2017 ANNUAL REPORT · and Stephen and Barbara Munk. We welcomed the following new directors: Peter...
Transcript of 2017 ANNUAL REPORT · and Stephen and Barbara Munk. We welcomed the following new directors: Peter...
FROM THE CHAIRMAN
This past fiscal year (July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2017) was an extremely busy and productive year for Michigan Opera Theatre (MOT). Here are some of the highlights from my perspective: The Artistic Succession Committee, led by Barbara Kratchman, recommended, and the Board approved, the engagement of Maestro Stephen Lord as MOT’s Principal Conductor and artistic adviser for the next two years. While Maestro Lord’s long history with MOT as a guest conductor, his distinguished career as the Music Director of Opera Theatre of St Louis, and his renown in the opera world would make him an ideal candidate for Artistic Director, he preferred an interim position. We are extremely fortunate to have Stephen take on this crucial role with our company, and in due course the Committee will resume its search for the permanent position of Artistic Director. We continue to reshape our Board of Directors consistent with our objectives of increasing diversity, broadening our geographic presence, and bringing on the “next generation” of supporters. I thank the following long-serving members who have retired or moved away: David and Rose Handleman and Stephen and Barbara Munk. We welcomed the following new directors: Peter Oleksiak and Devon Hoover. We also welcomed new trustees: Peter and Mary Oleksiak, Dawn Minch, Devon Hoover, Donald and Antoinette Morelock, and Sheila Sloan. Many thanks to the Nominating Committee for its excellent work in this area. The committee consisted of Chair Al Lucarelli, Gene Bowen, Elizabeth Brooks, Wayne S. Brown, Julia Darlow, David DiChiera, Sonal Dubey, Fern Espino, Paul Ewing, Barbara Frankel, Donald Manvel, Charlotte Podowski, and Ankur Rungta. Throughout the year we pressed forward with the quiet phase of our Historic Path to a Bold Future Campaign. By the end of the 2016-2017 fiscal year we had received cash and pledges totaling $20.2 million. The Campaign’s overall goal is $50 Million, to be paid over the five-year period ending July 31, 2022. As we pass the halfway point, we continue to be optimistic. I am pleased to report that nearly 100% of our Board of Directors have signed commitments to the Campaign. I encourage those who have not yet committed to join us in this critical effort. The Facilities Committee continues to provide guidance to management with regard to capital projects and the operational maintenance and development of infrastructure needs at our Detroit Opera House and the Herman Frankel | Detroit Opera House Parking Center. A comprehensive study was launched just after the close of the past fiscal year, with the help of a $50,000 grant from Quicken Loans and matching in-kind services from Albert Kahn Associates. The results of that study are forthcoming. Many thanks to the Facilities Committee, consisting of Lee Barthel, Kevin Dennis, Herman Frankel, Peter Oleksiak, Paul Ragheb, Richard Sonenklar, and Jesse Venegas. The Finance Committee, chaired by Enrico Digirolamo, had a busy year. Working with our able and dedicated Chief Administrative Officer, Patricia Walker, and an outstanding team of nonprofit accounting specialists from Financial One, Inc., the Committee’s achievements included revamping our accounting system, tightening financial controls, updating the general ledger, simplifying financial reporting and strengthening our accounting staff. I am appreciative of the many hours devoted to this Committee by these additional members: Sandy Duncan, Lee Barthel Herman Frankel, and Tom Toppin. For the first time in our history we also established an independent Audit Committee, headed by Jim Ciroli, whose report you will hear tonight. The Audit Committee also includes Richard Goetz — we are very appreciative of this committee’s efforts. Finally, in May we celebrated the 46th year of our founder with a spectacular Grand Salute to “Doctor D.” As a part of that event, the Detroit Opera House was named The David DiChiera Center for the Performing Arts. The Salute included performances by many opera stars whose careers were jump-started by David, as well local and national celebrities. The evening was a resounding success, marked by a palpable feeling of “love in the air” for David. It concluded with moving arias from David’s Cyrano and dinner at the DAC. While the primary object of the event was to honor Dr. DiChiera, sponsorships and tickets generated $1.9 million to supplement the Historic Path to a Bold Future Campaign. Finally, many thanks to our co-chairs for their support and leadership: Ethan and Gretchen Davidson, Pernilla and Dan Amman, Mona and Matt Simoncini, Jennifer and David Fisher and Karen and Rick Williams. In closing, I remain forever grateful for David’s lifelong commitment to Michigan Opera Theatre, appreciative of the tireless contributions of MOT’s committed staff and thankful for the generous support of our Directors, Trustees and patrons. I am also very excited about our future under the extraordinary leadership of our President and CEO, Wayne Brown.
Yours very truly,
Rick Williams
R. Jamison Williams, Jr. Chairman of the Board
2 Michigan Opera TheaTre
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear Members of the MOT Family, On June 30, 2017 the curtain was lowered at the end of the Michigan Opera Theatre’s 2016-2017 season. This marked the end of a remarkable year as the organization and the community paid grateful tribute to our Founder and Artistic Director David DiChiera. The past season also marked the 46th consecutive year that MOT fulfilled its commitment to the opera art form and, subsequently, to dance, arts education, musical theatre and to the city of Detroit. The culminating event of the season was a David DiChiera Grand Salute, during which the new name designation of our building was revealed: Detroit Opera House | David DiChiera Center for the Performing Arts. As in the previous year, the 2016-2017 MOT season resulted in multiple accomplishments, including the presentation of vibrant artistic works, sustained audience participation, the initial phase of a new Historic Path to a Bold Future Campaign, and an entire season devoted to the David DiChiera Legacy. The season also marked another inspiring year for me working closely with our Board Chairman Rick Williams, the many devoted and generous members of our Board of Directors and Board of Trustees, a committed staff, and a dedicated group of volunteers who have been steadfast in their devotion to MOT.
2016/17 Highlights: Under the leadership of MOT Board Member Nora Moroun and Co-Chair Patricia Larsen, the season began with the David DiChiera Legacy Ball, an unprecedented kickoff that featured artistic highlights of the upcoming opera and dance season. The extraordinary evening was truly magical and netted more than $500,000 in support of MOT artistic programming and educational initiatives. The season marked the second year of a three-year commitment by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation in support of MOT’s strategic plan to enhance its artistic profile and strengthen audience engagement through presentation of Opera Works of Our Time, and expanded regional programming in Southeast Michigan. Similarly, the MOT Studio Artists program received second round support from the William Davidson Foundation. During the 2016-2017 season, the Studio Artists performed roles in operas on the Detroit Opera house main stage, as well as lead roles in regional production that took place in collaboration with MOT partner the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts in Macomb County. In the area of Dance, 2016-2017 marked the second year of a three-year alliance with the University Musical Society (Ann Arbor) in support of dance in Southeast Michigan, enabling the partners to leverage their support of dance in Washtenaw and Wayne Counties with performances and dance education offerings. Further, Ballet Detroit was able to extend its residency in the Detroit Opera House for another year. I invite you to acquaint yourselves with highlights of the 2016/17 season, including its many significant milestones and the achievement of a balanced budget for the third consecutive year. Thank you to all who have contributed to a successful 46th Anniversary Season of MOT!
Warm regards,
Wayne S. BrownPresident and Chief Executive Officer
Wayne S. Brown, President and Chief Executive Officer
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2017-2018July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018
BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2017-2018July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018
R. Jamison Williams Chairman
Wayne S. Brown President and CEO
Enrico Digirolamo Chair, Finance
Committee
Cameron B. Duncan Treasurer
C. Thomas Toppin Secretary
Margaret AlleseePernilla AmmannLee BarthelRichard A. BrodieElizabeth BrooksRobert BrownJames CiroliJoanne DantoJulia Donovan DarlowEthan DavidsonDavid DiChieraShauna Ryder DiggsSonal DubeyMichael Einheuser
Marianne EndicottPaul E. EwingJennifer FischerBarbara FrankelHerman FrankelDean FriedmanRichard G. GoetzJohn P. HaleDevon HooverDanialle KarmanosBarbara KratchmanThomas M. KrikorianAlphonse S. LucarelliDonald Manvel
Ali MoiinNora MorounStephen MunkPeter OleksiakCharlotte PodowskiPaul RaghebRuth RattnerRoy S. RobertsBernard RubinAnkur RungtaElham ShayotaTerry SheaMatthew SimonciniRichard Sonenklar
Lorna ThomasJesse Venegas
DIRECTORS EMERITUSDale AustinShelly CooperMarjorie M. FisherJennifer Nasser Audrey RoseWilliam SandyRichard Webb
Kenn and Liz AllenRobert and Margaret
AlleseeSarah AllisonDaniel and Pernilla
AmmannLourdes V. AndayaHarold Mitchell ArringtonJonathan and Paula AutryBeverly AvadenkaLee and Floy BarthelMark and Caprice BaunGinny BerberianMadge BermanDebra Bernstein-SiegelJoseph and Barbra BlochJohn and Marlene BollGene P. BowenRichard and Gwen BowlbyBetty J. BrightRichard and Joanne
BrodieWilliam and Elizabeth
BrooksRobert and Geraldine Ford
BrownWayne S. Brown and
Brenda KeeThomas and Vicki CelaniMichael and Mary ChircoJames and Elizabeth CiroliGloria ClarkAvern and Lois CohnThomas CohnWilliam and Kelly ConnellPeter and Shelly CooperJoanne Danto and Arnold
WeingardenHelen DaoudJulia D. Darlow and John
C. O’MearaJerry and Maureen
D’AvanzoLawrence and Dodie
DavidEthan and Gretchen
DavidsonKevin Dennis and Jeremy
ZeltzerDavid DiChiera
Karen V. DiChieraDouglass Diggs and
Shauna Ryder DiggsEnrico and Kathleen
DigirolamoJohn and Debbie DingellMary Jane DoerrDilip and Sonal DubeyCameron B. DuncanMichael EinheuserKenneth and Frances
EisenbergMarianne EndicottAlex ErdeljanFern R. Espino and
Thomas ShortPaul and Mary Sue EwingMargo Cohen Feinberg
and Robert FeinbergOscar and Dede FeldmanDavid and Jennifer FischerMarjorie M. FisherCarl and Mary Anne
FontanaElaine FontanaBarbara Frankel and Ron
MichalakHerman and Sharon
FrankelDean and Aviva FriedmanBarbara GaravagliaYousif and Mara GhafariRichard and Aurora GoetzCarolyn GordonReva GraceSamuel and Toby
HabermanAlice Berberian HaidostianJohn and Kristan HaleEugene and Donna
HartwigDoreen HermelinDerek and Karen HodgsonAlan and Eleanor IsraelUna JackmanDon Jensen and Leo
DovelleKent and Amy JidovGary and Gwenn JohnsonGeorge Johnson
Jill JohnsonEllen KahnPeter and Danialle
KarmanosPatrick J. Kerzic and
Stephanie Germack Kerzic
Michael and Barbara Kratchman
Thomas and Deborah Krikorian
Melvin A. LesterLinda Dresner Levy and
Edward Levy Mado LieArthur and Nancy LieblerMary Alice Lomason James and Marion LoPreteAlphonse S. LucarelliDenise LutzDonald ManvelFlorine MarkRonald and Zvezdana
MartellaJack Martin and Bettye
Arrington-MartinFlorence McBrienBenjamin Meeker and
Meredith KorneffelEugene and Lois MillerPhillip D. and Dawn MinchMonica MoffatAli Moiin and William
KupskyDonald and Antoinette
MorelockManuel and Nora MorounStephen and Barbara
MunkE. Michael and Dolores
MutchlerAllan and Joy NachmanIrving Barbara NusbaumJuliette Okotie-Eboh Peter and Mary OleksiakLinda OrlansGraham and Sally OrleyRichard and Debra
PartrichSpencer and Myrna
Partrich
Daniel and Margaret Pehrson
Robert E. L. PerkinsBrock and Katherine
PlumbCharles and Charlotte
PodowskiWaltraud PrechterPaul and Amy RaghebJohn and Terry RakoltaRuth F. RattnerRoy and Maureen RobertsPatricia H. RodzikDavid and Jacqueline
RoesslerAudrey RoseDulcie RosenfeldCarolyn L. RossBernard and Donna RubinAnthony and Sabrina
RugieroAnkur Rungta and
Mayssoun BydonHershel and Dorothy
SandbergDonald and Kim SchmidtAlan and Marianne
SchwartzMark and Lois ShaevskyArlene ShalerElham ShayotaTerry SheaMatthew and Mona
SimonciniWilliam H. SmithPhyllis F. SnowAnthony L. SoaveRichard A. Sonenklar and
Gregory HaynesMary Ann StellaChristine StrumbosRonald F. Switzer and Jim
F. McClureLorna ThomasC. Thomas and Bernie
ToppinJames G. VellaJesse and Yesenia
VenegasMarilyn Victor
Inge VincentChristopher and Susan
WilhelmR. Jamison and Karen
WilliamsJoan Young and Thomas
L. SchellenbergMary Lou Zieve
TRUSTEES EMERITIEugene and Marcia
ApplebaumAgustin Arbulu Donald and Dale AustinMarvin A. FrenkelPreston and Mary HappelE. Jan and Pat HartmannRobert and Wally KleinWilliam and Marjorie
SandyRoberta StarkweatherPaul and Janet VictorAmelia H. Wilhelm
FOUNDING MEMBERS Mr.† & Mrs.† Lynn A.
Townsend, Founding Chairman
Mr. & Mrs.† Avern L. CohnDr. & Mrs. John H. DeCarloDr. & Mrs. David DiChiera Mr.† & Mrs.† Aaron H.
GershensonMr. & Mrs. Donald C.
GravesMr.† & Mrs.† John C. Griffin Mr. & Mrs. Harry L. JonesThe Hon.†& Mrs.†Wade H.
McCree, Jr.Mr. Harry J. NederlanderMr. E. Harwood Rydholm† Mr. & Mrs. Neil SnowMr. & Mrs. Richard
StrichartzMr.† & Mrs.† Robert C.
VanderKlootDr.† & Mrs. Sam B. WilliamsMr.† & Mrs.† Theodore O.
Yntema
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In MeMorIaM
Julius L. Palloneb. May 26, 1929 d. Aug 12, 2016
Board of Directors 1982-2001Board of Trustees 1978-2004
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Michigan Opera Theatre is saddened by the passing of MOT Trustees and Directors this past year. Their commitment and enthusiasm for the
arts and the cultural life of our community will be missed.
