender Land鈥 | Aaron Copland
Ludwig Recital Hall | Center for the Performing Arts
Fall
Opera Scenes | 鈥淢arriage Inside/Out鈥
Wright-Curtis Theatre | Center for the Performing Arts
2017-2018
Spring
"Die Fledermaus" | Johann Strauss II
Performed with 5X社区 Orchestra
Ludwig Recital Hall | Center for the Performing Arts
Fall
Opera Scenes | 鈥淭he Wonderful, Wacky World of Opera鈥
Wright-Curtis Theatre | Center for the Performing Arts
2016-2017
Spring
"A Novel Idea! Stories of Operatic Proportions"
- "Gisela In Her Bathtub" by Neil Weisensel, Orchestration World Premiere
- "The Harpies" by Marc Blitzstein
- "The Doctor Miracle" by Georges Bizet
Performed with the 5X社区 Orchestra
Ludwig Recital Hall | Center for the Performing Arts
Fall
Scenes from "The Magic Flute" | Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Murphy Auditorium | 5X社区 Museum
2015-2016
Spring
"Sweethearts" | Victor Herbert
Semi-staged concert performance with the 5X社区 Orchestra
University Auditorium | Cartwright Hall
Fall
Opera Scenes | 鈥淭rying Trios!!!鈥
Wright-Curtis Theatre | Center for the Performing Arts
2014-2015
Spring
"Iolanthe" | Gilbert and Sullivan
Ludwig Recital Hall | Center for the Performing Arts
Fall
Opera Scenes | 鈥淪inging in Circles,鈥
Wright-Curtis Theatre | Center for the Performing Arts
2013-2014
Spring
"A Musical Evening at the Choufleuris鈥" | Jaques Offenbach
Ludwig Recital Hall | Center for the Performing Arts
Northeast Ohio Tour
Fall
Opera Scenes | 鈥淪inging Outside the Box鈥
Wright-Curtis Theatre | Center for the Performing Arts
2012-2013
Spring
鈥淥h...The Games We Play鈥
- "The Impresario" by W.A. Mozart
- "A Hand of Bridge" by Samuel Barber
- "Gianni Schicchi" by Giacomo Puccini
Performed with the 5X社区 Orchestra
Ludwig Recital Hall | Center for the Performing Arts
Fall
Opera Scenes | 鈥淟ovesick Maidens, their Men and More, Much More鈥
5X社区
Contact
Jay White
Director of Opera Studies and Professor of Voice
jwhite99@kent.edu | 330-672-9237