Ten Questions with
Amanda Woodbury, soprano
Pamina in The Magic Flute
1. Where were you born / raised?
I was born in Phoenix, but I grew up in Dallas. I lived in England for 3 years when I was a kid.
2. If you weren't a singer, what profession would you be in?
Crime fighting!
3. The first opera I was ever in was...
The Magic Flute! I sang First Lady.
4. My favorite opera is...
La Traviata.
5. My favorite pre-show / post-show meal is...
Pre-show is smoothies and post-show is pizza.
6. People would be surprised to know that...
I lived in England as a child.
7. The musical instrument that I wish I could play is ...
The cello!
8. I like to binge-watch...
Heroes.
9. What four people (living or deceased) would you like to invite for a dinner party?
My four siblings, because spending time with my family is my favorite thing to do.
10. Everyone should see The Magic Flute because....
It has everything! Romance, magic, action, mystery and comedy.
Don't miss the chance to see Amanda in The Magic Flute, Mozart's sublime opera that is part fairy-tale, part adventure story, and all enchantment. Performances are April 21 and 23 in Overture Hall. Tickets start at $18; visit madisonopera.org for more information.
Ten Questions with
Andrew Bidlack, tenor
Tamino in The Magic Flute
1. Where were you born / raised?
I was born in Pittsburgh, PA, but we moved around a lot and I was raised in Denver, CO; Laramie, WY; and Wichita, KS; before finishing high school in Chambersburg, PA.
2. If you weren't a singer, what profession would you be in?
I think I would have stayed in music and focused on another instrument, although I've often romanticized the idea of being a free-lance visual artist. Unfortunately I'm color blind, so that might have hurt my prospects, although maybe I could have passed off my green sunsets as something deliberate.
3. The first opera I was ever in was...
I was Tom Snout in Britten's A Midsummer Nights Dream.
4. My favorite opera is...
This changes all the time depending on what I last listened to. I always come back to Tosca, Le Nozze di Figaro, and Falstaff.
5. My favorite pre-show / post-show meal is...
Pre-show: Pasta (I'm half Italian, after all).
Post-show: Meat.
6. People would be surprised to know that...
I started playing piano when I was 5 and my mom was my first teacher. I started college as a guitar major and started singing in rock bands with my friends in high school.
7. My favorite musical instrument to play is ...
Piano when I'm feeling focused, guitar when I want to jam.
8. I like to binge-watch...
I recently discovered this show Mad Men. Have you heard of it? It's really good! (I'm a little late to the party...)
9. What four people (living or deceased) would you like to invite for a dinner party?
Louis CK, Jon Stewart, Patton Oswalt, and David Cross. Maybe not so much a dinner party, but that seems like a fun group to hang out with and I think we could all use some laughter right now.
10. Everyone should see The Magic Flute because....
There's a reason it's one of the most-performed operas! It's got some of Mozart's best music and since it's a fantasy, every production is fresh and unique and can appeal to a wide audience.
Bonus: One question you wish someone would ask you (and the answer).
Q: Would you like the Baltimore Orioles to win the World Series this year?
A: Sounds good, thanks!
Don't miss the chance to see Andrew in The Magic Flute, Mozart's sublime opera that is part fairy-tale, part adventure story, and all enchantment. Performances are April 21 and 23 in Overture Hall. Tickets start at $18; visit madisonopera.org for more information.
Ten Questions with
Alan Dunbar, baritone
Papageno in The Magic Flute
1. Where were you born / raised?
Born in the mountains of Jefferson, North Carolina; grew up by the ocean in Beaufort, South Carolina .
2. If you weren't a singer, what profession would you be in?
A woodworker of some kind, most likely a luthier.
3. The first opera I was ever in was...
Candide as Pangloss/Voltaire in a student production at St. Olaf College.