Demetra “Dee” Monolidisb. Nov 14, 1926 d. Aug 13, 2016
Board of Trustees 1995-2016
Kim Khong Lie M.D.b. Feb 23, 1932 d. Nov 16, 2016
Board of Trustees 1981-2016
Barbara Gibson Williamsb. Nov 30, 1927 d. Nov 17, 2016
Board of Directors 1974-1979Board of Directors 1983-1991Board of Trustees 1976-2016
Mandell ’Bill’ Bermanb. 1917 d. Dec 21, 2016
Board of Trustees 2001-2016
Arnold Gordonb. Oct 1937 d. Feb 10, 2017
Board of Trustees 2006-2017
Carol Halstedb. June 12, 1940 d. January 28, 2017
MOT Director of Dance 2002-2014
Harry A. Lomason, IIb. Oct 1934 d. Feb 12, 2017
Board of Directors 1995-2017Board of Trustees 1995-2017
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Patrick Kerzicb. March 17, 1935 d. April 13, 2017
Board of Trustees 2005-2017
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Jonathan Swift, PhDb. April 26, 1932 d. April 11,2017
Board of Trustees 2008-2017
Rudale “Dale” W. Austinb. April 6, 1930 d. May 8, 2017Board of Directors 1983 – 2007Board of Trustees 1981 - 2012
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Spotlights
PATRICIA WALKER Chief Administrative Officer
Michigan Opera Theatre enhanced its administrative leadership team by appointing
Patricia Walker to the newly-created position of Chief Administrative Officer. Patricia joined the senior management team at an exciting and pivotal time in the company’s history. As Chief Administrative Officer, Ms. Walker was engaged to oversee Finance and Accounting, Detroit Opera House Operations, Human Resources, and IT departments, as well as the MOT Library and all general administration. She joined Michigan Opera Theatre in 2016 with extensive financial, managerial, and leadership experience in the nonprofit sector. Ms. Walker’s credentials are impressive. She has served in key management roles for Michigan non-profit organizations for the last eighteen years, with a successful record of consistently improving operational and financial performance. Prior to her arrival at MOT, Ms. Walker served as Chief Operating Officer at the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at the Michigan Science Center, and Chief Operating Officer at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. “From the earliest days of my appointment to MOT, I was interested in inviting Patricia Walker to join me as part of my leadership team,” said Wayne Brown. “Patricia’s impressive skill sets and grasp of major nonprofit organizations is highly regarded. During the time that she has been with MOT, our organizational
structure and systems have been significantly updated. We are now better positioned to address our short and long term initiatives, and expand our role in the community as a core source of cultural activities for opera, dance, and arts education in our home: Detroit Opera House | David DiChiera Center for the Performing Arts and our community.” In her first year as Chief Administrative Officer, Patricia Walker is credited with establishing and managing several key administrative processes, including the creation of a financial dashboard,
implementation of new financial controls, policies, and processes, and undertaking and completion of several significant facility projects. Looking ahead, her primary goals include the development and implementation of a Facilities Master Plan, an initiative made possible by the support of Quicken Loans and Albert Kahn Associates, and strengthening financial systems and controls to ensure MOT’s financial information is clear, transparent, and secure. While many of her objectives focus on finance and administration, Ms. Walker is deeply committed to her goal of providing a stellar Detroit Opera House experience for all guests. Ms. Walker’s attention to detail and commitment to outstanding customer service will be evident to all who enter the doors of the Detroit Opera House.
PATRICIA WALKER
BARBARA KRATCHMAN Chairman, MOT Artistic Succession Committee
Barbara Kratchman, MOT Board Member and Chairman of the Artistic Succession Committee, has been an opera
buff since she was a teenager. When the Metropolitan Opera came to Detroit, her father took her to the Masonic Temple to see a performance of the classic doubleheader, Pagliacci and Cavalleria Rusticana. To this day she resonates with the excitement that swept the audience which she remembers as clad in beautiful gowns and tuxedos, and her mouth still waters at the memory of the fancy dinner she had afterwards. As she puts it, “the whole evening swept me off my feet.” Subsequently, Barbara took
an opera course in college and, some years later, she became Executive Director of the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs. In that position, she was introduced to David DiChiera and MOT, and that experience quickly reignited her love of opera. As time went on, opera evolved into a family experience for herself and her husband Michael, and they have been avid opera goers and MOT supporters ever since.
The Kratchmans have worked hard for MOT. Both of them became Trustees in 2010 and Barbara was elected to the Board of Directors in 2011. Barbara Kratchman served as a member of the Search Committee for a new President and CEO for MOT which led to the appointment of Wayne S. Brown. Two years later, she was appointed Chairman of the Artistic Leadership Succession Committee. Barbara also played a significant role in the recent selection of Maestro Stephen Lord, Principal Conductor. Meanwhile, Michael dove deeper in opera last spring when he served as a supernumerary in Cyrano. Barbara pays particular tribute to Dr. DiChiera’s vision when he created the Detroit Opera House in what was then a declining section of downtown Detroit . Now, she is thrilled to see MOT perfectly positioned to play a leadership role in the city of Detroit. MOT shares this neighborhood with Detroit’s sports stadiums, and she is excited about the upcoming partnership with the Detroit Tigers when next spring MOT will present the newly-commissioned opera, The Summer King, which tells the story of Josh Gibson, a star of the one-time Negro baseball league. She invites all MOT fans to stay tuned as opera singers will participate in festivities at Comerica Park and baseball fans will be attracted to and learn about opera. Barbara looks to the future of MOT brimming with pride and confidence. With the leadership team of Rick Williams, Wayne Brown, and Stephen Lord, she knows the MOT will attract new and broader audiences, expand its repertoire and engage new talent.
BARBARA KRATCHMAN
6 Michigan Opera TheaTre
MOTVA Under the leadership of Terry Shea as president, the Michigan Opera Theatre Volunteer Association (MOTVA) enjoyed a highly successful year With more than 700 members, serving countless volunteer hours, MOTVA members ushered, served as tour guides, served as office volunteers, and worked in the Boutique. In 2016-2017 the group organized special events, including an opening night dinner for Silent Night and afterglows following performances of Eisenhower Dance and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. The grand finale to the MOTVA season was “Grazie Mille, Dr. D,” and event that paid tribute to company founder, David DiChiera.”
MOTVA BOARDTerry Shea, President, MOTVACheryl McIlhon, Vice PresidentNancy Moore, SecretaryGwen Bowlby, Treasurer MOTVA COMMITTEES, CHAIR(S)Boutique, Leo DovelleDance Films, Larry GlowczewskiDivas and Divos, Helen Arnoldi-RoweOpera House Tour Guides, Myrna MazureOpera League, Dodie DavidPublicity, Annette MarchesiSpecial Events, Don Jensen, Amy Jidov, and
Curtis PosuniakUshers, Kathie Booth, Gwen Bowlby PAST PRESIDENTSSteven MarletteDodie DavidElizabeth BrooksGloria Clark
Volunteers
WAYNE BROWN AND MOTVA PRESIDENT TERRY SHEA RECOGNIZE DAVID DICHIERA AT THE MOTVA RECEPTION HELD IN HIS HONOR.
Volunteers of the Year:John McMullin and Rhea Hill.
Years of Service Recognition Awards:
Five Years: Frank Ritchie, Will Molnar, Linda Hart, Francine KahanTen Years: Linda Gusway, Sylvia P. Sanders, Lorene Knight,
Donna Kennedy, Nayda Wytka, and Theresa RegnierFifteen Years: Claire Panganiban
Twenty Years & Greater: Andrew Howell, John McMullin, Sue Lohmann, Dianne L. Deinek, and Mary E. Fritz
Rhea Hill (21)Frances Alberts and Claire Abrams (22)
Margaret Tanney and Madelyn E. McKenzie (23)
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DAVID DICHIERA ENJOYS THE FINAL CURTAIN CALL FOR CYRANO.
CyranoA grand production of David DiChiera’s lavish Cyrano served as the capstone to MOT’s 46th season.
DiChiera Legacy BallIn October 2016, Michigan Opera Theatre began a season long celebration and tribute to visionary Founder and Artistic Director David DiChiera for his many accomplishments and contributions to the opera world and to our community. The DiChiera Legacy Ball served as a magnificent kickoff to the celebratory year and would not have been possible without the leadership of Nora Moroun as chair, Patty Larson as Co-Chair, and many generous supporters. Over 400 guests attended the Italian-themed, black tie affair. Guests were treated to many highlights starting with MOT Studio Artists performing “Tonight” from West Side Story, followed by the beautiful presentation from Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s A Cinderella Story, and the surprise introduction of dessert with a rousing rendition of “Vivat vivat DiChiera” set to the Act II chorus from Carmen, the program ended with Ginger Costa-Jackson and Marcelo Puente’s passionate and moving performances of the “Habanera” from Carmen, and “Nessun Dorma” from Turandot. These performances served as a preview of the 2016-2017 season and created a truly memorable evening. The DiChiera Legacy Ball exceeded its fund-raising goal with net proceeds totaling more than $500,000 to support Michigan Opera Theatre’s artistic programs and educational initiatives.
CATHY TALIFER, JASON TINSLEY, JULIETTE OKOTIE-EBOH, AND SYLVESTER LANE ENJOY THE DICHIERA LEGACY BALL.
NORA MOROUN AND DR. DAVID DiCHIERA
THE END OF AN ERA
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The DiChiera Grand SaluteThe DiChiera Grand Salute, presented by Cadillac, took place on Friday, May 19, 2017, honoring Michigan Opera Theatre Founder David DiChiera as he stepped down from his position as Artistic Director after 46 years. More than 1,600 people attended the Grand Salute, of which more than 750 participated as sponsors, dinner patrons, and/or Bravo Salute afterglow guests. The evening began with a red carpet arrival, champagne welcome, and a patron reception, followed by a multi-media concert presentation. The event featured performance, video tributes, and guest speakers from Detroit, Michigan, and beyond. Included were stars of both opera
and dance, long-time industry colleagues, and special guest speakers such as Detroit Mayor Michael Duggan and former U.S. Senator (MI) Carl Levin. A major highlight came midway through the event when Michigan Opera Theatre unveiled the new “David DiChiera Center for the Performing Arts” name, enshrining Dr. DiChiera’s legacy on the Detroit Opera House. Following the performance, more than 400 sponsors and special guests attended a celebration dinner at the Detroit Athletic Club, and an additional 350 guests enjoyed the Bravo Salute strolling afterglow event at the Detroit Opera House. Event chairs included Pernilla and Daniel Ammann, Gretchen and Ethan Davidson, Jennifer and David Fischer, Mona and Matthew Simoncini, and Karen and R. Jamison Williams. Ali Moiin, William Kupsky, Gary Wasserman, and Charlie Kashner served as special advisors for the event and Amy Ancevski, Frederick Robinson, and Will Robinson chaired the Bravo Salute. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and patrons, the event generated $1.9M in support of the $50M Historic Path to a Bold Future Campaign.
DAVID DICHIERA AND WAYNE BROWN.
EVENT CHAIRS: ETHAN DAVIDSON, MONA SIMONCINI, KAREN WILLIAMS, RICK WILLIAMS, MATTHEW SIMONCINI, DAVID DICHIERA, DAVID FISCHER, PERNILLA AMMANN, GRETCHEN DAVIDSON, AND DANIEL AMMANN.
DAVID DICHIERA AND GRANDDAUGHTER, VIOLETTA, ENJOY TRIBUTE BY SOPRANO DENYCE GRAVES.
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BARBARA FRANKEL AND RON MICHALAK ARRIVE AT MAY 19 GRAND SALUTE TO DAVID DiCHIERA
SONAL AND DILIP DUBEY WITH DAVID DiCHIERA
THE CAPSTONE TO THE MAY 19 GRAND SALUTE WAS THE UNVEILING OF THE NEWLY NAMED DETROIT OPERA HOUSE | DAVID DiCHIERA CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS.
DAVID DiCHIERA WITH ANNE PARSONS, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.
THE MOTCC WELCOMES GUESTS TO THE MAY 19 GRAND SALUTE TO DAVID DiCHIERA
MEMBERS OF THE MOT BOARD OF DIRECTORS GATHER AT THE STAGE, AS MAYORS DENNIS ARCHER AND MIKE DUGGAN ANNOUNCE THE NAMING OF THE DAVID DICHIERA CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS.
WALLY PRECHTER AND AL LUCARELLI ARRIVE AT MAY 19 GRAND SALUTE TO DAVID DiCHIERA
DENYCE GRAVES AND WAYNE BROWN LOOK ON AS DAVID GOCKLEY PAYS TRIBUTE TO DAVID DICHIERA.
10 Michigan Opera TheaTre
In November 2016, a new era for Michigan Opera Theatre began with the company’s historic appointment of Stephen Lord to the newly created position of Principal Conductor. While the position was new, Maestro Lord is anything but new
to the organization. He credits MOT with his first professional engagement, granted by David DiChiera, more than 40 years ago. Since that time, Lord has been a frequent guest conductor at MOT, earning the respect of the MOT Orchestra and popularity with Detroit audiences Maestro Lord retained status as Music Director of the Opera Theatre of St. Louis, a position he will continue to hold during his tenure at MOT. He is an internationally regarded conductor who has led operas at the English National Opera, the Canadian Opera Company, the Seoul Arts Center, and at opera companies in New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, San Francisco, Santa Fe and a variety of other U.S. cities. His impressive career has led him to be designated among OPERA America’s “Twenty-Five Most Powerful Names in U.S. Opera.” As Principal Conductor for MOT, Stephen Lord has assumed a lead role in all artistic matters for the company, including programming, casting, and auditions, and working collaboratively with the company’s president and CEO, Wayne Brown, in accordance with the company’s strategic plan. For his inaugural season as principal conductor, Lord led the production of The Girl of the Golden West, played a major role in the company’s May 2017 Grand Salute to David DiChiera and worked to plan and develop future seasons.
A NEW ERA BEGINS!
LEFT TO RIGHT; DANIEL BLACK, ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR; STEPHEN LORD, CONDUCTOR; MICHAEL ALBANO, STAGE DIRECTOR
RICK WILLIAMS AND STEPHEN LORD.
“ MOT is fortunate to benefit
from Stephen Lord’s historic
appointment as Principal
Conductor. I look forward to
joining forces with Stephen
over the next two years as
we work together to lead
the organization to the next
phase of its evolution.”
—Wayne Brown, MOT President & CEO
MAESTRO STEPHEN LORDPrincipal Conductor
THE MOTCC WELCOMES GUESTS TO THE MAY 19 GRAND SALUTE TO DAVID DiCHIERA
RICK WILLIAMS, WAYNE BROWN, AND STEPHEN LORD.
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MUSIC
Georges Bizet
LIBRETTO
Ludovic Halevy and Henri Meilhac
WORLD PREMIERE
Opera Comique – Paris, FranceMarch 3, 1875
CONDUCTOR
Valerio Galli
STAGE DIRECTOR
Ron Daniels
CHORUS MASTER
Suzanne Mallare Acton
CHOREOGRAPHER
Rosa Mercedes
SET DESIGN
Ricardo Hernandez
COSTUME DESIGN
Constance Hoffman
LIGHTING DESIGN
Kendall Smith
HAIR & MAKEUP DESIGN
Joanne Weaver
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR & FIGHT CORREOGRAPHER
Maria Todaro
STAGE MANAGER
Ken Saltzman
SUPERTITLES
Dee Dorsey
A co-production of Michigan Opera Theatre and Houston Grand Opera
October 15-23, 2016
Carmen
THE 2016 FALL OPERA SEASON IS MADE POSSIBLE
BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY.
