OHIO Opera Theater presents "Little Women" in Memorial Auditorium

Ohio University’s Opera Theater will present the opera "Little Women" in the Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium, with live accompaniment by the Ohio University Symphony Orchestra, Friday, March 3 and Saturday, March 4 at 8 p.m. Daniel Stein, assistant professor of instruction in Classical and Musical Theater Voice and coordinator of Opera Theater in the School of Music, will music direct the production, with Thea Wigglesworth guest stage directing.

In this version of "Little Women," Jo, alone in the attic, sits down to write a new, more truthful story about her sisters and their life together. Mark Adamo's sophisticated score maps Jo's colliding memories as she struggles to understand her family and herself.

Wigglesworth and Stein bring Composer/Librettist Adamo’s Little Women to life with the symphony orchestra, conducted by Dr. Jose Rocha, assistant professor of instruction in the School of Music, and assistant conducted by conducting graduate student, Joshua Smith.

"Little Women" is the second of three Opera Theater productions during the 2022-23 year, and is a full-scale operatic production involving orchestra, costumes, sets, props and all that goes into a larger scale performance.

Guest artist Wigglesworth is a stage director and choreographer working in theatre, opera and dance to innovate both new and old works. A Kentucky native, Wigglesworth is currently the Civic Practice and Operations Manager for Opera Steamboat, has directed and/or choreographed opera and musical theatre for Opera Saratoga, Opera Steamboat, Chicago Summer Opera, University of Kentucky Opera Theatre and Guerilla Opera.

“Opera staging production processes are fast paced, demanding and require high levels concentration, preparation and a willingness to explore. I applaud Dr. Stein’s commitment to providing that for the students here at OHIO, where I am staging an opera in 38 hours of rehearsal," Wigglesworth said.

The production features costumes by Athens native Dayton Willison, BSS ’10, and expert lighting design by Piper Kirchhofer, MFA  ’21, School of Theater.

OHIO’s student performers in Opera Theater receive specialized training for the lyric theater, including stage movement, acting, role study techniques, and vocal coaching. Students also have the opportunity to work with a guest stage director to get first-hand experience mirroring involvement in a professional industry production. Learn more about the program here.

Tickets for "Little Women" are on sale now, available here, and at the ticket office one hour prior to the show. General admission is $10, and OHIO students are free with an OHIO ID, thanks to Arts for OHIO.