2017 ANNUAL REPORT · 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,

2017 ANNUAL REPORT

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

3 AnnuAl RepoRt 2 0 1 7

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


In MeMorIaM

Julius L. Palloneb. May 26, 1929 d. Aug 12, 2016

Board of Directors 1982-2001Board of Trustees 1978-2004

JULY

In Memoriam

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JULY

In Memoriam

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JULY

In Memoriam

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JULY

In Memoriam

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JULY

In Memoriam

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JULY

In Memoriam

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JULY

In Memoriam

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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


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


Arnold Gordonb. Oct 1937 d. Feb 10, 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

JULY

In Memoriam

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-

Patrick Kerzicb. March 17, 1935 d. April 13, 2017


JULY

In Memoriam

-

-

-

Jonathan Swift, PhDb. April 26, 1932 d. April 11,2017


Rudale “Dale” W. Austinb. April 6, 1930 d. May 8, 2017Board of Directors 1983 – 2007Board of Trustees 1981 - 2012


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


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)


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


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.


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.


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.


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


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).


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



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).


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


*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


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).


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


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.




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


“ 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),


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


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




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


SARAH JOY MILLER (ROXANE), MARIAN POP (CYRANO), AND SEBASTIEN GUEZE (CHRISTIAN).

SARAH JOY MILLER (ROXANE) AND MARIAN POP (CYRANO).


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


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!


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.


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.



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.


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


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


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


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.


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


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


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


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


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


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



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

__________________________________________________________________________________________


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.


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.


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


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


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


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


Documents

2017 ANNUAL REPORT · 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,