NORA AND MATTY MOROUN SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22
PERFORMANCE SPONSOR
AMBASSADOR BRIDGE DUTY FREE
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19PERFORMANCE SPONSOR
IDA AND CONRAD H. SMITH ENDOWMENT FOR MOT
SUNDAY PERFORMANCE SPONSOR
PRODUCTION SPONSOR JOHN AND MARLENE BOLLRICK AND KAREN WILLIAMS
LEAD ARTIST SPONSORS: GINGER COSTA JACKSON AND MARCELO PUENTE
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2016-17 Opera Season
CastIn order of vocal appearance
Morales (a corporal) ............................Harry GreenleafMicaela (a peasant girl) ............Cecilia Violetta LopezDon José (a corporal).......................... Marcelo Puente
(October 15, 19, 22)Alok Kumar (October 23)
Zuniga (Don Jose’s commanding officer) ........ Brent Michael Smith+
Carmen (a gypsy) ......................Ginger Costa Jackson (October 15, 19, 22)
Sandra Piques Eddy (October 23)Frasquita ( Carmen’s friend) ................. Angela Theis+
Mercedes (Carmen’s friend) ....Briana Elyse Hunter+
Escamillo ( a matador) ........... Luis Alejandro OrozcoEl Dancairo ( a smuggler) ........................... Jeff Byrnes+
El Remendado ( a smuggler) ....Joseph Michael Brent+
Additional Cast MembersFlamenco Dancer ..............................Victoria Treglowe
(October 15, 19) Lisa Montes (October 22, 23)
Torero Boy ...................................................Joseph GalbaLillas Pastia (Innkeeper) ...............................Rob GrodinSupernumeraries .................................Timothy Brown,
Christian Darmakasih, Bruce Davis, Bella Dow, Mark Ely, Jennifer Kieffer, Laura Lavely,
Lauren Lenz, George Manning, Jacob Robertson, Joe T. Sanders, Jr., Elina Suave, Paul Snyder, Marvin
Tookes, Lindsey Tycholiz, Wendell Walker, Paul Wenger, Hilary Zabawski
+ Michigan Opera Theatre Studio ArtistAn opera in three acts
Sung in French with English supertitle translationsRunning time: 3 hours, 15 minutes
The last MOT production of Carmen was May 9-17, 2009
“ Carmen is for lovers and this production by MOT is hot, spicy, and a fan favorite for good reason.”
—David Kiley , Encore Michigan
MARCELO PUENTE (DON JOSÉ) AND GINGER COSTA-JACKSON (CARMEN).
STUDIO ARTISTS ANGELA THEIS (FRASQUITA), AND BRIANA ELYSE HUNTER (MERCEDES), ALONG WITH GINGER COSTA-JACKSON (CARMEN).
MARCELLO PUENTE (DON JOSÉ) AND GINGER COSTA-JACKSON (CARMEN).
13 AnnuAl RepoRt 2 0 1 7
MUSICKevin Puts
LIBRETTOMark Campbell
WORLD PREMIERENovember 12, 2011, Ordway Theatre
– St. Paul, Minnesota
CONDUCTORDavid Charles Abell
STAGE DIRECTOREric Simonson
CHORUS MASTERSuzanne Mallare Acton
SCENIC DESIGNFrancis O’Connor
COSTUME DESIGNKärin Kopischke
LIGHTING DESIGNMarcus Dilliard
HAIR & MAKEUP DESIGNJoanne Weaver
PROJECTIONS DESIGNAndrzej Goulding
SOUND DESIGNC. Andrew Mayer
ASSISTANT DIRECTORAndrew Nienaber
FIGHT DIRECTORChris Barbeau
ORIGINAL FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHYDoug Scholz-Carlson
STAGE MANAGERKen Saltzman
SUPERTITLESDee Dorsey
SCOTTISH DIALECT CONSULTANTMichael J. Barnes
Silent Night, based on the screenplay by Christian Carion for the motion picture Joyeux Noël
produced by Nord-Ouest Production
Commissioned by Minnesota OperaA Minnesota Opera New Works Inititiative Production
by arrangmeent with Aperto Press, publisherBill Holab Music: Sole Agent
Scenery, properties, costumes and media files for this production are owned by Minnesota Opera, Opera
Philadelphia, Cincinnati Opera, and Fort Worth Opera and were constructed by the Minnesota Opera Shops.
November 12-20, 2016
Silent Night
THE 2016 FALL OPERA SEASON IS MADE POSSIBLE
BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY.
PRODUCTION SPONSOR
FORD MOTOR COMPANYLEAD ARTIST SPONSORS:
ERIN WALL AND CHAD JOHNSONSTUDENT/SENIOR DRESS REHEARSAL SPONSOR
14 BRAVO•Fall2016 www.MichiganOpera.org14 Michigan Opera TheaTre
2016-17 Opera Season
CastIn order of vocal appearance
Anna Sorensen (an opera singer & Nikolaus Sprink’s lover) ..........................Erin WallNikolaus Sprink (an opera singer & German soldier) ............................Chad Johnson
German General .........................Maximillian Fuhrig Father Palmer (a Scottish priest) ..............................Daniel BelcherJonathan Dale (a Scottish soldier) ............... John Robert LindseyMadeleine Audebert (wife of Lt. Audebert) ........Briana Elyse Hunter +Lt. Audebert (a French officer) .........Philip AddisWilliam Dale (brother of Jonathan Dale) ...............Jeff Byrnes +Lt. Gordon (a Scottish officer) ....Gabriel PreisserFrench General .....................................Ricardo LugoPonchel (aide-de-camp of Lt. Audebert) ...................................................... Alexandre SylvestreKronprinz (son of Kaiser Wilhelm II) .......................... Joseph Michael Brent +Lt. Horstmayer (a German officer) ......................Kristopher IrmiterBritish Major ........................Brent Michael Smith +
+ Michigan Opera Theatre Studio ArtistAn opera in two acts
Sung in English, German, and French with English supertitle translations.Running time: 2 hours, 30 minutes A Michigan Opera Theatre premiere
“ One of the top Detroit arts moments from 2016!” —Mark Stryker, Detroit Free Press
DANIEL BELCHER (FR. PALMER), ERIN WALL (ANNA SORENSEN), AND CHAD JOHNSON (NIKOLAUS SPRINK).
15 AnnuAl RepoRt 2 0 1 7
Saturday, March 11Sunday, March 12
MUSIC Mark Adamo
LIBRETTO Mark Adamo based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott
WORLD PREMIERE Houston Opera Studio – Houston, Texas
March 13, 1998
CONDUCTOR AND CHORUS MASTER
Suzanne Mallare Acton
STAGE DIRECTOR Lawrence Edelson
SET DESIGN Scenic Design Adaptation
by Monika Essen
COSTUME DESIGN Robert O’Hearn*
LIGHTING DESIGN Kendall Smith
HAIR & MAKEUP DESIGN Elizabeth Geck
VOCAL COACH AND ACCOMPANIST
Tessa Hartle
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Kelsey Ross
STAGE MANAGER Ken Saltzman
SUPERTITLES Dee Dorsey
Little WomenBy Mark Adamo
WITH GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM
16 Michigan Opera TheaTre
*Costumes were created for Minnesota Opera’s production of Little Women by the Minnesota Opera Costume Shop and are jointly owned by Minnesota Opera and Indiana University Opera Theatre.
“ The cast blended well as an ensemble and is a testament to the strong musical values that Michigan Opera Theatre has established over the years”.
—Graham Mitchell, Encore Michigan
CastIn order of vocal appearance
Jo .........................................Briana Elyse Hunter+
Laurie ..............................Joseph Michael Brent+
Amy ..................................................Clodagh Earls
Beth ................................................ Angela Theis+
Meg ..................................................Laura Krumm
Alma March ........................................Lisa Agazzi
John Brooke ........................................ Jeff Byrnes+
Gideon March ................................Mark Gardner
Aunt Cecilia .................................... Diane Schoff
Mr. Dashwood ....................Branden C. S. Hood
Friedrich Bhaer ...............Brent Michael Smith+
+Michigan Opera Theatre Studio Artist
Chorus ............ Mysti Byrnes, Fidelia Darmakasih, Rachel McIntosh, Sandra Periord
Messenger .....................................Jacob Robertson
ANGELA THEIS (BETH), BRIANA ELYSE HUNTER (JO), LAURA KRUMM (MEG), AND CLODAGH EARLS (AMY).
JOSEPH MICHAEL BRENT (LAURIE), LISA AGAZZI (ALMA MARCH), ANGELA THEIS (BETH), MARK GARDNER (GIDEON MARCH), AND CLODAGH EARLS (AMY).
DIANE SCHOFF (AUNT CECILIA), ANGELA THEIS (BETH), MARK GARDNER (GIDEON MARCH), LISA AGAZZI (ALMA MARCH), JEFF BYRNES (JOHN BROOKE), LAURA KRUMM (MEG), CLODAGH EARLS (AMY), JOSEPH MICHAEL BRENT (LAURIE), AND BRIANA ELYSE HUNTER (JO).
17 AnnuAl RepoRt 2 0 1 7
April 1-9, 2017
The Girl of the Golden West
MUSIC Giacomo Puccini
LIBRETTO Guelfo Civinini and Carlo Zangarini
WORLD PREMIERE Metropolitan Opera – New York, New York Dec. 10, 1910
CONDUCTOR Stephen Lord
DIRECTOR Mario Corradi
CHORUS MASTER Suzanne Mallare Acton
ORIGINAL SET DESIGN Eugene Lee
Additional Scenery Designed by Scott Marr
COSTUME DESIGN* Matthew LeFebvre
LIGHTING DESIGN Kendall Smith
HAIR & MAKEUP DESIGN Joanne Weaver
ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR Roberto Kalb
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Andrew Neinaber
FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHER Christopher Barbeau
STAGE MANAGER Ken Saltzman
SUPERTITLES Dee Dorsey
WIG CREW Elizabeth Geck Dayna Winalis Shannon Schoenberg Denitra Townsend Carol Taylor
*Costumes were created for Minnesota Opera’s production of The Girl of the Golden West by the Minnesota Opera Costume Shop and are owned by Minnesota Opera.
The opening night performance is dedicated in memory of
Mr. Mandell L. Berman.
The Spring 2017 Opera Season is presented by Cadillac
THE J. ERNEST & ALMENA GRAY WILDE FUND
Production Sponsor
This activity is supported by the Michigan Council for Arts and
Cultural Affairs and The National Endowment for the Arts.
18 Michigan Opera TheaTre
2016-17 Opera Season
CastIn order of vocal appearance
Bello: ............................................................... Hadleigh AdamsJoe: ............................................................ Benjamin RobinsonHarry: ............................................................Jonathan BlalockNick: .................................................................Dennis PetersenHappy: ........................................................................ Nick DavisSid: .................................................................John McCulloughSonora: .................................................................. Jeff Byrnes+Trin: .....................................................Joseph Michael Brent+Larkens: ...........................................................Dominik BelavyJack Rance: ........................................................Mark DelavanJake Wallace: ................................................ Harry GreenleafAshby: ..................................................Brent Michael Smith+Minnie: ...................................... Meagan Miller (April 1,5,8);
Melissa Citro (April 9)Postiglione: ...................................................... Jason ThomasDick Johnson: ...........................Rafael Davila (April 1,5,8);
Jeff Gwaltney (April 9)Jose Castro: ........................................Jesús Vicente MurilloWowkle: ................................................ Briana Elyse Hunter+Billy Jackrabbit: ..................................................Glenn Healy
+Michigan Opera Theatre Studio Artist
“ There’s nothing like live opera. The love story of Millie and Ramirrez was well told, and the operatic voices of the players was uplifting and exhilarating!”
—Mike Wrathell, AmericaJR
MEAGAN MILLER (MINNIE) AND MARK DELAVAN (JACK RANCE).
RAFAEL DAVILA (DICK JOHNSON) AND MEAGAN MILLER (MINNIE).
MARK DELAVAN (JACK RANCE), MEAGAN MILLER (MINNIE), AND RAFAEL DAVILA (DICK JOHNSON),
19 AnnuAl RepoRt 2 0 1 7
MUSIC David DiChiera
LIBRETTO Bernard Uzan
ORIGINAL ORCHESTRATION Mark Flint
REVISED ORCHESTRATION Steven Mercurio
WORLD PREMIERE Michigan Opera Theatre, Oct. 13, 2007 Opera in three acts Approximately three hours with two intermissions Sung in French with English surtitle translations
CONDUCTOR Steven Mercurio
DIRECTOR Bernard Uzan
CHORUS MASTER Suzanne Mallare Acton
SET AND COSTUME DESIGN John Pascoe
LIGHTING DESIGN Donald Edmund Thomas
HAIR AND MAKEUP DESIGN Joanne Weaver
PROPERTY DESIGN Monika Essen
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MARIA TODARO
FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHER Kara Wooten
STAGE MANAGER Ken Saltzman
SUPERTITLES Roberto Mauro
CyranoMay 13-21, 2017
The opening night performance is
presented in honor of Lee and Floy Barthel
A Co-Production of Michigan Opera Theatre, Florida Grand Opera and Opera Company of Philadelphia.Scenery Constructed by Ravenswood Studio, Inc., Chicago, Illinois.Costumes constructed by Michigan Opera Theatre Costume ShopCostume Materials Provided by Haberman Fabrics, Royal Oak, Michigan.Millinery created by Audry Hawkins, Detroit, Michigan.Properties constructed by West End Studios, Detroit, Michigan.
20 BRAVO•Spring2017
The Spring 2017 Opera Season is presented by Cadillac
20 Michigan Opera TheaTre
2016-17 Opera Season
CastIn order of vocal appearance
Marquis de Brisaille: .......................Brent Michael Smith+
Marquis De Cuigy & Capucin: .............. Randall Scotting
Ligniere: ........................................................... Bradley Smoak
Christian: ...................Sebastien Gueze (May 13, 17, 20); Jason Slayden (May 21)
Ragueneau: .......................................................Rolando Sanz
Le Bret: ........................................................... Harry Greenleaf
Un Inconnu: ......................................................... Jeff Byrnes+
Montfleury (speaking): .................................Bernard Uzan
Cyrano: ..........................................Marian Pop (May 13, 20)John Viscardi (May 17, 21)
De Guiche: .......................................................Kyle Albertson
La Duegne: ................................................Deborah Nansteel
Roxane: ...........................................................Sarah Joy Miller
Carbon: ......................................................Stephen Lusmann
+Michigan Opera Theatre Studio Artist
SARAH JOY MILLER (ROXANE), MARIAN POP (CYRANO), AND SEBASTIEN GUEZE (CHRISTIAN).
SARAH JOY MILLER (ROXANE) AND MARIAN POP (CYRANO).
