Opening doors to a power performance

The Adrian College Opera Workshop explores a path to power performances for singers: body, mind, and spirit. 

Adrian College’s cutting edge Opera Workshop, developed by Elizabeth Major, provides a challenging and nurturing environment to build the performance skills of the singing-actor. Work centers on the whole artist, developing confidence in their musical, emotional and physical expression and learning to commit to the craft. Acting techniques include work in yoga, meditation, dance and breathing/body work. Students of both classical and musical theatre degree tracks participate in this course. 

Opera Workshop has explored and updated opera scenes and arias of Mozart and Handel. The recent 2012 production of iHandel brought the 17th century opera Theodora into the digital age. In 2010, Opera Workshop produced one of the few American stagings of Jackie O, Michael Dougherty’s contemporary opera. The composer was in attendance and full orchestra accompanied the singers in Dawson Auditorium. 

Other projects have included Classical Sondheim (2012), Contemporary American Opera Scenes (2010), a staged production of the 24 Italian Song Book created through a collaborative improv called Days of Our Italian Lives (2011) and a shortened version of Hansel & Gretel that toured local area schools. 

Below, find some photos of past participants in our Opera Workshop.