Chicago Opera Theater

CHICAGO OPERA THEATER ENGAGES LOVERS OF MUSIC AND STORYTELLING THROUGH INNOVATIVE EXPERIENCES.

PRODUCTION: SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1973, IN A CITY WHERE STOREFRONT THEATERS AND GLOBAL ICONS THRIVE SIDE BY SIDE, CHICAGO OPERA THEATER (COT) HAS GROWN FROM A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION TO A NATIONAL LEADER IN AN INCREASINGLY VIBRANT , DIVERSE, AND FORWARD-LOOKING ART FORM. EACH SEASON, COT PRODUCES A COMBINATION OF CONTEMPORARY OPERAS ALONGSIDE RARELY PRODUCED WORKS, MANY OF WHICH ARE CHICAGO PREMIERES. COT ALSO PROACTIVELY SEEKS TO AMPLIFY THE WORK OF ARTISTS FROM HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS, INCLUDING WOMEN AND ARTIST OF COLOR. DURING THE 2022-23 SEASON, COT PRODUCED THE CHICAGO PREMIERE OF KING ROGER (SZYMANOWSKI/IWASZKIEWICZ); THE WORLD PREMIERE OF THE LIFE AND DEATH(S) OF ALAN TURING (CHEN/SIMPATICO); FOR A LOOK AND A TOUCH & ANOTHER SUNRISE (HEGGIE/SCHEER); AND ALBERT HERRING (BRITTEN/CROZIER). SINCE THE COMPANYS FOUNDING, COT HAS STAGED OVER 160 OPERAS, INCLUDING 90 CHICAGO PREMIERES, 9 WORLD PREMIERES; AND 49 OPERAS BY AMERICAN COMPOSERS.

PRODUCTION: SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1973, IN A CITY WHERE STOREFRONT THEATERS AND GLOBAL ICONS THRIVE SIDE BY SIDE, CHICAGO OPERA THEATER (COT) HAS GROWN FROM A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION TO A NATIONAL LEADER IN AN INCREASINGLY VIBRANT , DIVERSE, AND FORWARD-LOOKING ART FORM. EACH SEASON, COT PRODUCES A COMBINATION OF CONTEMPORARY OPERAS ALONGSIDE RARELY PRODUCED WORKS, MANY OF WHICH ARE CHICAGO PREMIERES. COT ALSO PROACTIVELY SEEKS TO AMPLIFY THE WORK OF ARTISTS FROM HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS, INCLUDING WOMEN AND ARTIST OF COLOR. DURING THE 2022-23 SEASON, COT PRODUCED THE CHICAGO PREMIERE OF KING ROGER (SZYMANOWSKI/IWASZKIEWICZ); THE WORLD PREMIERE OF THE LIFE AND DEATH(S) OF ALAN TURING (CHEN/SIMPATICO); FOR A LOOK AND A TOUCH & ANOTHER SUNRISE (HEGGIE/SCHEER); AND ALBERT HERRING (BRITTEN/CROZIER). SINCE THE COMPANYS FOUNDING, COT HAS STAGED OVER 160 OPERAS, INCLUDING 90 CHICAGO PREMIERES, 9 WORLD PREMIERES; AND 49 OPERAS BY AMERICAN COMPOSERS.

PROFESSIONAL ARTIST DEVELOPMENT: COT IS COMMITTED TO MENTORING THE NEXT GENERATION OF OPERA ARTISTS THROUGH TWO DISTINCT INITIATIVES: THE YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAM FOR SINGERS AND PIANISTS; AND THE VANGUARD PROGRAM FOR EMERGING OPERA COMPOSERS. COTS PROGRAM FOR SINGERS AND PIANIST IS OFFERED IN COLLABORATION WITH ROOSEVELT UNIVERSITY CHICAGO COLLEGE OF PERFORMING ARTS (CCPA). THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, DEVELOPING PERFORMERS WITH SIGNIFICANT CAREER PROMISE ARE PROVIDED WITH BOTH PERSONALIZED TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES IN COTS PRODUCTIONS. THIS IS A TUITION-FREE INITIATIVE, DURING WHICH ARTISTS RECEIVE A WEEKLY STIPEND TO ASSIST WITH THEIR LIVING EXPENSES. THE VANGUARD PROGRAM FOR COMPOSERS IS AN IMMERSIVE RESIDENCY THAT INCLUDES PARTICIPATION IN COT PRODUCTIONS, TRAINING WITH TOP INDUSTRY LEADERS, EXTENSIVE STUDY OF REPERTOIRE AND VOCAL WRITING, DIRECT INSIGHT INTO ADMINISTRATIVE AND OTHER BEHIND-THE-SCENES PROCESSES, AND CULMINATES WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF A FULL-LENGTH CHAMBER OPERA COMMISSIONED BY COT. VANGUARD COMPOSERS RECEIVE A MONTHLY STIPEND AND ALSO RECEIVE COMMISSION FEES FOR WRITING NEW WORKS UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE PROGRAM. DURING THE 2022-23 SEASON, 4 SINGERS, 1 PIANIST, AND 2 COMPOSERS WERE SUPPORTED THROUGH COTS PROFESSIONAL ARTIST DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES; AND COT PRESENTED THE CONCERT PREMIERE OF THE COOK-OFF, A NEW OPERA WRITTEN BY VANGUARD COMPOSER IN RESIDENCE SHAWN OKPEBHOLO IN COLLABORATION WITH LIBRETTIST MARK CAMPBELL.