21 AnnuAl RepoRt 2 0 1 7
ViolinsEliot Heaton, ConcertmasterLaura Leigh Roelofs, Assistant
ConcertmasterVictoria Haltom, Principal SecondEmily Barkakati+Anna Bittar-WellerKevin FilewychMolly HughesBryan JohnstonHenrik KarapetyanVelda KellyBeth KirtonCharlotte Merkerson, Concertmaster
EmeritusDaniel Stachyra
ViolaJohn Madison, PrincipalKathleen Grimes+Scott StefankoBarbara Zmich-McClellan
CelloNadine Deleury, PrincipalMiriam EckelhoeferDaniel ThomasAndrea Yun
BassDerek Weller, PrincipalClark Suttle
HarpPatricia Terry-Ross
FluteAmanda Blaikie, Principal+Laura Larson
Oboe Nermis Mieses, PrincipalSally Heffelfinger-Pituch
English HornSally Heffelfinger-Pituch
ClarinetBrian Bowman, PrincipalJ.William King
BassoonVacancyGreg Quick, Acting Principal
HornAndrew Pelletier, PrincipalCarrie Banfield-Taplin
TrumpetDavid Ammer, PrincipalGordon Simmons
TromboneDavid Jackson, Acting PrincipalGreg Near
TimpaniAlison Chang, Principal
PercussionJohn Dorsey, Principal
+ On leave
Detroit Federation of Musicians Local #5 American Federation of Musicians
Brandy AdamsAndrea ApelGregory Ashe Errin BrooksFred BuchalterMysti Byrnes Claire ChardonMark CraigFidelia Esther DarmahkasihDarren DeWittJoseph EdmondsMarko FarionMatthew FleischerMichael FowlerKurt FrankYvonne FridaySuzanne GroganGlenn HealyBranden HoodMark IstratieRichard Jackson, JrNicole Joseph
Daniel KitzmanMatthew KonopackiHillary LaBonteBrandon LangelandAdrian LeskiwBradley LietoMiroslav ManovskiMary MartinValerie MartinezRachel McIntoshBlair MellowMeggan MuhleBradley MillerDavid MoanPette MooreAnna NadaskySasha NooriConstantine NovotnyPaolo PachecoSandra PeriordLuke RandallRon Reinhart
Bradley SchickDiane SchoffKyle SchreiberCarrick SecorskiSchyler SheltrownKen ShepardBrandon SpencerKevin StarnesGregory StinsonJason ThomasBrett ThompsonDavid TwiggTiffanie WaldronJustin WatsonNorman WeberTamara WhittyJeffrey WilkinsonChantel WoodardHeidi Bowen Zook
MICHIGAN OPERA THEATRE ORCHESTRA 2016-2017
MICHIGAN OPERA THEATRE CHORUS 2016-2017
The American Guild of Musical Artists is the official union of the Michigan OperaTheatre Chorus.
Suzanne Mallare Acton, Chorus Master
22 Michigan Opera TheaTre
Michigan Opera Theatre Principal Harpist Named 2017 Kresge Eminent Artist
Patricia Terry-Ross, Michigan Opera Theatre Principal Harpist and award-winning music educator, was recently named the 2017 Kresge Eminent
Artist. The prestigious award is given annually to one artist in Metro Detroit who has made significant artistic contributions to his or her community. Patricia is the ninth recipient of this honor and the second from the MOT family, following Founder Dr. David DiChiera’s 2013 award. Patricia first performed with MOT in 1976 when the company was only five years old and has been with us ever since. Throughout her time at MOT, she has performed with tenor Luciano Pavarotti at the opening of the Detroit Opera House and the world premiere of the operas, Margaret Garner and Cyrano, and many others. We congratulate Patricia for this well-deserved recognition and thank her for her years of dedication and inspiring artistry!
23 AnnuAl RepoRt 2 0 1 7
2016-17 Dance Season
The NutcrackerNovember 25, 26 and 27, 2016
Common GroundMarch 4, 2017
COMPANY DANCERS:Miguel Anaya, Adrienne Benz, Attila Bongar, Jessica Brown,
Andres Estevez, Arielle Friedman, Romel Frometa, Emily Gotschall, Rachael Jones, Kohhei Kuwana,
Kristie Latham, Bethany Lee, Austin Moholt-Siebert, Grace-Anne Powers, Jarrett Reimers, Sarah
Reimold, Martin Roosaare, Lisset Santander, Michael Sayre, Gabriel Gaffney Smith,
Caitlin Valentine-Ellis, David Ward, Carly Wheaton, Karen Wing, Sarah Wolff
BALLETMET 2 DANCERS:Zachary Alsop, Colin Ellis,
Brock Fowler, Carly Hambridge, Darian Kane, Allison Perhach
GUEST DANCER Claudia Fernandez
BalletMet’s company dancers are members of the American Guild of Musical Artists, the union of professional singers and dancers who create America’s
operatic, choral and dance heritage.
ARTISTIC DIRECTOREdwaard Liang
EXECUTIVE DIRECTORSue Porter
BALLET MISTRESSSusan Dromisky
BALLET MASTERHisham Omardien
This presentation is supported by the Arts Midwest Touring Fund, a program of Arts Midwest that is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional contributions from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the Crane Group.
THE 2016-17 DANCE SEASON IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE LEAR CORPORATION
THE 2016-17 DANCE SEASON IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE LEAR CORPORATION COMPANY SPONSOR
Eisenhower DanceLaurie Eisenhower, Artistic DirectorStephanie Pizzo, Co-Artistic DirectorExecutive Director: Nannette Mazich
Company Manager: Jake HookerLighting Direction: Joshua Paul Weckesser
Assistant Lighting Direction: David Goodman-EdbergProduction Support: Bread & Roses Productions
State Street BalletExecutive/Artistic Director: Rodney Gustafson
Managing Director: Tim MikelAssociate Director: Leila Drake
Ballet Masters: Marina Fliagina, Gary McKenzieCompany Manager: Denise Grimm
Wardrobe Director: Nicole Thompson
ezdanzaArtistic Director: Edgar Zendejas
General and Administrative Director: Laurence Paré-Séguin Coordination: Julien Gagnon
Artistic Assistant: David Rancourt Agent, Cusson Management: Valérie Cusson
Eisenhower Dance would like to thank Margo Cohen-Feinberg and Robert Feinberg, David DiChiera, Wayne Brown, Kim Smith,
David Osborne, Dan Brinker and the Detroit Opera House for their support of this production.
This activity is funded in part by the Michigan Council For Arts And Cultural Affairs and the Michigan Humanities Council
Common Ground is generously sponsored by
Margo Cohen-Feinberg and Robert Feinberg.
24 Michigan Opera TheaTre
2016-17 Dance Season
March 18 & 19, 2017A Cinderella Story
CANADA’S ROYAL WINNIPEG BALLET PRESENTS
Val Caniparoli’s
Under the distinguished Patronage of His ExcellencyThe Right Honourable David Johnston, C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D.,
Governor General of Canada Founders: GWENETH LLOYD & BETTY FARRALLY
Artistic Director Emeritus: ARNOLD SPOHR, C.C., O.M. Founding Director, School Professional Division: DAVID MORONI,
C.M., O.M., D.Litt (h.c.)Founding Director, School Recreational Division: JEAN MACKENZIE
ARTISTIC DIRECTORANDRÉ LEWIS
CHOREOGRAPHY: VAL CANIPAROLI
MUSIC ARRANGEMENTS & ORCHESTRATIONS:
RON PALEY
LIBRETTO: SHERYL FLATOW
& VAL CANIPAROLI
SCENIC AND COSTUME DESIGN:
SANDRA WOODALL
LIGHTING AND SOUND DESIGN:
ALEXANDER V. NICHOLS
ASSISTANT TO THE SCENIC DESIGNER:
TOM RICHARDSON
LENGTH: 2 HOURS, 15 MINUTES
JOHN & MARLENE BOLL 3/19/2017 PERFORMANCE
SPONSOR
MATTHEW & MONA SIMONCINI
ARTISTIC SUPPORT
OPENING NIGHT PERFORMANCE MARCH 18 DEDICATED TO THE
MEMORY OF DR. KIM LIE.
THE 2016-17 DANCE SEASON IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE LEAR CORPORATION
THE 2016-17 DANCE SEASON IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE LEAR CORPORATION
PRESENTING SPONSOR
Robert Battle, Artistic Director Masazumi Chaya, Associate Artistic Director
Alvin Ailey, FounderJudith Jamison, Artistic Director Emerita
Robert Battle, Artistic DirectorMasazumi Chaya, Associate Artistic Director
COMPANY MEMBERSHope Boykin
Jeroboam BozemanSean Aaron Carmon
Elisa ClarkSarah Daley
Ghrai DeVoreSolomon DumasSamantha FigginsVernard J. GilmoreJacqueline Green
Daniel HarderJacquelin Harris
Collin HeywardMichael Jackson, Jr.
Megan JakelYannick Lebrun
Renaldo MauriceAshley MayeuxMichael Francis
McBrideRachael McLarenChalvar MonteiroAkua Noni Parker
Danica Paulos
Belen PereyraJamar Roberts
Samuel Lee RobertsKanji Segawa
Glenn Allen SimsLinda Celeste Sims
Constance Stamatiou
Jermaine TerryFana Tesfagiorgis
Matthew Rushing, Rehearsal Director & Guest Artist
Bennett Rink, Executive Director
AILEY TOUR SPONSOR
Shirley K. Schlafer FoundationMICHIGAN OPERA THEATRE
SCHOOL DANCE RESIDENCY SPONSOR
April 21-23, 2017
Major funding for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts; the New York State Council on the Arts; the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs; American Express; Bank of America; BET Networks; Bloomberg Philanthropies; BNY Mellon; Delta Air Lines; Diageo, North America; Doris Duke Charitable Foundation; FedEx; Ford Foundation; Howard Gilman Foundation; The William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust; The Prudential Foundation; The SHS Foundation; The Shubert Foundation; Southern Company; Target; The Wallace Foundation; and Wells Fargo.
25 AnnuAl RepoRt 2 0 1 7
Michigan Opera Theatre’s wildly successful 2016-17 dance season was complemented by a vast array
of education and outreach programs. The Detroit Opera House was once again home to a summer intensive presented by Eisenhower Dance. This one-week program provided metro-Detroit dancers an opportunity to test their limits with challenging choreography in modern, jazz, and contemporary dance, taught by professional dancers from Eisenhower Dance. Instructors included Lindsay Chirio (Jazz), Molly McMullen (Modern), Katharine Larson (Contemporary Ballet and Repertory), Matthew Schmitz (Partnering and Repertory), and Andrew Cribbet (Repertory). The intense training week concluded with a performance held in the Chrysler Black Box Theatre. The ongoing and ever evolving partnership between Michigan Opera Theatre and American Ballet Theatre (ABT) continued to be at the center of MOT’s dance outreach in 2016-17. MOT hosted ABT’s National Training Curriculum, a program that trains and develops dance educators using sound ballet principles that incorporate curriculum from the French, Italian, and Russian schools of training. This second year of the program saw an increase of nearly 50% attendance over the prior year, drawing dance educators from throughout the United States and Canada. Curriculum was presented by ABT’s Harriet Clark (a Michigan native) and Peter Marshall. In the Fall, Michigan Opera Theatre and ABT worked together to expose local students to dance through educational outreach. Fourth and fifth grade students at Detroit’s Chrysler and Gardner Elementary schools benefited from the weeklong Make A Ballet program, an award-winning residency that has enjoyed tremendous success in select New York City area
schools. The guiding principles of the Make a Ballet program are to expose, enrich, and empower students through the creation of an original dance production. As part of the On-Tour model, students experienced the creative process of dance and design through the exploration of four ballets that ABT has brought
to Detroit over the last four decades: Romeo and Juliet (1985), Don Quixote (1999), Swan Lake (2000), and The Sleeping Beauty (2016). The spring dance season was complemented by an Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation residency at Scarlett Middle School (Ann Arbor) and Arts Academy in the Woods (Fraser). The Revelations Residency not only provides students an opportunity to explore and create dance movement, the program also aims to enrich vocabulary and prompt poetry and journal writing through narrative reports, critical reviews, and biographies. The Revelations Residency was well received by educators and students in both communities. Dance education continued in the spring with the Eisenhower Dance Healthy Kids program. Students at Detroit’s Academy of the Americas were taught the importance of movement, nutrition, and physical activity while working with artists from Eisenhower Dance. This program is designed
to balance the three keys to healthy living: nutrition, activity, and emotional health. Ballet Detroit and Inner City Dance Scope each continue to call the Detroit Opera House their home for dance training. Both companies hold regular dance classes for students of all ages during the evenings and weekends. In addition to regular classes that typically run parallel to the school year, Ballet Detroit hosted a successful summer intensive of 50 plus students from all throughout the nation. Throughout the year, The Margo V. Cohen Center for Dance also hosted to master classes and auditions for many arts programs across the
country including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, The Ailey School, BalletMet Columbus, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Eisenhower Dance, Indianapolis School of Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, and Royal Winnipeg Ballet.