4. My favorite opera is...
I can't pick just one - Wozzeck, Eugene Onegin, Dead Man Walking, A View from the Bridge, Bluebeard's Castle, and Le Nozze di Figaro.
5. My favorite pre-show / post-show meal is...
Pre-show: Anything that doesn't make me feel too full - fruit, sushi, or other light-fare.
Post-show: Anything substantial and delicious. (Plus a good beer!)
6. People would be surprised to know that...
I'm also trained as a violin maker.
7. My favorite musical instrument to play is ...
Violin, mainly chamber music (I don't play much anymore, but I wish I did).
8. I like to binge-watch...
Shows that don't go on for endless seasons like The Night Manager or The Honorable Woman; and, contrary to the first part of the answer, Game of Thrones, which does seem to go on forever.
9. What four people (living or deceased) would you like to invite for a dinner party?
Antonio Stradivari, Terunobu Fujimori (Japanese architect), Georgia O'Keefe, and Nick Offerman.
10. Everyone should see The Magic Flute because....
The music really is magical. It's one of the few pieces that makes me wish I was a tenor or a soprano just so I could sing Dies Bildnis and Ach, ich fühl's.
Bonus: One question you wish someone would ask you (and the answer).
Q: Why can't you ever come up with good answers to this last question?
A: I have no idea.
Don't miss the chance to see Alan in The Magic Flute, Mozart's sublime opera that is part fairy-tale, part adventure story, and all enchantment. Performances are April 21 and 23 in Overture Hall. Tickets start at $18; visit madisonopera.org for more information.
Ten Questions with
Caitlin Cisler, soprano
The Queen of the Night
in The Magic Flute
1. Where were you born / raised?
I was born and raised in Appleton, WI.
2. If you weren't a singer, what profession would you be in?
I would be a personal chef.
3. The first opera I was ever in was...
The Magic Flute. I sang the role of Pamina. This will be my sixth production of The Magic Flute, but my first time as the Queen of the Night.
4. My favorite opera is...
Der Rosenkavalier. The music is so lush.
5. My favorite post-show meal is...
FOOD! Anything will do.
6. People would be surprised to know that...
Even though I live in Montana, I saw my first wild black bear in New Jersey, dumpster diving.
7. My favorite musical instrument to play is ...
The piano.
8. I like to binge-watch...
TV from when I was a kid, like Friends, X-files, Frasier, Seinfeld, etc.
9. What four people (living or deceased) would you like to invite for a dinner party?
I would invite my four grandparents to dinner, at age 30. I would love to hear their opinions and outlooks from that period of their lives. I would also love to see if they would have been friends before my parents met.
10. Everyone should see The Magic Flute because....
I love The Magic Flute because it's never the same show twice. The story line opens the show up to so many possible interpretations. This means that if you've seen The Magic Flute, you should come to Madison Opera's production because it will not be the same show you saw before. If this is your first time seeing The Magic Flute, you should come for the music. It has such beautiful music in every moment.
Don't miss the chance to see Caitlin in The Magic Flute, Mozart's sublime opera that is part fairy-tale, part adventure story, and all enchantment. Performances are April 21 and 23 in Overture Hall. Tickets start at $18; visit madisonopera.org for more information.
Ten Questions with
Nathan Stark, bass
Sarastro in The Magic Flute
1. Where were you born / raised?
I was born on Travis Air Force Base Hospital in Fairfield, CA, but I was raised in Hughson, CA - a small farming community in the California central valley.
2. If you weren't a singer, what profession would you be in?
I'd go into education. Being a teacher is a noble profession.
3. The first opera I was ever in was...
My first opera role was Mr. Cox in the one-act comedy Cox and Box by Arthur Sullivan. There's a hilarious tenor aria in the show titled, "Hush-a-bye, bacon."
4. My favorite opera is...
I don't have a single favorite, but at the top of my list are Don Giovanni, Le Nozze di Figaro, Don Carlo, and L'Italiana in Algeri.
