About USU Opera Theatre
USU Opera Theatre offers students the opportunity to participate in productions of the great works of classical opera and modern musical theatre every year under the direction of Prof. Dallas Aksoy. Our productions have a focus on teaching students the art of musical stagecraft – telling a story on stage through sight and song.
Utah State’s Opera Theatre has proven to be an excellent starting place for young singers, many of whom have gone on to further study at some of the nation's finest graduate schools and conservatories and then on to accomplished careers with prominent companies around the world. Direction by professionally-experienced faculty that are focused on student improvement provides a unique experience few university programs can match. Guest directors are also brought in from across the country to provide students with authentic, industry-standard production experiences which prepares them for future success as singing actors or teachers.
Repertoire is carefully selected each year, tailored to our students’ educational benefit, and has consisted of Baroque/Classical/Romantic/20th-century opera, contemporary musical theatre, and creative programs of opera/musical theatre scenes. Opera scholarships are also available, providing additional performing opportunities and training as part of the Marie Eccles Caine-Russell Family Opera Outreach Quartet.
All interested students are welcome to be involved, regardless of major. Register for MUSC 5600 Opera Theatre Production or contact Prof. Dallas Aksoy for more information!
Productions
USU Opera Theatre is pleased to announce the following productions for the 2026-2027 year. You can find tickets for these and other Music Department productions at our online Ticket Office.
Cendrillon (Cinderella)
Music by Jules Massenet, Libretto by Henri Caïn
Massenet’s 1899 operatic retelling of the classic Cinderella fairytale is full of magic, humor, and some unexpected twists! Join us to see if Cinderella is able to break free of her Stepmother’s malignant jealousy and, with her Fairy Godmother’s help, find her happily-ever-after with Prince Charming!
- Conductor: Adam Bowen
- Director: Dallas Aksoy
- Performance Dates: Nov. 21, Dec. 4-5 at 7:30pm, Nov. 22 at 4:00pm at USU’s Morgan Theatre
- Content Advisory: None
- Recommended age: 8+, no children under 3 permitted.
- Ticket pricing:
- Adult: $20
- Senior/Youth: $18
- USU students and Music & Theatre Department Faculty and staff: Free
Performed by USU Opera Theatre students with live orchestral accompaniment by USU orchestra students and alumni. Sung in French with English titles.
Jesus Christ Superstar
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Lyrics by Tim Rice
This dramatized retelling of the end life of Jesus Christ presented through a groovy 70’s rock score is not only a thought-provoking examination of the conflicting emotions Jesus might have faced with his impending sacrifice but also a story of his relationship with Judas Iscariot and his journey from loyal disciple to traitor.
- Director: TBA
- Music Director: TBA
- Performance Dates: Apr. 2-3, 8, 10 at 7:30pm, Apr. 4 at 4:00pm at USU’s Caine Lyric Theatre
- Content Advisory: Violence, Suicide, Murder, Blood, Strobing Lights
- Recommended age: 12+, no children under 3 permitted
- Ticket pricing:
- Adult: $20
- Senior/Youth: $18
- USU students and Music & Theatre Department Faculty and staff: Free
Performed by USU Opera Theatre students with live orchestral accompaniment by USU orchestra students and alumni.
Opera Outreach Quartet
Thanks to the generosity of the Marie Eccles Caine-Russell Family, USU Opera Theatre is able to offer four scholarships for outstanding voice students to be part of the USU Opera Outreach Quartet. As their primary responsibility, the Quartet prepares and presents an educational and entertaining thirty-minute opera or musical at high schools throughout the Intermountain West.
If you’d like to have the USU Opera Outreach Quartet visit your school, please contact Ellie Christensen to arrange a visit!
Members of the 2026-2027 USU Opera Outreach Quartet
Ellie Christensen
Eleanor Lynn (soprano) has loved her experience in the USU Vocal Performance program studying under Dr. Cindy Dewey and Jamilynn Manning. She spends most of her time in the practice room, but sneaks away for waterfall hikes and to visit her family in Bountiful, UT. Having studied and been competing for over a decade, she thrives on the sensation of classical singing and the foundation it has given her for a variety of genres. Some of Ellie’s recent performances include The Pirates of Penzance (UFOMT), Mozart’s Abduction from the Seraglio (USU Opera Theatre), Ariel in Footloose (The Old Barn), The Chaperone in The Drowsy Chaperone and Adelaide in Guys and Dolls (BHSTD), and is a member of the USU Chamber Singers. While maintaining a voice studio, she is highly sought after for church, corporate, and community events and shines in swing numbers with both Jazz & Big Band ensembles. Eleanor was also seen this past season as the Maid in Cache Valley’s Lamb of God and as a soloist in the Teton Valley Chamber Festival & Vocal Academy. IG: @eleanorlynnofficial
Claire Francis
Claire Francis, soprano, is a Sophomore in the Vocal Performance Program at Utah State University. She loves sharing the joy of opera with those around her, inspiring the next generation of opera lovers through performing and teaching. She aspires to bring beauty to whatever she does, whether that is through her studies, performing, or her own studio.