Dance Education
26 Michigan Opera TheaTre
Wayne S. Brown President and Chief Executive Officer
Stephen Lord Principal Conductor
David DiChiera Founder and Artistic Director Emeritus
DEPARTMENT DIRECTORSRichard Leech, Director of Resident Artist
ProgramsRock Monroe, Director of Safety and Security,
DOH and DOHPCDavid W. Osborne, Director of ProductionPatricia Walker, Chief Administrative Officer
ADMINISTRATIONWilliam Austin, Executive AssistantTimothy Lentz, Archivist and Director,
Allesee Dance and Opera Resource LibraryBryce Rudder, Senior Librarian, Allesee Dance
and Opera Resource Library
PATRON SERVICESAshley Bonner, Tunisia Brown, Victoria Spain,
Patron Services Associate, TicketingMitchell Carter, Website CoordinatorCrystal Ceo, Account Executive, Real
Integrated AdvertisingLeo Dovelle, Boutique Manager Amelia Gillis, Patron Services Associate,
DevelopmentChristy Gray, Patron Services Associate,
DevelopmentJohn Grigaitis, PhotographerMichael Hauser, Marketing ManagerErica Hobbs, Communications ManagerKathi Kucharski, Corporate, Foundation and
Government Grants ManagerAssia Likomanov, Special Events Manager Morgan Lorkowski, InternLaura R. Nealssohn, Communications
Consultant John O’Dell, Senior Patron Officer, Marketing
and CommunicationsJon Rosemond, Group Sales AssociateCathy Talifer, Senior Patron Officer,
Development Christina Wagner, Patron Services Manager,
Individual Giving
EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMSMysti Byrnes, Program CoordinatorColin Knapp, Audience Engagement
CoordinatorAndrea Scobie, Manager of Education and
Community ProgramsMark Vondrak, Associate Director of
Community Programs
MICHIGAN OPERA THEATRE STUDIOMichael Day, TenorMonica Dewey, SopranoHarry Greenleaf, BaritoneBriana Elyse Hunter, Mezzo-sopranoErik Van Heyningen, Bass
TOURING ARTISTS OF COMMUNITY PROGRAMSSopranos: Clodagh Earls, Nicole Joseph,
Mary Martin Mezzo-Sopranos: Olivia Johnson,
Mimi Lanseur, Diane Schoff Tenors: Mark Istratie, Joseph Leppek,
Sasha Noori Baritones: Branden Hood, Matt Konopacki,
Paolo Pacheco Pianists: Joseph Jackson, Alvin Waddles
COMPUTER SERVICESChris Farr, Network AdministratorJohn Grigaitis, Information Technology
Manager
DANCEKim Smith, Dance Coordinator
FINANCEJames Andrews, ControllerKimberly Burgess, Rita Winters,
Mike Nizinski, Accountants
DETROIT OPERA HOUSE
OPERATIONS AND EVENTS MANAGEMENTHolly Clement, Event ManagerAngela Donaldson, Catering ManagerRandy Elliott, House ManagerCurtis Philpot, Operations AssistantTiiko Reese-Douglas, Events AssistantDemetrius Skeens, Catering Coordinator
FACILITIES MANAGEMENTJohnny Benavides, Building Engineer Jesse Carter, Senior Building EngineerDennis Wells, Facilities ManagerDavid Bradley, Building Maintenance
SAFETY AND SECURITYDarrin Cato, Stage Door OfficerA.M. Hightower, Control Center OfficerLt. Lorraine Monroe, SupervisorDemetrius Newbold, Control Center OfficerSgt. Daryl Stuckey, Sergeant
DETROIT OPERA HOUSE PARKING CENTERPaul Bolden, Event Supervisor for ParkingRobert Neil, Manager
PRODUCTION
ADMINISTRATIONElizabeth Anderson, Production Coordinator
and Artistic AdministratorKathleen Bennett, Production AdministratorKen Saltzman, Stage ManagerNan Luchini, Hailli Ridsdale, Assistant Stage
Managers
MUSICSuzanne Mallare Acton, Assistant Music
Director and Chorus MasterTessa Hartle, Studio Principal Coach/
AccompanistMolly Hughes, Orchestra Personnel ManagerPaul Beck, Orchestra LibrarianJean Schneider, Repetiteur
TECHNICAL AND DESIGN STAFFDaniel T. Brinker, Technical DirectorMonika Essen, Property Master and Scenic
ArtistHeather DeFauw, Assistant Lighting Designer
and Assistant Technical DirectorKevin Neuman, Assistant Technical DirectorDee Dorsey, Supertitle Operator Stephanie Baugher, Technical Assistant
COSTUMESSuzanne M Hanna, Costume DirectorCraig Wickham, Assistant Costume DirectorRosemarie Di Rita, Wardrobe MistressSusan A. Fox, First HandMaureen Abele, Patricia Sova, Mary Ellen
Shuffett, Margaret Bronder, Stitchers
MAKEUP AND HAIRElizabeth Geck, Assistant Wig & Makeup
DesignerErika Broderdorf, Crew LeaderCorene Bridges, Kristine Clifton-Higgins, Shannon Kozlowski, Kacilee Legato, Paige Parks, Erin Puffpaff, Briana Robins, Shannon Schoenberg, Carol Taylor, Denitra Townsend, Dayna Winalis, Sierra Wingerter
STAGE CREWJohn Kinsora, Head CarpenterFrederick Graham, Jr., Head ElectricianPat McGee, Head PropertymanHenry Ruiz, Head SoundMary Ellen Shuffett, Head of WardrobeRobert Martin, Head FlymanGary Gilmore, Production Electrician
IATSE Local #38, Stage CrewIATSE Local #786, Wardrobe
Administration & Staff
27 AnnuAl RepoRt 2 0 1 7
In the second year of the Studio Artist Program, David DiChiera’s dream of a Resident Artists program in which
emerging artists would come to Detroit and immerse themselves in both the company and the community has truly taken root and blossomed. For the 2016-2017 season, Michigan Opera Theatre Studio engaged five Studio Artists, seeing the return of soprano, Angela Theis; tenor, Joseph Michael Brent; baritone, Jeff Byrnes; and Bass, Brent Michael Smith. A welcomed addition to the Studio was mezzo-soprano Briana Elyse Hunter. Coming to Detroit from all across the country, these artists represent some of the most exciting up-and-coming talent in opera today. MOT patrons and others enjoyed their performances in each of the main stage productions, as featured artists in our regional production, and in myriad settings throughout Southeast Michigan. The artists gained valuable performance experience while continuing
to hone their skills through master classes and training with an array of world class professionals, guest artists, coaches, directors, and conductors. As Director of Resident Artist Programs celebrated tenor, Richard Leech continues to lead the Studio and other areas of Community Programs and Audience Engagement. Studio Principal Coach/Accompanist, Tessa Hartle was added to the artistic staff and immediately became a valuable and integral element of the program. Throughout the season, Studio Artists received advanced individual training from Mr. Leech, Ms. Hartle, Assistant Music Director, Suzanne Mallare Acton, and acclaimed coaches, Martin Katz and Kathleen Kelly, as well as guidance and mentorship from Dr. David
DiChiera. Notable among the many guest clinicians and artists presenting master classes for the Studio were legendary soprano Martina Arroyo, groundbreaking international tenor and Michigander, George Shirley, directors Bernard Uzan and Dean Anthony, conductors Stephen Lord and David Charles Abell, and guest artist, soprano Megan Miller. The Studio Artist
Program continued to serve as a central component of MOT’s enhanced presence in the community through productions in the Detroit Opera House, community venues, concerts, and special events. In its initiative to annually produce full-scale opera outside of the Detroit Opera House in venues throughout metro Detroit, MOT’s community productions are now selected and mounted specifically for the
MICHIGAN OPERA THEATRE STUDIO ARTISTS: JEFF BYRNES, BRIANA ELYSE HUNTER, JOSEPH MICHAEL BRENT, ANGELA THEIS, AND BRENT MICHAEL SMITH.
Program Summary 16-17 Season
MICHIGAN OPERA THEATRE STUDIO
The Journey Continues
RICHARD LEECH
28 Michigan Opera TheaTre
JEFF BYRNES AT A COSTUME FITTING FOR SILENT NIGHT.
ANGELA THEIS, JEFF BYRNES, BRIANA ELYSE HUNTER AND JOSEPH MICHAEL BRENT.
ANGELA THEIS AND DPTV’S JAMIE WESTRICK DISCUSS THE DAVID DiCHIERA LEGACY IN AN ON-AIR INTERVIEW.
Studio Artist Program; for the 2016-17 season that work was Mark Adamo’s Little Women, presented at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts. Among the many community performances by the Studio Artists were concerts and events at The Grosse Pointe War Memorial: Arts at the Alger, The Detroit Yacht Club; Macomb Center for the Performing Arts; Anton Art Center, The Scarab Club, and dozens of Opera Clubs and Overture to Opera events throughout Metro Detroit. The artists also gave a master class for talented area high schoolers at the Detroit School of the Arts in partnership with the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Some of the Studio Artists’ individual achievements during the season included: Angela Theis’s role debut as Suzanna in The Marriage of Figaro at the invitation of Toledo Opera; Jeff Byrnes’ invitation to perform with the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and becoming semifinalist at the Shreveport Opera Competition; Briana Elyse Hunter and Brent Michael Smith being invited to the Glimmerglass Festival, Mr. Smith’s acceptance as resident artist with the prestigious Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia; and Joseph Michael Brent’s invitation to perform with the Phoenecia Festival in upstate New York. First year alumnus, mezzo-soprano Raehann Bryce Davis was professionally engaged for the entire season with the Flemish National Opera. Congratulations to all for a great season, and to Raehann for being the first of our artists to launch her professional career. It is the goal of each artist to make that challenging transition, and the highest priority of this program, its staff, and its many talented guest artists and clinicians to help them achieve it.
The Michigan Opera Theatre Studio program is supported by a grant from the
William Davidson Foundation.
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The 2016-2017 season was a milestone for MOTCC: this season marked the 10th year that the program has been
in existence. MOTCC experienced tremendous growth throughout these past 10 years, expanding from its initial 50 choristers ranging in age from 10 to 16, to the development of a Preparatory Chorus adding 30 children ages 8-11. Each year, the children presented their own operas, participated in main stage operas, sang in countless Nutcrackers and performed concerts throughout the metro Detroit area, reaching into other areas of the state, including Ida, Battle Creek and Gaylord. MOTCC began the 2016-2017 season with the appointment of two new staff members: Jane Panikkar, as Preparatory Conductor, and Maria Cimarelli, as Preparatory Accompanist. Both Jane and Maria have been wonderful additions to the program. We also initiated a music educational program called “Grace Notes”. In order to be accepted into MOTCC, every singer entering the Principal Chorus must achieve the placement of level two theory. “Grace Notes” is a new program created to give students, who could not fulfill this requirement, the opportunity to achieve this level at an accelerated pace while making it possible for admittance to the program. “Grace Notes” also supports those students having difficulty comprehending the various musical concepts by providing them with extra time and assistance. The program gives the student the ability to work with a teacher in a small class environment or one-on-one to help the students achieve success in developing their music literacy. “Grace Notes” is offered on a weekly basis until they reach their goal created by the MOTCC staff and the student. Principal Accompanist Joseph Jackson and Preparatory Accompanist Maria Cimarelli are the instructors of “Grace Notes”. We had 76 children participate in the entire season. The tuition costs increased
by $50, bringing the tuition fee to $550 for the Preparatory Chorus and $650 for the Principal Chorus. With the help of generous individual donors and sponsorship from the Rotary Club of Detroit, we were able to offer 5 scholarships for students, giving aid to those who would not be able to participate in the program otherwise. The MOTCC schedule was quite a rigorous one. Rehearsals began in late August, with Carmen rehearsals for the Principal Chorus. Orientation for all choristers was September 1 with regular Monday rehearsals on September 12. In
October, the 50 Principal Chorus singers who sang in Carmen divided into 2 groups, alternating performances. In November, the Principal Chorus sang for the Rotary Club of Detroit’s Million Dollar Legacy Dinner and the Detroit Tree Lighting Festival at Campus Martius. In November, the Preparatory Chorus performed for the annual MOT Family Day. In December,
2016-2017 Season
30 Michigan Opera TheaTre
the combined choruses presented “A Winter Fantasy”, the annual fundraiser and concert. This event helped to raise $ 9,204.00 for operating expenses. Our fundraising committee by parent leaders raised $22,500 in sponsorships. In January 2017, rehearsals for Dean Bury’s “The Hobbit” began. Based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s book of the same name, this children’s opera featured over 27 lead roles, and was the most challenging opera both musically and technically that MOTCC has produced. The set and costumes were rented from Sarasota Opera. Resident Light Designer Heather DeFauw created the appropriate effects, including the disappearance of Bilbo Baggins, which delighted the audience. Resident Make-up and Wig Designer Elizabeth Geck turned our choristers into hobbits, elves, wargs and goblins as well as many other interesting characters. Directed by Kelsey Ross and conducted by MOTCC’s Assistant Director Dianna Hochella, The Hobbit was a major success. On April 28, we presented a Student Dress rehearsal that was attended by over 1,800 children. The public performance on April 29 was attended by almost 1,000 patrons. Throughout the season, the children were invited to sing The National Anthem and/or God Bless America for Detroit Tiger games at Comerica Park with special performances during Kids’ Opening Day game and Strike Out Bullying. On May 7, the Preparatory Chorus sang their end of the year recital in Chrysler Hall, followed by an awards ceremony to celebrate the successes of our singers and to acknowledge all the parents who served as committee chairs or had other leadership roles. In addition to MOTCC’s performance
Natalie Corrigan, soprano, was a member of the Michigan Opera Theatre Children’s
Chorus from 2011-2017. As a member of MOTCC, Natalie has sung in many productions including the roles of “The Dog” in Brundibár and “Thranduil” in The Hobbit. For MOT’s main stage operas, she has sung in the children’s choruses of Turandot, Carmen, and Pagliacci. Here, her mother, Luvy, describes the impact MOTCC has had on her daughter’s life: “Starting from a very early age, Natalie fell in love with music. For her 6th birthday, instead
of asking for toys, she asked for music books. From that point, we knew we had a performer on our hands. At a Fourth of July celebration (2007), a young girl performed the National Anthem. Natalie was astonished and wished to know how she had trained. The girl told her about the MOTCC; after this, Natalie was determined to join once she turned 10 years old. She auditioned for the chorus and was accepted, beginning in her 2011 season.
The MOTCC, led by Michigan Opera Theatre Chorus Master Suzanne Mallare Acton, is a permanent children’s ensemble for youth interested in vocal performance. Children accepted into the MOTCC learn the various aspects of opera and voice training, and they work with internationally-renowned opera singers, directors, and conductors. The MOTCC community, including the directors, conductors, administrators, parents and children became a part of our family. The entire program has allowed my daughter to grow and develop her musical skills. This program changed my daughter’s life, and enabled her to reach the potential of her musical abilities. Currently, Natalie is an intern with the Rackham Choir and sings for the University of Michigan Women’s Youth Chorale and the Youth Chamber Choir. She plans on studying voice in college to become an opera singer herself.” —Luvy Corrigan, Mother
schedule, our singers participated in several outreach events in the community. Lead by parents and students, the service work opportunities have grown considerably, with over 33 choristers participating. In November, our choristers sang and mingled with the residents of Prentis Senior Life Center in Oak
Park. In December, they volunteered at the Capuchin Soup Kitchen in Detroit, where they sang to patrons and then completed stocking and cleaning activities at Capuchin’s kitchen pantry warehouse. In January, they visited Vista Maria in Dearborn Heights, where they sang, played games, did crafts and had lunch with the residents. In February, MOTCC, in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Detroit, introduced “Random Acts of Kindness” in which choristers provided random individual acts of kindness and gave the recipient a card with the following: This Random Act of Kindness was brought to you by Michigan Opera Theatre Children’s Chorus. For the DiChiera Grand Salute in May, the children delighted guests in the Madison Lobby as their voices resonated proudly with selections by Gilbert and Sullivan, Mozart and Bizet. The children were thrilled to participate in this event honoring our Founder David DiChiera. This event culminated a year of outstanding performances and numerous community outreach opportunities.
SPOTLIGHT
Corrigan as “Thranduil” in The Hobbit
31 AnnuAl RepoRt 2 0 1 7
The Department of Education and Community Programs has continued its work of bringing opera into communities all over Michigan with a regular rotation of outreach
programs. In the past year, Education and Community Programs provided a variety of performances, workshops, master classes, summer programming, and events, serving over 21,000 people across the state, showcasing opera at schools, libraries, senior centers, and community gathering spaces.
TOURING PERFORMANCES FOR YOUTHMOT’s production of La Pizza Con Funghi continued to tour for high school and middle school audiences, and, for younger audiences, a brand-new production of David and Karen DiChiera’s Rumpelstiltskin was added to the rotation in honor of David’s final year at MOT. Rumpelstiltskin featured costume designs by Suzanne Hanna and a set designed by Monika Essen, as well as a Rumpelstiltskin puppet designed and built by PuppetArt. Both of these operas toured to schools across multiple counties, and a final year-end performance of Rumpelstiltskin was held in Boll Hall at the Detroit Opera House for children and families from The Down Syndrome Guild of Southeast Michigan and the Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation. 32 performances were given in total, reaching over 10,000 students across Michigan. Additionally, MOT staff and artists gave three presentations this season on careers in the arts to high school students, and our Studio Artists conducted a Master Class at the Detroit School of Arts. The Department of Education and Community Programs represented MOT at the Michigan Music Conference, a yearly event which includes approximately 5,000 teachers, administrators, students, speakers, and guests from across the state.
AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENTMichigan Opera Theatre’s audience engagement and adult education programs continued to set the standard among companies of our size in the United States. The total number of Opera Clubs (private, invited events), Overtures to Opera (public, open, no ticket), and other engagement
initiatives reached a record-setting 56 events, connecting more than 8,900 individuals to Michigan Opera Theatre and its productions in 20 distinct communities. This was made possible in part through the assistance of our inaugural Ambassadors corps, supported by OPERA America’s Building Opera Audiences program and the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation, who leverage their own passion for opera to introduce the art form to diverse audiences and build new regional relationships for MOT. MOT was pleased to continue its valued partnerships with the Detroit Yacht Club, the Scarab Club, and the Grosse Pointe War Memorial, while forging new relationships with the Cranbrook House and Gardens, the Royce Detroit, the Whitney, and the Community House of Birmingham. MOT also took to the streets and shopping centers of downtown Detroit and other communities with a new holiday caroling program. Our Lunch & Learn series gave our audiences near and far an opportunity to learn about upcoming productions and reached thousands on Facebook Live. We also formalized a guest lecture series known as OperaHERE for audiences new and experienced to learn more about MOT and its productions at local libraries and community centers. During the 2017-2018 season, these programs will be supplemented by the new MOT OperaHERE Podcast and Adult Study Guides, all produced by the Community Programs team.
SCHOOL RESIDENCIESMichigan Opera Theatre increased work in residencies this year, facilitating two full Create and Perform residencies in schools, and presenting dance residencies at five schools. Artists from Alvin Ailey came to two local schools to work with students in their education program, Revelations: An Interdisciplinary Approach, and Eisenhower Dance Ensemble’s Healthy Kids program and American Ballet Theatre’s Make a Ballet were held in three different Detroit Public Schools. In partnership with the Arab American Museum, MOT’s Create and Perform program was held at Lowrey Middle School, where young teens worked with artists across
EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS2016-2017
SUMMER SERENADE AT GROSSE POINTE WAR MEMORIAL
AMBASSADOR EVENT AT CRANBROOK HOUSE
LA PIZZA CON FUNGHI AT THE CHARLES WRIGHT MUSEUM
32 Michigan Opera TheaTre
multiple disciplines to create a new piece about culture and identity. Their short opera, Arrivals, incorporated scenes, poetry, and original songs (in English and Arabic) to tell their own stories of identity and belonging. Students performed Arrivals at the Arab American National Museum for an audience of 100 Dearborn elementary students. At Susick Elementary, students used the arts to delve into their social studies curriculum as they wrote an original opera about the regions of the United States. Their opera, Regions Got Talent!, showcased the natural and cultural highlights of the U.S. and their songs were written in a number of styles to further highlight the individuality of each region. They gave two performances at their school, and a third at a local senior center. Altogether, Michigan Opera Theatre served over 600 students in the past season through these intensive schools residencies.
SUMMER PROGRAMS 32 students participated in MOT’s annual 3-week Operetta Workshop, each receiving 90 hours of arts training. This program served young people ages 10 to 18, building their skills in singing, acting, stage movement, healthy vocal technique, and auditioning. Their final performance of Ruddigore was presented on the mainstage of the Detroit Opera House for an audience of more than 200 family members and friends. Operetta Workshop was followed by Create and Perform, a program in which students ages 8-18 collectively create their own stories, music compositions, and dances. Over a two-week period, 18 students
worked for more than 60 hours developing their original piece, entitled A Time to Travel, which focused on the 2016 presidential election and how bills become laws. Their final performance took place in the Black Box Theatre at the Detroit Opera House.
CONCERTSSummer Serenade concerts were held this past year at Grand Circus Park, the Grosse Pointe War Memorial, and the Detroit Zoo. These outdoor concerts, sung by Studio Artists and members of the Touring Ensemble, combined opera favorites with well-known Broadway pieces. The Mary Thompson Foundation funded 16 American Songbook concerts during November and December, which enabled Michigan Opera Theatre to have a presence in senior centers. Held largely in the metro area, these concerts were always met with an overwhelmingly positive response from audiences. One senior center employee said, “These performances have made our residents feel respected and valued as members of the community” and an audience member shared, “I could have spent the whole day enjoying such beautiful music!”
A PERFORMANCE OF DAVID DICHIERA AND KAREN V. DiCHIERA’S RUMPELSTILTSKIN
ABOVE: STUDENTS AT LOWERY MIDDLE SCHOOL PRESENT “ARRIVALS”
LEFT: DANCE RESIDENCY AT SCARLETT MIDDLE SCHOOL
33 AnnuAl RepoRt 2 0 1 7
PREMIERE SPONSORSRoger & Kathy Penske Lear Corporation
DONATIONSGregory L. & Mary K. Barkley
Robert Brown & Geraldine Ford-BrownCurt DiChiera & Monica Trujillo
Carolyn Gordon
Susan & David HarariChristopher Koelsch & Todd Bentjen
Brenda & Loreto ManzoTimothy O’Leary
PNC
Rip & Gail Rapson Terri Vanderkloot Spiteri & Carol Vanderkloot
Barbara & Matthew VanderklootFrancesca Zambello
PATRON SPONSORSMargaret & Robert Allesee
Mona & Richard AlonzoPernilla & Daniel Ammann
Lourdes V. AndayaJ. Addison Bartush and Marion M. Bartush
Family FoundationJay Bartush
Debra Bernstein-SiegelCarolyn M. Blackmore & Nicholas C. Bell
John A. & Marlene L. Boll FoundationBowman Auto Group
Wayne S. Brown & Brenda Kee Elizabeth A. & James K. Ciroli
Gloria ClarkConifer Holding Company
Ashley & KC CrainMaryann S. Cromwell
Julia Donavan Darlow & John C. O’Meara Deloitte
Detroit Athletic ClubShuana Ryder Diggs & Douglas Diggs
Kathleen & Enrico DigirolamoSonal & Dilip Dubey
Sandy Duncan Marianne Endicott
Alex Erdeljan & Susan KaplanFern Espino & Tom Short
Mary Sue & Paul E. EwingDede & Oscar Feldman
Mary Ann & Carl FontanaElaine Fontana
Aviva & Dean Friedman Erica & Ralph Gerson
Nancy & James Grosfeld Foundation Kristan & John Hale
Toby & Sam HabermanCorey Harris
Doreen Hermelin Karen & Derek Hodgson
Judy & Verne IstockEllen Kahn
Stephanie Germack-KerzicBarbara & Michael Kratchman
Bonnie LarsonPaul Lavins
Liebler Family FoundationMarian & Stephan Loginsky
Magna InternationalThe Richard and Jane Manoogian
Foundation Masco Corporation
Mary C. Mazure Florence McBrien
McGregor Fund Dawn & Phillip Minch
Nora & Manuel MorounBarbara & Stephen Munk
Joy & Allan NachmanNexlink Communications LLC Linda Orlans & Gerald Padilla
Sally OrleyDavid Osborne & Suzanne Acton
Pentastar AviationSusan Peslar
Charlotte & Charles PodowskiAmy & Paul Ragheb
Linzie & Jon RimanelliRugiero Promise Foundation
Jane & Edward SchulakShaevsky Family Foundation
Lila SilvermanLorna Thomas, M.D.
Bernice & C. Thomas ToppinBarbara Van Dusen
Yesenia & Jesse Venegas Rosalie & Joseph Vicari
Joan E. Young & Thomas L. SchellenbergJeremy Zeltzer & Kevin Dennis
Mary Lou Zieve
GUEST ARTISTS SPONSORSAlixPartners — Josée-Anne
& Mark WakefieldEugene & Marcia Applebaum
Family Foundation AVL — Don ManvelFloy & Lee Barthel
Margo Cohen-Feinberg & Robert FeinbergAvern & Lois Cohn
Joanne Danto & Arnold Weingarden
William Davidson FoundationBarbara Frankel & Ron Michalak
Herman & Sharon Frankel Holly & Tom Gores
Al Lucarelli McCann WorldgroupMGM Grand Detroit
Ali Moiin & William KupskyNorthern Trust
Ruth RattnerMaureen & Roy Roberts
Anthony SoaveRichard Sonenklar & Gregory Haynes
WalbridgeGary L. Wasserman
& Charles A. KashnerWorld Heritage Foundation —
Prechter Family Fund
PERFORMANCE SPONSORS Joanne & Richard Brodie
The Delphi Foundation Jennifer & David Fischer
Ford Motor Company Albert Kahn Associates, Inc
Gallagher-Kaiser Linda Dresner Levy & Edward Levy, Jr.
Ann & James Nicholson Wendy & William Powers
Quicken Loans
PRODUCTION SPONSORSGretchen & Ethan DavidsonDanialle & Peter Karmanos
Mona & Matthew SimonciniKaren & R. Jamison Williams
PRESENTING SPONSOR
34 Michigan Opera TheaTre
Historic Path to a Bold FutureThe Campaign for Michigan Opera Theatre
Pursuant to a comprehensive strategic plan, the Board and Trustees of Michigan Opera Theatre have launched a Historic Path to a Bold Future campaign to invest $50 million in exceptional artistic experiences, broad-based community initiatives, enhanced institutional efficiencies, and facilities improvement. This campaign is designed to ensure that the David DiChiera legacy thrives beyond his tenure by positioning MOT for continued artistic success and community engagement well into the future. The following individuals, businesses, and foundations have declared their initial leadership gifts to the campaign. As of June 30, 2017, nearly $20 million has been committed.
$1 Million and aboveSarah and Doug† AllisonWilliam Davidson FoundationFord Motor CompanyDanialle and Peter KarmanosLear CorporationLinda Dresner Levy and Edward Levy, Jr.
$500,000 - $999,999Floy and Lee BarthelSharon and Herman FrankelKaren and R. Jamison Williams
$250,000 - $499,999Joanne Danto and Arnold WeingardenMarvin and Betty Danto FoundationAnn E. Ford†
Rema Frankel†
Richard Sonenklar and Gregory Haynes
$100,000 - $249,999AVL — Don ManvelAvern Cohn, Lois Pincus and Thomas Cohn
$100,000 - $249,999 continuedMary Rita Cuddohy†
Gretchen and Ethan Davidson DeRoy Testamentary FoundationBarbara Frankel and Ronald MichalakAlphonse LucarelliAli Moiin and William KupskyRuth F. RattnerMaureen and Roy RobertsMona and Matthew SimonciniAnthony Soave
$50,000 - $99,999Elizabeth and James CiroliGloria ClarkCameron DuncanMichael EinheuserAviva and Dean FriedmanKristan and John HaleDonna and Bernard RubinAnkur Rungta and Mayssoun BydonYesenia and Jessie VenegasWorld Heritage Foundation-Prechter Family Fund
† = Avanti Society
35 AnnuAl RepoRt 2 0 1 7
DoerenMayhew Auditor's Responsibility (Continued)
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.
Opinion
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Michigan Opera Theatre and Subsidiary as of June 30, 2017 and the results of their changes in net assets and their cash flows for the year then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Report on Summarized Comparative Information
We have previously audited the Michigan Opera theatre and Subsidiary's 2016 consolidated financial statements, and we expressed an unmodified audit opinion on those audited consolidated financial statements in our report dated November 10, 2016. In our opinion, the summarized comparative information presented herein as of and for the year ended June 30, 2016, is consistent, in all material respects, with the audited consolidated financial statements from which it has been derived.
Troy, Michigan October 25, 2017
__________________________________________________________________________________________
37 AnnuAl RepoRt 2 0 1 7
Assets 2017 2016
Assets:Cash and cash equivalents (notes 1 and 10) 1,136,954$ 1,414,204$ Short-term investments (notes 1, 2 and 10) 737,387 1,060,480Accounts receivable - net (notes 1 and 15) 425,034 389,388Government grants receivable - 39,950Prepaid expenses and other assets (note 1) 345,982 307,427Pledges receivable, net (notes 1, 3 and 15) 5,767,864 3,023,672Deferred financing costs (note 5) - 18,059Land, buildings and equipment, net (notes 4 and 6) 42,618,609 43,996,192Long-term investments (notes 1, 2 and 10) 2,157,174 2,023,248
Total assets (note 6) 53,189,004$ 52,272,620$
Liabilities and Net Assets
Liabilities:Accounts payable (note 15) 1,319,018$ 1,154,923$ Accrued liabilities 350,406 351,598Deferred revenue (note 1) 1,305,949 1,138,998Deferred compensation (note 11) 1,200,000 1,523,320Notes payable (note 6) 4,650,358 4,801,466
Total liabilities 8,825,731 8,970,305
Net assets:Unrestricted - undesignated 34,817,592 36,513,836Temporarily restricted (notes 1 and 8) 6,025,181 3,317,979Permanently restricted (notes 1, 2 and 9) 3,520,500 3,470,500
Total net assets 44,363,273 43,302,315
Total liabilities and net assets 53,189,004$ 52,272,620$
MICHIGAN OPERA THEATRE AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITIONJUNE 30, 2017 AND 2016
WITH COMPARITIVE INFORMATION FOR 2016
For a complete copy of the consolidated financial statements including notes, please call our Controller, James Andrews, at 313-237-3411.
38 Michigan Opera TheaTre
Temporarily PermanentlyUnrestricted Restricted Restricted 2017 2016
Operating revenues and support:Admissions and performance fees 3,207,051$ -$ -$ 3,207,051$ 3,851,592$ Rental income (note 13) 333,124 - - 333,124 357,656Building lease income (note 14) 278,509 - - 278,509 252,765Concessions 1,198,284 - - 1,198,284 908,164Restoration fees 663,076 - - 663,076 442,679Set rental income (note 13) 28,000 - - 28,000 31,300Parking income 1,467,025 - - 1,467,025 1,320,376Administration fees 100,140 - - 100,140 92,163Advertising 140,760 - - 140,760 168,031Miscellaneous 84,346 - - 84,346 36,357Net assets released from restrictions 1,971,924 (1,971,924) - - -
Total operating revenues and support 9,472,239 (1,971,924) - 7,500,315 7,461,083
Operating expenses:Production - season 5,619,723 - - 5,619,723 5,895,194Production, other performances and
community programs 577,276 - - 577,276 651,728Depreciation 1,768,401 - - 1,768,401 1,728,743Amortization 18,059 - - 18,059 18,058General and administrative expenses 7,111,139 185,531 - 7,296,670 6,414,104
Total operating expenses 15,094,598 185,531 - 15,280,129 14,707,827
Deficiency from operations (5,622,359) (2,157,455) - (7,779,814) (7,246,744)
Nonoperating income (expenses):Contributions and sponsorships (note 15) 2,624,535 4,864,657 50,000 7,539,192 7,695,078Government grants - - - - 125,000Realized and unrealized losses on investments
(note 2) 150,371 - - 150,371 (31,739)Interest and dividend income (note 2) 87,818 - - 87,818 14,547Fund-raising benefits (net of direct expenses of
$898,315 in and $591,698 in 2016) 1,848,070 - - 1,848,070 790,644Loss on disposal of fixed assets (34,739) - - (34,739) -Development expenses (535,652) - - (535,652) (444,756)Interest expense (note 6) (211,326) - - (211,326) (218,288)Bank fees (2,962) - - (2,962) (2,552)
Total nonoperating income 3,926,115 4,864,657 50,000 8,840,772 7,927,934
(Decrease) increase in net assets (1,696,244) 2,707,202 50,000 1,060,958 681,190
Net assets - beginning 36,513,836 3,317,979 3,470,500 43,302,315 42,621,125
Net assets - ending 34,817,592$ 6,025,181$ 3,520,500$ 44,363,273$ 43,302,315$
MICHIGAN OPERA THEATRE AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2017
WITH SUMMARIZED INFORMATION FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2016
For a complete copy of the consolidated financial statements including notes, please call our Controller, James Andrews, at 313-237-3411.