5. My favorite pre-show / post-show meal is...
Before a show I usually eat something pretty light and healthy - like a salad, fruits, steamed veggies, or non-cream-based soups. After a show, I'm looking for the nearest Taco Bell.
6. People would be surprised to know that...
I have webbed toes.
7. The musical instrument that I wish I could play is ...
The cello. I love the timbre of that instrument.
8. I like to binge-watch...
House of Cards and Game of Thrones.
9. What four people (living or deceased) would you like to invite for a dinner party?
Jesus Christ, George Frideric Handel, Dolly Parton, and Ellen DeGeneres.
10. Everyone should see The Magic Flute because....
Aside from having a stellar cast and crew, it's a great "first-time opera" for those who have never seen one before (so bring a friend)! It's also great for those opera buffs who are seeing it again for the 80th time. Musically and dramatically, it's a fun journey for everybody!
Bonus: One question you wish someone would ask you (and the answer).
Q: Aside from Madison Opera, what do you like about Madison?
A: The beer cheese soup and fried cheese curds.
Don't miss the chance to see Nathan in The Magic Flute, Mozart's sublime opera that is part fairy-tale, part adventure story, and all enchantment. Performances are April 21 and 23 in Overture Hall. Tickets start at $18; visit madisonopera.org for more information.
Ten Questions with
Gary Thor Wedow
Conductor, The Magic Flute
1. Where were you born / raised?
LaPorte, Indiana (unlike some, I feel the spelling of my hometown has no space).
2. If you weren't a conductor, what profession would you be in?
Maybe a vet if I were smart enough. I love animals and would love helping them.
3. The first opera I ever conducted was...
Hard to say. I've always been conducting something or getting something together in our basement at home, school, or church ... and I don't make distinctions within music theater - opera - operetta - musical theater, it's all the same. The first professional opera was probably La Calisto for the Canadian Opera Company and then my New York City Opera debut was Carmen, which I conducted many happy times at City Opera.
4. My favorite opera is...
Always the one I'm working on, and it's The Magic Flute.
5. My favorite pre-show / post-show meal is...
Lately it's been vegetable egg rolls and a salad. As long as it's not too sinful, I like a variety of things, especially sampling the local cuisine. Cheese curds are definitely on my radar.
6. People would be surprised to know that...
I'm an open book, but my favorite hobbies are the movies (old and new), theater, and gardening in our unkempt garden.
7. My favorite musical instrument to play is ...
I trained as a pianist and still try to play everyday. I was a bad, but enthusiastic trumpet player and French horn player.
8. I like to binge-watch...
British mystery, documentary, history, and screwball movies.
9. What four people (living or deceased) would you like to invite for a dinner party?
Since we are doing The Magic Flute, it would definitely be Wolfgang and Constanze Mozart, Emanuel Schikaneder (the librettist), and Nancy Storace (one of Mozart's favorite singers). I think that would be a lively, happy group of interesting humans.
10. Everyone should see The Magic Flute because....
It is an exciting rescue story revolving around the struggle of good and evil, with perhaps some of the greatest music ever composed of the sweeping variety: everything from folk tunes and gorgeous chorales to soaring opera seria, with moments of genuine humor and pathos.
Bonus: One question you wish someone would ask you (and the answer).
Q: What was the most fun you ever had turning pages?
A: Thanks for asking! When I was a student at Indiana University, my piano teacher, the virtuoso Jorge Bolet, was a great friend of Beverly Sills and he volunteered me to turn the pages for her pianist, Charles Wadsworth, during her recital at Indiana University. Rather than saving her voice between numbers, she was very friendly and gregarious and wanted to know about all the great singers who were teaching voice at that time at IU. She had heard them all sing, they had all influenced her, and she wanted to know how they taught. It showed me how curious, searching, and interested a great artist was - she wasn't interested in gossip, but rather how they taught and passed on their legacy to the future. It was very exciting and humbling and I've tried to spend my life learning and sharing everything I've learned with the next generation. This is one of the central themes of The Magic Flute, passing on the eternal truths to the uninitiated.