PROFESSIONAL ARTIST DEVELOPMENT: COT IS COMMITTED TO MENTORING THE NEXT GENERATION OF OPERA ARTISTS THROUGH TWO DISTINCT INITIATIVES: THE YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAM FOR SINGERS AND PIANISTS; AND THE VANGUARD PROGRAM FOR EMERGING OPERA COMPOSERS. COTS PROGRAM FOR SINGERS AND PIANIST IS OFFERED IN COLLABORATION WITH ROOSEVELT UNIVERSITY CHICAGO COLLEGE OF PERFORMING ARTS (CCPA). THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, DEVELOPING PERFORMERS WITH SIGNIFICANT CAREER PROMISE ARE PROVIDED WITH BOTH PERSONALIZED TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES IN COTS PRODUCTIONS. THIS IS A TUITION-FREE INITIATIVE, DURING WHICH ARTISTS RECEIVE A WEEKLY STIPEND TO ASSIST WITH THEIR LIVING EXPENSES. THE VANGUARD PROGRAM FOR COMPOSERS IS AN IMMERSIVE RESIDENCY THAT INCLUDES PARTICIPATION IN COT PRODUCTIONS, TRAINING WITH TOP INDUSTRY LEADERS, EXTENSIVE STUDY OF REPERTOIRE AND VOCAL WRITING, DIRECT INSIGHT INTO ADMINISTRATIVE AND OTHER BEHIND-THE-SCENES PROCESSES, AND CULMINATES WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF A FULL-LENGTH CHAMBER OPERA COMMISSIONED BY COT. VANGUARD COMPOSERS RECEIVE A MONTHLY STIPEND AND ALSO RECEIVE COMMISSION FEES FOR WRITING NEW WORKS UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE PROGRAM. DURING THE 2022-23 SEASON, 4 SINGERS, 1 PIANIST, AND 2 COMPOSERS WERE SUPPORTED THROUGH COTS PROFESSIONAL ARTIST DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES; AND COT PRESENTED THE CONCERT PREMIERE OF THE COOK-OFF, A NEW OPERA WRITTEN BY VANGUARD COMPOSER IN RESIDENCE SHAWN OKPEBHOLO IN COLLABORATION WITH LIBRETTIST MARK CAMPBELL.

EDUCATION PROGRAMS: COTS OPERA FOR ALL (OFA) IS A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM FOR CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS. OFA EMPOWERS CREATIVITY AND FOSTERS COLLABORATION THROUGH HANDS-ON, WEEKLY IN CLASS WORKSHOPS. DURING OFA SESSIONS, TEACHING ARTISTS GUIDE EACH CLASSROOM THROUGH THE STAGES OF CREATING, PRODUCING, AND PERFORMING THEIR OWN SHORT OPERAS. IN ADDITION TO LIBRETTO WRITING, COMPOSING, PAINTING, SINGING, DANCING, AND PERFORMING, STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO ATTEND A PROFESSIONAL OPERA PERFORMANCE AT COT. OPERA FOR ALL IS FREE FOR ALL PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS. DURING THE 2022-23 SEASON, OFA SERVED JUST OVER 500 STUDENTS.

EDUCATION PROGRAMS: COTS OPERA FOR ALL (OFA) IS A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM FOR CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS. OFA EMPOWERS CREATIVITY AND FOSTERS COLLABORATION THROUGH HANDS-ON, WEEKLY IN CLASS WORKSHOPS. DURING OFA SESSIONS, TEACHING ARTISTS GUIDE EACH CLASSROOM THROUGH THE STAGES OF CREATING, PRODUCING, AND PERFORMING THEIR OWN SHORT OPERAS. IN ADDITION TO LIBRETTO WRITING, COMPOSING, PAINTING, SINGING, DANCING, AND PERFORMING, STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO ATTEND A PROFESSIONAL OPERA PERFORMANCE AT COT. OPERA FOR ALL IS FREE FOR ALL PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS. DURING THE 2022-23 SEASON, OFA SERVED JUST OVER 500 STUDENTS.