39 AnnuAl RepoRt 2 0 1 7
Michigan Opera Theatre Donor Honor RollMichigan Opera Theatre gratefully acknowledges the generous donors for their cumulative life-time giving.
Their support has played a key role in the establishment of Michigan Opera Theatre since its founding in 1971 along with the building of the Detroit Opera House. Their leadership has and continues to play an integral part in the company’s viability,
underwriting quality opera and dance performances, alongside award-winning community and educational programs.
Contributors to Annual CampaignsMichigan Opera Theatre gratefully acknowledges the generous corporate, foundation, government, and individual donors whose annual cumulative contributions were made between July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017. Their generosity is vital to the
company’s financial stability, which is necessary to sustain MOT’s position as a valued cultural resource.
$10,000,000 and above Ford Motor Company Fund
$7,500,000 and aboveGeneral Motors Foundation
Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs
$5,000,000 and aboveFiat Chrysler Automobiles US LLC
The Kresge Foundation
$1,000,000 and aboveMr. & Mrs. Robert A. Allesee
Mr. & Mrs. Eugene ApplebaumAT&T
Bank of AmericaMandell & Madeleine Berman
FoundationMr. & Mrs. John A. Boll, Sr.
DTE Energy Foundation
Mrs. Margo Cohen Feinberg & Mr. Robert FeinbergMrs. Barbara Frankel
& Mr. Ronald MichalakMr. & Mrs. Herman Frankel
Samuel & Jean Frankel †
Hudson-Webber FoundationMrs. Danialle & Mr. Peter
Karmanos
Mrs. Linda Dresner Levy & Mr. Edward Levy, Jr.
JPMorgan ChaseMasco Corporation
National Endowment for the ArtsMr. & Mrs. R. Jamison Williams
Mrs. Sam WilliamsMatilda R. Wilson Fund
FOUNDATION, CORPORATE, AND GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
$1,000,000+ William Davidson Foundation
$500,000+Ford Motor Company Fund
$250,000+CadillacCommunity Foundation for
Southeast Michigan Lear Corporation
$100,000 +Mandell and Madeleine Berman
FoundationMcGregor Fund Donor Advised Fund
$50,000 - $99,999Marvin & Betty Danto Family
FoundationDelphi CorporationGallagher-KaiserAnn and Gordon Getty FoundationMasco Corporation Foundation
Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation
The Kresge FoundationMichigan Council for Arts and
Cultural AffairsOPERA America: Innovation GrantsQuicken LoansThe Suburban CollectionJ. Ernest & Almena Gray Wilde Fund
$25,000 – $49,999Alix Partners, LLCJohn A. & Marlene Boll FoundationDeRoy Testamentary FoundationFred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family
FoundationInterpublic Group of CompaniesKnight Detroit Opera Fund of the
Community FoundationOliver Dewey Marcks FoundationMGM Grand DetroitNorthern Trust BankPenske CorporationThe Shirley K. Schlafer FoundationMatilda R. Wilson FundWorld Heritage FoundationWorthington Family Foundation
$10,000 - $24,999Bank of AmericaJ. Addison and Marion M. Bartush
Family FoundationCelebrity CruisesConifer HoldingsFlagstar BankHudson-Webber FoundationL.V. Management, Inc.Magna InternationalMasco CorporationNexlink CommunicationsPentastar AviationHerbert and Elsa Ponting FoundationThe Rattner and Katz Charitable
FoundationRush Group LLCIda & Conrad H. Smith Endowment
for Michigan Opera TheatreMary Thompson Foundation
$5,000 - $9,999AVL Michigan Holding CompanyBowman AutogroupDeloitteDetroit Rotary FoundationDTE Energy Foundation
Global Supply SolutionsAlice Kales Hartwick FoundationKaren & Drew Peslar FoundationRalph L. and Winifred E. Polk
FoundationRenaissance MediaRugiero Promise FoundationSt. John ProvidenceLouis & Nellie Sieg FundSamuel L. Westerman Foundation
$1,000 - $4,999Antonio’s Cucina ItalianaArts Midwest Touring FundAutolivDetroit Industrial SchoolDivorce Solutions, LLCDrusilla Farwell FoundationJames & Lynelle Holden FundKeselmore, LLCJosephine Kleiner FoundationMichigan Humanities CouncilLee & Maxine Peck FoundationSigmund and Sophie Rohlik
FoundationWolverine Packing CompanyYoung Woman’s Home Association
† Deceased
$2,000,000 and aboveMr.† & Mrs. Douglas Allison
Mr. & Mrs. Lee BarthelCommunity Foundation for Southeast Michigan
William Davidson FoundationJohn S. and James L. Knight
FoundationLear Corporation
McGregor Fund Donor Advised FundThe Skillman Foundation
The State of Michigan
Marvin, Betty and Joanne Danto Dance Endowment & Marvin and Betty Danto Family Foundation
40 Michigan Opera TheaTre
INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT
$100,000+Mr. & Mrs. Lee BarthelMr. & Mrs. Ethan DavidsonMr. & Mrs. Peter KarmanosMr. & Mrs. Roger S. PenskeMr. & Mrs. Matthew SimonciniMr. & Mrs. R. Jamison Williams
$50,000-$99,999Mr. & Mrs. Richard A. BrodieMrs. Gloria A. ClarkMs. Joanne Danto
& Dr. Arnold WeingardenMr. & Mrs. David T. FischerMrs. Linda Dresner Levy
& Mr. Edward Levy Jr.Mr. & Mrs. Manuel MorounMr. & Mrs. James B. NicholsonMr. & Mrs. William H. Powers JrMr. Richard A. Sonenklar & Mr.
Gregory Haynes
$20,000-$49,999Mr. & Mrs. Richard AlonzoMr. & Mrs. Eugene ApplebaumMrs. Milena T. BrownMr. & Mrs. James CiroliHon. & Mrs. Avern L. CohnMr. Thomas CohnDr. David DiChieraMargo Cohen Feinberg
& Robert FeinbergMrs. Elaine FontanaMrs. Barbara Frankel
& Mr. Ronald MichalakMr. & Mrs. Herman FrankelMr. & Mrs. Thomas GoresMr. John Jesser †
Mr. Alphonse S. LucarelliMr. & Mrs. Richard ManoogianMrs. Susanne McMillanDr. Ali Moiin & Dr. William KupskyDrs. Stephen & Barbara MunkDr. Charlotte & Mr. Charles
PodowskiMr. & Mrs. John RakoltaMrs. Ruth F. RattnerMr. Anthony L. SoaveMr. Gary L. Wasserman
& Mr. Charles A. Kashner
$10,000-$19,999Mr. Joseph A. BartushMr. & Mrs. John A. Boll, Sr.Mr. Robert Brown & Mrs. Geraldine
Ford-BrownMr. Wayne S. Brown
& Ms. Brenda KeeMrs. Francoise Colpron-SchwynJulia Donovan Darlow
& John C. O’MearaMr. & Mrs. Enrico DigirolamoMrs. Marianne EndicottMr. Alex ErdeljanMr. & Mrs. Paul E. EwingDr. Marjorie M. FisherMr. Gil Glassberg
& Ms. Sandra SeligmanMr. & Mrs. Samuel HabermanMr. Paul LavinsMr. Donald ManvelMs. Mary C. MazureMrs. Florence McBrienMr. & Mrs. Matthew MorounMr. Cyril MoscowAllan & Joy Nachman
Philanthropic Fund
Dr. & Mrs. Hershel SandbergMr. & Mrs. Ed SchulakMr. William H. SmithMrs. Barbara C. Van DusenMr. & Mrs. Jesse VenegasMr. Richard D. Ventura
$5,000-$9,999Mr. & Mrs. Robert A. AlleseeMr. & Mrs. Daniel AmmannDr. Lourdes V. AndayaDr. & Mrs. Thomas AndersonMr. & Mrs. Mark A. BaunMs. Debra Bernstein-SiegelMs. Carolyn M. Blackmore
& Dr. Nicholas C. BellPaul & Lee BlizmanMrs. Ilse CalcagnoMr. & Mrs. KC CrainMs. Maryann CromwellMr. Kevin Dennis & Mr. Jeremy
ZeltzerMr. Douglass & Dr. Shauna Ryder
DiggsMr. & Mrs. Dilip DubeyMr. Cameron B. DuncanMr. Michael EinheuserDr. Fern R. Espino
& Mr. Tom ShortMr. & Mrs. Oscar FeldmanMr. & Mrs. Daniel FinkiewiczMr. & Mrs. Carl B. FontanaMr. & Mrs. Dean FriedmanMr. & Mrs. Ralph GersonMr. Allan D. Gilmour & Mr. Eric
JirgensMr. & Mrs. Richard GoetzMr. & Mrs. James GrosfeldMr. & Mrs. John HaleMr. & Mrs. Derek HodgsonDr. Devon HooverMarjorie & Maxwell Jospey
FoundationMrs. Ellen KahnMr. & Mrs. Michael KratchmanMr. & Mrs. Arthur LieblerMr. & Mrs. William D. LockwoodDr. & Mrs. Stephan J. LoginskyMr. & Mrs. Robert LutzMrs. Cis MaiselDr. & Mrs. Stephen D. MancusoMr. & Mrs. Phillip D. MinchPeter & Mary OleksiakMs. Linda OrlansMr. & Mrs. Graham A OrleyMr. Jonathan OrserMs. Susan PeslarMs. Diana ReidMr. & Mrs. Jon RimanelliMrs. Carolyn L. RossMr. Ankur Rungta & Ms. Mayssoun
BydonMark & Lois ShaevskyMr. Terry SheaMrs. Lila SilvermanMrs. Phyllis F. SnowMr. John J. SoleckiMrs. Anne StrickerDr. Lorna ThomasMr. & Mrs. C. Thomas ToppinMr. Scott T. UffelmanMr. Joseph VicariMrs. Inge A. VincentMr. Bret WilliamsDr. & Mrs. Ned WinkelmanHon. Joan Young & Mr. Thomas
SchellenbergDr. Lucia ZamoranoMrs. Mary Lou Zieve
$3,000-$4,999Dr. Harold M. ArringtonMr. & Mrs. Richard BinghamMr. & Mrs. G. Peter BlomMr. Gene BowenMr. & Mrs. Bob BrasieMrs. Betty BrightDr. Lynne CarterDr. Mary Carol ConroyMrs. Virginia CuratoloMr. & Mrs. Josh EichenhornDr. Raina Ernstoff & Mr. Sanford
HansellMr. & Mrs. Lloyd C. FellMrs. Betty J. Fisher JrMr. & Mrs. Harvey FreemanMr. & Mrs. Andrew GiancamilliMr. & Mrs. Paul C. HillegondsMr. William HulskerMr. & Mrs. Kent J. JidovDr. & Mrs. Edward KlarmanMrs. Robert C. LarsonThe Hon. Jack & Dr. Bettye
Arrington MartinJuliane & Donald McCannDrs. Caroline & Wallace PeaceMr. & Mrs. Brock E. PlumbMr. Kenneth Robinson & Mrs.
Marcia GershensonMrs. Robert RossMr. Merton SegalMrs. Arlene C. ShalerDr. Gregory StephensMr. Ronald SwitzerMr. & Mrs. Joel D. TauberMr. & Mrs. Thomas TerrellMrs. Dorothy Alice TomeiDr. Jeffrey V. Tranchida & Mr. Noel
BarilMr. & Mrs. Raymond WardDr. John Weber & Dr. Dana ZakalikMr. Herman W. WeinreichDina & Eric Winter
$2,500-$2,999Mr. & Mrs. James M. BalcerskiMr. & Mrs. Donald J. BowermanDr. & Mrs. Thomas E. CarsonMr. Jeffrey K. ChaseMr. & Mrs. Peter CooperMr. & Mrs. Lawrence N. DavidMr. & Mrs. Walter K. DeanMs. Carolyn DempsAdrienne & Robert Z. FeldsteinDr. & Mrs. Robert FolbergDr. & Mrs. Clifford FurgisonDr. Glendon Gardner & Ms. Leslie
LandauMr. Patrick J. Kerzic† & Mrs.
Stephanie Germack KerzicMr. & Mrs. Keith E. GiffordDr. Judie R. GoodmanMr. Robert HageMrs. Doreen B. HermelinMr. & Mrs. David H. HillMr. & Mrs. Verne G. IstockMr. & Mrs. Norman D. KatzLinda & Thomas KleinDr. Mark Kolins & Ms. Maria B.
AbrahamsenMs. Mary B. LettsMs. Denise LutzMs. Florine MarkDr. Lisa MeilsMrs. L. William MollDr. & Mrs. Van C. Momon, Jr.Ms. Anne MorounMrs. Florence Morris
Mr. Geoffrey Nathan & Ms. Margaret Winters
Dr. & Mrs. Peter NicklesMr. & Mrs. Irving NusbaumMr. & Mrs. Richard PartrichDr. Irvin Reid & Dr. Pamela
Trotman ReidDr. & Mrs. Bernard RubinMrs. Edith RuscilloMrs. Barbara SapersteinDr. Barbara & Mr. Laurence SchiffMr. & Mrs. Alan E. SchwartzDr. & Mrs. Michael J. ShortMs. Mary Anne StellaMr. William WaakMs. Carmen Wargel & Dr. Ryan
FringerMrs. Amelia H. WilhelmDr. & Mrs. Christopher D. Wilhelm
$1,000-$2,499Ms. Nina AbramsJoshua & Judith Lowitz AdlerMs. Deborah L. AnthonyMrs. Cecilia BennerMr. Robert BeyMr. Stanislaw BialoglowskiMr. & Mrs. Maurice S. BinkowMr. & Mrs. Richard BowlbyMr. & Mrs. David CampMr. & Mrs. Paolo CavallariMs. Rosalind L. CoopermanMr. & Mrs. Douglas CornelsenMr. & Mrs. Douglas CorriganDr. & Mrs. William CosgroveMs. Mattie L. Cunningham †Mr. Anthony DelsenerMargo & David DownesMr. John FlemingDr. & Mrs. Saul FormanBurke & Carol FosseeMr. & Mrs. Stuart FrankelMs. Sharlene F. GageMr. & Mrs. Lawrence GarberdingMr. & Mrs. Lawrence GarciaThomas M. GervasiMr. Lawrence GlowczewskiMichelle & Corey HarrisDrs. Julia & Gregory HaysDr. & Mrs. Gerhardt A. HeinMs. Nancy B. HenkMrs. Fay B. HermanBeth Hoger & Lisa SwemMr. & Mrs. William C. HuffordMr. & Mrs. Addison IgleheartEleanor & Alan IsraelMr. & Mrs. Richard J. JessupMr. & Mrs. John Kendrick IIIMrs. Rebecca L. KennedyMs. Ida KingMiss Aleksandra KrstevaAl & Susan LaCroixChak & Beth LaiMr. Robert LittmanMrs. Tamara LuchiniDr. Shiva Maralani & Dr. Mark
HermanMs. Janet Groening MarshHon. & Mrs. George G. MatishMr. & Mrs. John L. MayerMs. Patricia A. McKannaMs. Laurie MickiewiczMr. Bruce A. MillerMr. & Mrs. Eugene MillerDr. Anne Missavage & Mr. Robert
BorcherdingDr. Harold Munson & Dr. Libby
Berger
41 AnnuAl RepoRt 2 0 1 7
Miss Surayyah MuwwakkilMr. & Mrs. Daniel H. OlsonMr. David W. Osborne &
Ms. Suzanne Mallare ActonMr. & Mrs. Mark PetersonMiss Alma M. PetriniDr. & Mrs. Michael PrysakMr. Wade Rakes IIMr. & Mrs. Rip RapsonMr. & Mrs. David Roessler IVMr. & Mrs. George Roumell, Jr.Mr. & Mrs. William SandyMr. & Mrs. Kingsley SearsMrs. Rosalind SellMs. Susan Sills-Levey & Mr.