Don't miss the chance to see Gary conduct The Magic Flute, Mozart's sublime opera that is part fairy-tale, part adventure story, and all enchantment. Performances are April 21 and 23 in Overture Hall. Tickets start at $18; visit madisonopera.org for more information.
Ten Questions with
James Held, baritone
2nd Priest /Armored Man in The Magic Flute
1. Where were you born / raised?
Waukesha, Wisconsin.
2. If you weren't a singer, what profession would you be in?
I would love to be a pilot, but I think ultimately I'd stick to some sort of musical profession.
3. The first opera I was ever in was...
Albert Herring by Benjamin Britten.
4. My favorite opera is...
Hansel and Gretel by Engelbert Humperdinck
5. My favorite pre-show / post-show meal is...
A burger at Madison's own Dotty's Dumpling Dowry, or a sandwich from Jimmy John's.
6. People would be surprised to know that...
I'm allergic to dairy, which is tantamount to sacrilege in some Wisconsin circles.
7. The musical instrument that I wish I could play is ...
The theremin.
8. I like to binge-watch...
Currently The West Wing. 30 Rock is my go-to.
9. What four people (living or deceased) would you like to invite for a dinner party?
Mozart, Nostradamus, Freddie Mercury, and I suppose I should invite my wife.
10. Everyone should see The Magic Flute because....
The music is incredibly rewarding for audience and performer alike.
Bonus: One question you wish someone would ask you (and the answer).
Q: How long have you been married?
A: Only 8 months!
Don't miss the chance to see James in The Magic Flute, Mozart's sublime opera that is part fairy-tale, part adventure story, and all enchantment. Performances are April 21 and 23 in Overture Hall. Tickets start at $18; visit madisonopera.org for more information.
Ten Questions with
Robert Goderich, tenor
1st Priest /Armored Man
in The Magic Flute
1. Where were you born / raised?
I was born in beautiful Miami, Florida, but I was mostly raised in rural Southwestern Montana in a small town called Deer Lodge.
2. If you weren't a singer, what profession would you be in?
I love being in the kitchen, so I think a chef.
3. The first opera I was ever in was...
The Tenderland.
4. My favorite opera is...
Dead Man Walking for the feels.
5. My favorite pre-show / post-show meal is...
I'm not really a pre-show eater, but post-show - EVERYTHING!
6. People would be surprised to know that...
I just started taking regular voice lessons two years ago.
7. My favorite musical instrument to play is ...
Tenor sax. I pull mine out every now and then just to play and relax myself.
8. I like to binge-watch...
Food Network shows, Real Housewives, and Jeopardy.
9. What four people (living or deceased) would you like to invite for a dinner party?
Barack and Michelle Obama, Bette Midler, and Harvey Fierstein.
10. Everyone should see The Magic Flute because....
The music is timeless and beautiful. The art being made is simply breathtaking!
Bonus: One question you wish someone would ask you (and the answer).
Q: What exactly is gluten?
A: Gluten is a composite of storage proteins found in wheat and other related grains that gives dough elasticity and helps it to rise and keep its shape. It often gives the final product a chewy texture.
Don't miss the chance to see Robert in The Magic Flute, Mozart's sublime opera that is part fairy-tale, part adventure story, and all enchantment. Performances are April 21 and 23 in Overture Hall. Tickets start at $18; visit madisonopera.org for more information.
Ten Questions with
Scott Brunscheen, tenor
Monostatos in The Magic Flute
1. Where were you born / raised?
Born in Des Moines and raised in West Des Moines and the southwestern suburbs of Chicago.
2. If you weren't a singer, what profession would you be in?
I would most likely be an architect.
3. The first opera I was ever in was...
Le Nozze di Figaro in my freshman year of college.