Claire’s recent performances include the role of Adina in Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore, the soprano soloist in Handel’s Messiah and she is currently preparing the role of Cendrillon in Massenet’s Cendrillon. She is grateful and excited to be part of the Caine Opera Quartet and looks forward to sharing the importance of opera through this opportunity.
You will be unlikely to spot Claire during her free time as she will be cuddling with her beloved cat, Evie, or spending time with her marvelous family and friends.
Maiya Lloyd
Maiya Lloyd was born and raised in Herriman, Utah, and is currently a Senior in the USU Vocal Performance Program. She has been a performer all her life, and has been in large-scale productions every year since the age of six. Throughout her middle and high school years, she won the state champion title for Utah’s Solo & Ensemble competition ten separate times, four as an ensemble and six as a soloist.
She has participated in almost every USU Opera Theatre production since joining in 2023, as the Dowager Empress in Anastasia, ensemble in L’Elisir d’amore, (2024) Stage manager and double-board-operator in The Toxic Avenger, (2024) a woodsprite in Antonín Dvořák’s Rusalka, La Feu in L’enfant et les sortilèges, and in the cast of Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 and The Abduction from the Seraglio.
Johnny Richardson
Johnny Richardson is a singer and guitarist from Draper, Utah. He is currently a senior at Utah State University (USU) and is majoring in both Vocal and Guitar Performance. He’s loved music his whole life. He began playing guitar at age 8, violin at age 10, and studying voice at age 14. He’s also learned how to play the piano, the bass guitar, the banjo, ukulele, and the mandolin. Johnny started performing in high school, studying voice with Doris Brunatti. He was a part of the Hillcrest High Vocal Ensemble, Chamber Orchestra, and theatre program, where he would play Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Frank Sr. in Catch Me if You Can. Since attending Utah State, he has studied under Grammy Award winning tenor Thomas Glenn. Johnny’s recent roles at USU include Anatole in Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812, Pedrillo in The Abduction from the Seraglio and Prince Charming in Cendrillon. He also has recently portrayed Peter in Rob Gardner’s Lamb of God at the Logan Tabernacle. He’s honored to be a part of the Opera Quartet this year!
Highlights from Past Productions
Ghost Quartet - Spring 2022
Director: Dallas Aksoy
Scenic/Costume Designer: Dennis Hassan
Lighting Design: Hannah Whorton
Photographer: Anthony Messler
Cast/Orchestra pictured: Taylor Stucki, Patrice Densley, Gideon Benge, Hayden Höglund, Jeremy Adriano, Megan Richards, Becca Palmer
Uncovered - Spring 2022
Orpheus in the Underworld - Spring 2021
Director/Scenic Designer: Dallas Aksoy
Costume Designer: Jordan Draper
Choreographer: Stephanie White
Photographer: Anthony Messler
Cast pictured: Kristen Fairbourn, Brianna Skeen, Kaylee Borchert, Zack Grob, Tanner Pruett, Layton Loucks, Demetria Torowus, Maribelle Taylor, Joshua Rogers, Hayden Höglund, Collin Crook
L'incoronazione di Poppea - Fall 2020
Director: Stefan Espinosa
Scenic Designers: Dennis Hassan, Hannah Whorton
Costumes Designer: Alex Heder
Videographers: Michael Palmer, Anthony Messler
Photographer: Dallas Aksoy
Cast pictured: Patrice Densley, Josh Roy, Hayden Höglund, Kaylyn Baldwin, Tanner Pruett, Danielle Casós, Rachel Grob, Elisabeth Kinghorn, Zack Grob, Abbigayle Dennis, Lauren Tougas, Joshua Rogers
Dido & Aeneas - Spring 2018
Director/Choreographer: Nate Dryden
Scenic/Costume Designer: Dennis Hassan, Sara Shouse
Lighting Designer: Bruce Duerden
Photographer: Andrew McAllister
Cast pictured: Benjamin Krutsch, Becca Keel, Carly Schaub, Peter Larsen, Megan Warburton, Karley Garrett, Andrew Taylor, Nathan Scott, Sariah Seare, Danielle Casós, Amanda Strasbourg, Rachel Grob, Lauren McCurdy, Abbigayle Dennis, Allison Klippel
La finta giardiniera - Spring 2017
Director: Daniel Helfgot
Scenic/Costume Designer: Dennis Hassan
Wig/Makeup Designer: Sara Shouse
Lighting Designer: Keith Carson
Photographer: Andrew McAllister
Cast pictured: Benjamin Krutsch, Rebecca Soelberg, Andrew Taylor, Nicole Vander Does, Emily Cottam, Amanda Strasbourg, Brad Summers