Michael LeveyMr. Michael Smith & Mrs. Katie
Williams SmithMs. Theresa Spear & Mr. Jeff
DoumaMs. Cathy L. TaliferMr. & Mrs. John P. TierneyMs. Michele M. Toenniges
& Mr. Scott ToennigesMr. & Mrs. Gerrit VreekenMr. & Mrs. Lewis WagnerMrs. Fern WalchMr. & Mrs. John A Wise, Jr.Mr. Gary WozniakDr. & Mrs. Jose E. YanezMr. & Mrs. David J. Zmyslowski
$750-$999Mr. & Mrs. Frank BrzenkMr. Larry Gray & FamilyJamie Hall, MDHarvey & Aileen KleimanDr. Stanley LevyMr. John Lovegren & Mr. Daniel
IsenschmidDr. Stephen W. RagsdaleMrs. Jeanne F. ReichertMr. James Rodgers & Mrs.
Kathleen Brozowski-RodgersMr. Zon ShumwayMr. & Mrs. Gabriel StahlMr. & Mrs. Dante & Olga Stella
$500-$749Mr. & Mrs. James W. AllenAnonymous (3)Mr. & Mrs. Robert L. Anthony IVMrs. Chester ArnoldMs. Geraldine AtkinsonMr. Walter BaughmanMr. & Mrs. William Betz EsqMs. Kanta BhambhaniMr. & Mrs. Eugene W. BlanchardMs. Barbara A. Blanock Mr. Keith BruniniMs. Nettie CalhounMr. & Mrs. Tonino CorsettiMr. & Mrs. James CortezMs. Joyce E. DelamarterMr. Terry DeweyDr. Donald DitmarsMr. John DreifusMr. & Mrs. Eugene DrikerMr. & Mrs. Daniel S. DruckerMr. David EgnerDr. & Mrs. N.C. EnglebergMr. George EvansExpress Employment
Professionals Troy & Rochester Hills
The Hon. Sharon Tevis FinchMrs. Barbara A. Fisher & Mr.
William Gould
Dr. Evelyn J. FisherMr. Trevor Footitt & Ms. Victoria
KoskiDr. Yvonne Friday & Mr. Stephen
BlackMr. & Mrs. Daniel E. Frohardt-
LaneMr. & Mrs. David & Carol GaskinBarbara J. GeckMr. Michael GhilezanMr. & Mrs. Joseph GilmoreMr. & Mrs. William R. GoudieMs. Giacinta A. GualtieriDr. Daniel HaddadMs. Barbara HellerMr. & Mrs. Mario IacobelliMs. Amanda JacobsMr. Lawrence John & Dr. Lilian
LaiDr. & Mrs. Leonard B. JohnsonMr. & Mrs. David JoswickDrs. Anthony & Joyce KalesDr. & Mrs. Michael T. KeefeMs. Sheila KeefeMr. & Mrs. Robert KellyMr. & Mrs. Eric KerrMs. Lee KhachaturianDr. & Mrs. John KimMr. David Kinsella & Ms. Joyce
UrbaMr. & Mrs. Justin KlimkoMr. Gregory KnasMr. & Mrs. Mark G. KoeselMr. & Mrs. William KrogerMrs. Meria LarsonDrs. Ellen Lee & Michael
SolomonBarbara LevinMr. George C. LevyMr. & Mrs. Steven MarletteMs. Mary McGoughPatricia A. & Patrick G. McKeeverMs. Barbara MitchellDr. James L. MoseleyMr. & Mrs. Chuck MossMr. & Mrs. Walter NewgeonMr. & Mrs. George Nicholson, IIIPatrick & Christine NolaMs. Lois NormanMr. Ronald NorthrupMr. & Mrs. William E. Ohlsson JrMr. Gordon OstrowskiMs. Haryani PermanaDr. & Mrs. Peter J. PolidoriMrs. Janet PoundsMr. Richard Rattner & Ms.
Lennea LannonJean & David RedfieldMr. Dennis C. Regan & Miss Ellen
M. StrandMr. & Mrs. William RemerMs. Cheryl ReynoldsMr. & Mrs. Benjamin D. RhodesCharles & Nicola RooneyDr. & Mrs. Arthur RoseMrs. Alexander RotaCharles & Adam RussmanDeane & Barry SafirDr. & Mrs. William H. SalotProfessor Alvin & Mrs. Harriet
SapersteinMrs. Claus SchaeferDiane & Morton ScholnickCynthia Shaw & Tom KirvanJP SheenhanMr. & Mrs. Ted J. SimonMr. Theodore J. St. AntoineDr. Mildred Ponder Stennis
Mr. Paul G. Strom JrMs. Victoria A. SweglesDr. Jonathan SwiftDr. Gretchen M. ThamsMr. Norman ThorpeMr. & Mrs. Paul TomboulianMs. Sandra E. UlshMr. & Mrs. Tony VentimigliaMr. & Mrs. George VoegeliMr. & Mrs. Robert D. WallinProf. Michael WellmanIn Honor of David ArcangeliMr. & Mrs. David WhittakerMr. George WilliamsMr. & Mrs. Tony WilliamsonMr. David D. WoodardMr. & Mrs. David Wu
IN TRIBUTEFebruary 1, 2017 – July 31, 2017
In Honor of Barbara Frankel & Ron MichalakBarry & Deane Safir
In Honor of Charli PodowskiBonnie Larson
In Honor of Connie Ross’ BirthdayMelissa Herrmann
In Honor of David ArcangeliDaniel B. White
In Honor of David DiChieraDavid & Nancy BarbourJoseph & Lois Gilmore Italian American Club of LivoniaSheila KasselmanMyron & Joyce LaBan David A. LillyJack Martin & Bettye Arrington-Martin Maureen C. McCabeAlice NigoghosianGordon OstrowskiRip & Gail Rapson William & Marjorie Sandy - The Sandy Family FoundationAlvin & Harriet Saperstein Marilyn Wheaton
In Honor of Dr. Daniel GellerGina & Arthur Horwitz
In Honor of Dr. Milt Mutchnick’s BirthdayMurray & Alice Ehrinpreis
In Honor of Dr. William Kupsky & Dr. Ali MoiinJeffry Kupsky
In Honor of Ed Reichbach’s BirthdayGwendolyn Reichbach
In Honor of Herman Frankel’s BirthdayBarbara Frankel & Ronald Michalak Ted & Mary Ann Simon
In Honor of Lee & Floy BarthelBrett Batterson
In Honor of Michael KratchmanIrwin & Judith Elson
In Honor of Rick & Karen WilliamsSheila Kasselman
In Honor of Rose S. Wolok’s BirthdayDr. & Mrs. Philip Wolok
In Honor of Sheila Becker’s BirthdayNadine DeleuryVelda Kelly
In Honor of Wendy & Bill Powers Sheila Kasselman
In Memory of Arnold Gordon Barbara Frankel & Ronald Michalak
In Memory of Carol Halstead John & Penny McMullin Herman & Barbara Goldsmith Barbara Frankel & Ronald Michalak
In Memory of David Tanzman Melva Eidelberg
In Memory of Harry Lomason Ned & Marcia Bearden Marshall B. FrontElliott & Patti TrumbullBarbara Frankel & Ronald Michalak
In Memory of Kim Lie Lee & Floy BarthelPatricia CosgroveFrederick & Jo Ann DelisleLoran Coffman at Edelman Financial Services, LLCMarcus FaustJohn & Helen Fildew Julie & Anthony FoustAugustino GiordanoWilliam & Margaret HarberBonnie J. JobeMark & Lois LangbergLiberta LicataMagdalena PredeteanuDavid & Susan ThomsDavid & Bernadine WuBarbara Frankel & Ronald Michalak
In Memory of Mandell Berman Barbara Frankel & Ronald Michalak
In Memory of Selma Silverman Ellen BetelCarole Joan EbnerEugene & Vivian FriedmanDaniel GreenbergBernard Kole Arie LeibovitzSheldon RogersRosalyn Winer
42 Michigan Opera TheaTre
Mr. & Mrs. Robert A. Allesee # Mr.† and Mrs. Doug Allison Mrs. Adel Amerman* # + Dr. Lourdes V. Andaya* Mr. & Mrs. Agustin Arbulu* Mr.† & Mrs. Chester Arnold* Mr. & Mrs. Lee Barthel Mr. & Mrs. J. Addison Bartush*#† Mr. & Mrs. Brett Batterson* Mr.† & Mrs. Mandell Berman Mr.† & Mrs. Art Blair* Mr. Robert Bomier Mr. & Mrs. Richard Bowlby Mr.† & Mrs. Roy E. Calcagno* Dr. & Mrs. Thomas E. Carson Dr.† & Mrs. Victor J. Cervenak* Miss Halla Claffey †
Prof. Kenneth Collinson Mr. & Mrs. Robert C. Comstock# †Dr. Robert A. Cornette* # Mrs. Mary Rita Cuddohy † Ms. Mattie Cunningham †
Mr.† & Mrs. Tarik Daoud* # Mr. & Mrs. Marvin I. Danto † Mr. Thomas J. Delaney Dr. David DiChiera # Mrs. Karen V. DiChiera* # Ms. Mary Jane Doerr # Dr. & Mrs. Charles H. Duncan* † Mrs. Charles M. Endicott* #
Mr. & Mrs. Herb Fisher* Mrs. Anne E. Ford † Ms. Pamela R. Francis*† Ms. Barbara Frankel & Mr. Ronald
Michalak* # Mr. & Mrs. Herman Frankel* # Mrs. Rema Frankel* # † Mr. & Mrs. Harvey Freeman Mrs. Jane Shoemaker French Dr. & Mrs. Byron P. Georgeson* Priscilla R. Greenberg, Ph.D.* # Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Hagopian Mr. Lawrence W. Hall* Mr. & Mrs. Jerome Halperin* Ms. Heather Hamilton Mr. Kenneth E. Hart* Mr. & Mrs. Eugene L. Hartwig* Dr. & Mrs. Gerhardt A. Hein Ms. Nancy B. Henk Mrs. Fay HermanMr. & Mrs. Derek Hodgson Mr. Andrew Howell Ms. Carol Howell Dr. Cindy Hung* Drs. Heidi & Dale Jacobs Ms. Kristin Jaramillo* Mr. Donald Jensen* Mr. John Jesser †Mr. Patrick J.† & Mrs. Stephanie
Germack Kerzic
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Klein# Mrs. Josephine Kleiner † Mr. & Mrs. Erwin H. Klopfer* # Mr.† & Mrs. Daniel Kolton Misses Phyllis & Selma Korn*† Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Krolikowski* Mr. Max Lepler & Mr. Rex Dotson Mr. Philip Leon † Mr. Stephen H. Lord Ms. Jane McKee* Drs. Orlando & Dorothy Miller* Ms. Monica Moffat
& Mr. Pat McGuire Demetra & Theodore Monolidis† Drs. Stephen & Barbara Munk Mr. Jonathan F. Orser Ms. Julie A. Owens Mr. Dale J. Pangonis* Mr. & Mrs. Charles A. Parkhill Mr. Richard M. Raisin* Mrs. Ruth F. Rattner* # Ms. Deborah Remer Dr. Joshua Rest Mr. & Mrs. James Rigby* Mr. Bryan L. Rives Ms. Patricia Rodzik* Ms. Joanne B. Rooney † Mr.† & Mrs. Giles L. Ross Aphrodite & George Roumell Ms. Susan Schooner*
Drs. Heinz & Alice Platt Schwarz* Mrs. Frank C. Shaler* Mr. Stephan Sharf † Ms. Laura Sias Mr. & Mrs. Harold Siebert Mrs. Marge Slezak Dr. Anne Sullivan Smith Ms. Phyllis Funk Snow* Mr. † & Mrs. Richard Starkweather*#+ Mr. Stanford C. Stoddard Dr. Jonathan Swift & Mr. Thomas A.
St. Charles* Mr. Ronald F. Switzer* Mr. Edward D. Tusset* Mr. † & Mrs. George Vincent*#+ Mrs. Amelia H. Wilhelm* # Mr. & Mrs. Walter P. Work* Mr. & Mrs. Larry Zangerle Mr. & Mrs. George M. Zeltzer* †
Avanti Logo & Pin Design Ms. Monica Moffat & Mr. Pat
McGuire
Keys: * Founding Members # Touch the Future donors + Avanti Society Sponsors † in Italics = deceased members
AVANTI SOCIETY MEMBERS
Ensuring the FutureImagine a gift that outlives you, allowing future generations to experience and enjoy the world of opera and dance. That’s the goal of the Avanti Society, Michigan Opera Theatre’s Planned Gift Recognition Program.
The Italian word “avanti” means “ahead,” or “forward.” The Avanti Society at Michigan Opera Theatre represents a designated group of friends of Michigan Opera Theatre who have made plans to include the organization in their estate plans — whether by will, trust, insurance, or life income arrangement. Membership in the Avanti Society is open to all.
In thanks for their generous support, Avanti Society members are given special benefits and recognition for their heartfelt commitment to Michigan Opera Theatre.
Avanti Society Members are Recognized: In “Bravo” opera and dance program books and the Annual Report.
Avanti Society Members are Invited:To an exclusive annual Avanti Society event, previews and other special events. Michigan Opera Theatre is honored that so many patrons have chosen to declare their membership in the Avanti Society and designed a small lapel pin for members to wear proudly at Michigan Opera Theatre events.
AN AVANTI FOR TOMORROWThe growth of Michigan Opera Theatre’s permanent Endowment Fund ensures the growth and future vitality of one of the region’s greatest cultural assets. You are invited to create your own legacy — your Avanti — through Michigan Opera Theatre.
To make your gift, contact Christina Wagner, Patron Services Manager, at 313.237.3236 or [email protected].
In recognition of their foresight and commitment, Michigan Opera Theatre profoundly thanks and recognizes the membership of the Avanti Society.
AVANTI SOCIETY
Membership as of November, 2017
43 AnnuAl RepoRt 2 0 1 7