4. My favorite opera is...
Right now, it's a toss-up between Handel's Theodora and David Lang's The Difficulty of Crossing a Field.
5. My favorite pre-show / post-show meal is...
Mac and cheese with bacon in it.
6. People would be surprised to know that...
I'm obsessively clean. I clean when I'm bored, upset, happy, or needing to feel relaxed.
7. My favorite musical instrument to play is ...
Piano. While studying it in school, I practiced all the time and was pretty good. Now, I just learn all the vocal accompaniments to help me learn my rep.
8. I like to binge-watch...
At any time, I'm rewatching Damages, Fringe, or Don't Trust the B in Apt 23. Right now, I'm obsessing over Schitt's Creek.
9. What four people (living or deceased) would you like to invite for a dinner party?
Oscar Wilde, Parker Posey, Michelle Obama, and Benjamin Britten.
10. Everyone should see The Magic Flute because....
The music is iconic and gorgeous. Because it is so often produced, it is easy to forget how incredible Mozart's score is. I don't think anybody can dislike it - even people who don't like opera.
Bonus: One question you wish someone would ask you (and the answer).
Q: What is your favorite food?
A: I'm obsessed with Korean food right now. Kimchi? YES! Bulgogi? Absolutely. Fish cakes in spicy/salty/tangy sauce? I'm all over it. The saddest part is that it gives me some serious reflux sometimes, which is why I can't eat it before singing.
Don't miss the chance to see Scott in The Magic Flute, Mozart's sublime opera that is part fairy-tale, part adventure story, and all enchantment. Performances are April 21 and 23 in Overture Hall. Tickets start at $18; visit madisonopera.org for more information.
Ten Questions with
Matthew Scollin, bass-baritone
The Speaker in The Magic Flute
1. Where were you born / raised?
Proud Michigander! Born in Royal Oak, MI; raised in Walled Lake, MI.
2. If you weren't a singer, what profession would you be in?
Linguist/Language Teacher.
3. The first opera I was ever in was...
Florencia en el Amazonas by Daniel Catán.
4. My favorite opera is...
Le Nozze di Figaro.
5. My favorite post-show meal is...
Nothing like a post-show frozen pizza.
6. People would be surprised to know that...
At 6'5", I am the second shortest male on my dad's side of the family.
7. The musical instrument that I wish I could play is ...
The banjo.
8. I like to binge-watch...
All three Lord of the Rings extended editions.
9. What four people (living or deceased) would you like to invite for a dinner party?
My wife Sarah, C.S. Lewis, Martin Luther, George Washington.
10. Everyone should see The Magic Flute because....
It has some of the most hunmable melodies in all of opera!
Bonus: One question you wish someone would ask you (and the answer).
Q: What is your favorite college team?
A: Michigan State Spartans! Go Green!
Don't miss the chance to see Matthew in The Magic Flute, Mozart's sublime opera that is part fairy-tale, part adventure story, and all enchantment. Performances are April 21 and 23 in Overture Hall. Tickets start at $18; visit madisonopera.org for more information.
Ten Questions with
Anna Parks, mezzo-soprano
3rd Lady in The Magic Flute
1. Where were you born / raised?
I was born in Eau Claire, WI, but was raised in River Falls, WI.
2. If you weren't a singer, what profession would you be in?
I minored in business administration so I would love to still be involved with an arts organization in some way. If not, either a lawyer or a ghost hunter.
3. The first opera I was ever in was...
Iolanthe. I was still in high school, and even though some people don't believe that Gilbert & Sullivan is "true" opera, I loved it!
4. My favorite opera is...
Così fan tutte by Mozart or anything by John Adams.
5. My favorite pre-show / post-show meal is...
Pre-show is usually pretty light, just some avocado toast and tea. Post-show I eat like crazy! Usually a burger, pizza, or if I'm lucky some of Susan's bourbon brownies.
