The Aria Project continues!

Eight local artists use iconic arias to share something about their personal pandemic experiences.
We’ll deliver one aria to your inbox, free each month, ​from October to May.
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This month, captivating tenor Austin Bare sings
"Dein ist mein ganzes Herz" from Lehár's Das Land des Lächelns.
From Austin...
As I started the work for this project I had a tough time initially thinking about what exactly to sing until I found this piece. I realized that even though these past few years have been full of isolation and confusion, I had grown exponentially closer with my partner and our support for each other had deepened. She often grounded me in reality when my thoughts wandered to darker scenarios, showed me to appreciate the strides I had made to reach this point as an artist and brought new meaning to my life.
Ultimately, this project turned into a way to openly acknowledge her immense impact on my life even through times of hardship. In the words of this piece, “Xai, you are my heart’s delight.
Directed by Catie O'Donnell
Next up on
The Aria Project...
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​
Dazzling Mezzo-soprano Colleen Brooks performs a unique rendition of
​"Non…vous n’avez jamais" from
Meyerbeer's Les Huguenots.



And in case you missed it, check out the
​previous installments of The Aria Project here!
Thank You!!!
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​Music, Lyrics, Book and Orchestrations by Dave Malloy
MOT extends a huge THANK YOU to everyone who joined us for our first post-pandemic production, Preludes!
Photo Credits: Mark Frohna
The Reviews are in!
"A Spa for the Soul" ~Jeff Grygny, Play On Milwaukee 
“Deliciously Delirious…” ~Russ Bickerstaff, Shepherd Express
"How I've missed this small company's mighty spirit, their dedication to the unexpected and unusual,
and their gift for giving audiences such singular experiences." ~Kelsey Lawler, BroadwayWorld
"Some of the most imaginative musical theater in town during this century has been staged by Milwaukee Opera Theatre."
~David Luhrssen, Shepherd Express
"Comic musical Preludes from Milwaukee Opera Theatre spelunks the troubled mind of composer Rachmaninoff"
~Jim Higgins, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"Musically it makes us rethink and newly admire Rachmaninoff" ~Dom Noth, Urban Milwaukee
And check out this trailer, courtesy of Traveling Lemur Productions!
Cast
Rachmaninoff: Ruben Piirainen
Rach: Joe Picchetti
Dahl: Jenny Wanasek
Natalya: Natalie Ford
Chaliapin: Gage Patterson
Chekhov, et al: Joel Kopischke
Synthesizers: Marty Butorac & Dave Bonofiglio
Creative Team
Stage Director: Jill Anna Ponasik
Music Director: Ruben Piirainen
Assistant Stage Director: Doug Clemons
Lighting Designer: Jim Padovano
Sound Designer: Colin Gawronski
Costume Designer: Lisa Quinn
Stage Manager: Danny Brylow
Read Cast and Creative Team Bios!
And coming up in June...
L'Orfeo
June 9-12, 2022 (Live/Indoor)
Sponsored by Jan Serr and John Shannon
Music by Claudio Monteverdi   |  Libretto by Alessandro Striggio
English Translation by Danny Brylow and Joseph Krohlow
We close our season with a co-production of Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo, partnering with Aperi Animam to commission and perform a new English translation of this masterpiece of early opera, now fully realized with lights, staging, costumes, ​the whole shebang!
Graphic Design: Andrea Klohn
Help bring this season to life!
Donate Now!
Can’t wait to see you inside, outside and online!
Our season was supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board
with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Our Mission

We are Milwaukee’s micro-brewery for opera, proudly producing small batches of high quality, local lyric theatre.
​​We tell stories through music...unconventionally.
Milwaukee Opera Theatre is a registered 501(c)(3) organization.