6. People would be surprised to know that...
Before going to college, I was torn between music and languages. I really wanted to be an international interpreter or the ambassador of the United States to Mexico, but music won. I just can't live without it.
7. My favorite musical instrument is ...
My dad is a professional French horn player so I have to go with that. It's such a beautiful sound. I wish I could play the piano; it's definitely a skill I need to work on.
8. I like to binge-watch...
Pretty much anything. I'm a major binge-watcher. I just finished watching The People v. O.J. Simpson. It was very interesting.
9. What four people (living or deceased) would you like to invite for a dinner party?
Audrey Hepburn, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Barack Obama, and Desmond Tutu.
10. Everyone should see The Magic Flute because....
I always say The Magic Flute is the best first opera to go to. The music is amazing and there are so many fun elements to the story. Everyone should see it, especially if you have never been to an opera before!
Bonus: One question you wish someone would ask you (and the answer).
Q: What is your favorite fiber?
A: Alpaca. It's very warm and durable for cold Midwest winters! Plus Alpacas are super adorable.
Don't miss the chance to see Anna in The Magic Flute, Mozart's sublime opera that is part fairy-tale, part adventure story, and all enchantment. Performances are April 21 and 23 in Overture Hall. Tickets start at $18; visit madisonopera.org for more information.
Ten Questions with
Kelsey Park, mezzo-soprano
2nd Lady in The Magic Flute
1. Where were you born / raised?
I was born in Washington State, but grew up in Nebraska.
2. If you weren't a singer, what profession would you be in?
I probably would have followed my mom's career in architecture/interior design.
3. The first opera I was ever in was ...
Die Fledermaus
4. My favorite opera is...
Gounod's Faust: it was the first professional opera I saw while in college.
5. My favorite post-show meal is...
Any pub-food!
6. People would be surprised to know that...
When I was in second grade, I said I wanted to be an opera singer. I didn't grow up in a family of musicians and thought the idea of wearing a viking helmet while singing was a good one.
7. The musical instrument that I wish I could play is ...
I've always loved the cello but I don't play it.
8. I like to binge-watch...
Any show with my husband.
9. What four people (living or deceased) would you like to invite for a dinner party?
Daniel (my husband) and myself with my two grandfathers. Both shaped my life in ways I'll never know and I wish my husband could have known them in person and not just memories.
10. Everyone should see The Magic Flute because....
It's a classic!
Don't miss the chance to see Kelsey in The Magic Flute, Mozart's sublime opera that is part fairy-tale, part adventure story, and all enchantment. Performances are April 21 and 23 in Overture Hall. Tickets start at $18; visit madisonopera.org for more information.
Ten Questions with
Amanda Kingston, soprano
1st Lady in The Magic Flute
1. Where were you born / raised?
I was born in Madison, Wisconsin and grew up in Madison and Middleton. I graduated from Middleton High School.
2. If you weren't a singer, what profession would you be in?
I would probably be a pharmacist. I always enjoyed math and science while I was in school. My mother is a nurse and I had grown up being interested in medicine, but was queasy around blood.
3. The first opera I was ever in was...
Puccini's Suor Angelica. I sang in the chorus at the University of Michigan, where I did my undergraduate degree. I was so taken with the beauty of the music and the tragedy of Angelica's situation that I became infatuated with Puccini and opera in general. It was an amazing first experience.
4. My favorite opera is...
Puccini's La Bohème. It was the first opera that I ever heard and the music and story are so visceral that it really resonates with me. I was initially drawn to it because I was such a huge fan of Jonathan Larson's musical Rent, which was loosely based on the opera. When I sat down and listed to Bohème, I knew no Italian, but was shocked by how quickly I was engrossed by the show and could follow what was happening. It may be a bit cliche, but the ending always makes me cry.
5. My favorite pre-show meal is...
A hamburger. I know a lot of people don't like to eat before a show, but eating something filling a couple of hours beforehand helps me to feel grounded.
6. People would be surprised to know that...
Halloween is my favorite holiday and I love scary movies. I decorate our house with spiders, cobwebs, bats, and a giant skeleton on our front porch. I'm not a huge fan of romantic comedies and will always choose a horror or suspense film first.
7. My favorite musical instrument to play (or that I wish I could play) is ...
My favorite instrument that I have played is the flute, but I don't really play anymore. If I could play any instrument, it would be the cello. It creates such a rich sound; I'd love to take lessons at some point.
8. I like to binge-watch...
Sitcoms. Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Parks and Rec. are two of my favorite shows. It is very easy for me to lose an hour or two just letting the AutoPlay go. I know it's been going too long when Netflix or HuluPlus asks me if I'm still watching.
9. What four people (living or deceased) would you like to invite for a dinner party?
That's a tough one. I think I would invite Ruth Bader Ginsburg (ask her how to inspire more people to be politically active and hope to have some wisdom rub off), Whitney Houston (inspired me to be a singer when I was young and hopefully I would get to hear her sing live), Jesus Christ (go to the source and ask what he thinks about our path as human beings), and my Grandmother Marian (who helped take care of me when I was little and passed away suddenly when I was in elementary school).
10. Everyone should see The Magic Flute because....
It is a show with something for everyone. For those who like high-flying music, the Queen of the Night's rage aria will definitely speak to them. For those who like more legato music, Tamino's aria is full of long lines and yearning. There is dialogue that connects the musical numbers, which may bridge the gap between musical theater and opera for those new to the genre. It also contains comical characters such as Papageno who add light to the more serious themes. There is a monster in the show and supernatural themes for those who are fans of fantasy. There is also a happy ending, which never hurts.
Bonus: One question you wish someone would ask you (and the answer).
Q: What is your favorite part of being a singer?
A: I love getting to collaborate with other creative people. The colleagues that I have had the pleasure of working with over the past few years are some of the most brilliant and giving people I have ever met. I have consistently grown as a person and as an artist just by knowing them.
Don't miss the chance to see Amanda in The Magic Flute, Mozart's sublime opera that is part fairy-tale, part adventure story, and all enchantment. Performances are April 21 and 23 in Overture Hall. Tickets start at $18; visit madisonopera.org for more information.
Ten Questions with
Dan Rigazzi
Director, The Magic Flute
1. Where were you born / raised?
I was born in Sacramento, California, but grew up a Navy and Marine Corps brat. I lived in a lot of different places like California, Japan, and Washington D.C.
2. If you weren't a stage director, what profession would you be in?
I would be a chef.
3. The first opera I ever directed was...
The Rape of Lucretia.
4. My favorite opera is...
Monteverdi's Orfeo.
5. My favorite pre-show / post-show meal is...
During tech week, I eat a lot of chicken wings.
6. People would be surprised to know that...
I'm a huge baseball fan.
7. My favorite musical instrument to play is ...
Ukulele.
8. I like to binge-watch...
The Americans.
9. What four people (living or deceased) would you like to invite for a dinner party?
Jonathan Swift, Louis Armstrong, William Shakespeare, and Theodore Roosevelt.
10. Everyone should see The Magic Flute because....
It's a life-affirming celebration of the human family.
11. Bonus: One question you wish someone would ask you (and the answer).
Q: Why is opera the ultimate art form?
A: It combines the very best of the arts - music, dance, poetry, drama, visual arts, design, and fashion. All of these different branches come together to tell epic stories filled with larger than life characters. It's the hardest form to perfect, but when you get it right, it's unforgettable.
Don't miss the chance to see Dan's production of The Magic Flute, Mozart's sublime opera that is part fairy-tale, part adventure story, and all enchantment. Performances are April 21 and 23 in Overture Hall. Tickets start at $18; visit madisonopera.org for more information.
Ten Questions with 
