Master Class

July 18 - July 31

 

 

Buy Tickets

Performance Dates: July 18, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31

Group tickets for parties of ten or more are available.
For more information, contact our Box Office at 303-292-6700.

Handling fee and City of Central Admission Fee apply and are included in the ticket listing price.

Master Class

Lessons From Opera’s Most Beloved Diva

A young singer steps on stage. Maria Callas tears her apart - then builds her back up again, stronger. Welcome to Master Class, Terrence McNally’s Tony Award-winning drama about the price of artistic greatness. Featuring arias from Tosca, Macbeth, and La sonnambula, Master Class is a searing yet funny exploration of talent, sacrifice, and why some voices stay with us forever.

“…one of the most haunting portraits of life after stardom.” – The New York Times

“As a portrait of the artist and as a plea for excellence, commitment and beauty, Master Class succeeds brilliantly.” - Los Angeles Times

“McNally creates a fascinating dialogue… ironic and full of humor.” – Huffington Post

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Master Class Extras:

  • Free Pre-Performance Talks: one hour prior to every 2026 mainstage performance. Seating is limited — arrive early!
  • Opening Night Reception: Saturday, July 18, 5:30 p.m. Mingle with directors, actors, and musicians over cocktails and heavy hors d’oeuvres in the historic Teller House. 

Performing Artists & Creative Team

AllCastCreative
Director

Ken Cazan

Maria Callas; Soloist (Concert)

Jennifer DeDominici

Maria Callas (July 31, 7:30pm)

Marcia Ragonetti

Emmanuel “Manny” Weinstock / Coach

Arthur Bosarge

Bouncer / Albert / Footman (Baby Doe) / Stagehand (Master Class)

Isaiah Feken

Sharon Graham; Soloist (Concert)

Denique Isaac

Sophie de Palma; Chorus Soprano

Sabina Balsamo

Anthony “Tony” Candolino (Master Class); Papa McCourt (Baby Doe); Soloist (Concert)

Levi Adkins

Stage Director (Concert)/ Assistant Director (Master Class)

Gabrielle Giacomo

Scenic Designer

Lawrence E. Moten III

Resident Lighting Designer

Abigail Hoke-Brady

Sound Designer

E. Martin Gimenez

Costume Designer

Elena Flores

Resident Wig and Makeup Designer

Candace Leyland

Prop Supervisor

Caitlyn Murphy

Costume Shop Manager and Supervisor

Alexandra Dill

Assistant Lighting Designer

McKenna Ebert

Stage Manager / Assistant Stage Manager

Allison Ann Bailey

Assistant Stage Manager

Olivia Darling

Assistant Stage Manager

Lucy Guillemette

Assistant Stage Manager

Lorna Stephens

Director

Ken Cazan

Previously at CCO: Director, Kiss Me, Kate (2023), The Light in the Piazza (2022), Carousel (2021), Billy Budd (2019), Acis and Galatea (2018), The Face on the Barroom Floor (2018) 

Recently: Director, The Turn of the Screw, USC Thornton School of Music; Carmen, Music Academy of the West; Apprentice Scenes, Santa Fe Opera; Professor of Opera/Resident Stage Director, USC Thornton School of Music 

Maria Callas; Soloist (Concert)

Jennifer DeDominici

Previously at CCO: Ruth, Pirates of Penzance (2024); Mother, Amahl and the Night Visitors (2024, 2023, 2022); Franca Naccarelli, The Light in the Piazza (2022); Carrie Pipperidge, Carousel (2021) 

Recently: Lady Capulet, Romeo and Juliet, Theatreworks, Colorado Springs; Duchess Estonia Dulworth, Nice Work if You Can Get It, Lone Tree Arts Center; Mrs. Anderssen, A Little Night Music, Denver Center Theatre Company 

Maria Callas (July 31, 7:30pm)

Marcia Ragonetti

Previously at CCO: Ottavia, The Coronation of Poppea (2006); Second Lady, The Magic Flute (2002), How the West Was Sung (2000), Eureka Street (2000)

Recently: Mrs. Lovett, Sweeney Todd, Colorado Springs Chorale; Narrator, Il trovatore, Opera Colorado; Augusta Tabor, The Ballad of Baby Doe, Loveland Opera Theatre; Zita, Gianni Schicchi, Boulder Opera Company; Heidi Schiller, Follies, Vintage Theatre 

Emmanuel “Manny” Weinstock / Coach

Arthur Bosarge

Previously at CCO: Director of Choruses, The Barber of Seville (2025), The Knock (2025), Once Upon a Mattress (2025); Assistant Conductor, The Pirates of Penzance (2024), Street Scene (2024) 

Recently: Artistic Administrator, Sarasota Opera; Director of Choruses and Director of the Apprentice Artists Program, Sarasota Opera; Music Staff, Matilde (American Premiere), Opera Southwest; A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Utah Festival Opera 

 

Bouncer / Albert / Footman (Baby Doe) / Stagehand (Master Class)

Isaiah Feken

Previously at CCO: Harry Easter, Street Scene (2024); Second Man, Kiss Me, Kate (2023); Giuseppe, The Light in the Piazza (2022) 

Sharon Graham; Soloist (Concert)

Denique Isaac

Previously at CCO: Lady Lucile, Once Upon a Mattress (2025); Soprano #2 (cover), The Knock (2025) 

Recently: Gertie Cummings, Oklahoma!, Pensacola Opera; Violetta (cover), La traviata, Pensacola Opera; Bea, Three Decembers, Pensacola Opera 

Sophie de Palma; Chorus Soprano

Sabina Balsamo

Recently: Soprano Soloist, Haydn’s Paukenmesse, Dayton Bach Society; Mamselle, Sleepers Awake (Workshop), Cincinnati Opera & University of Cincinnati College  Conservatory of MusicMargery Mansfield, Welcome to the MadnessOpera Steamboat 

Anthony “Tony” Candolino (Master Class); Papa McCourt (Baby Doe); Soloist (Concert)

Levi Adkins

Recently: Blind, Die Fledermaus, Florida Grand Opera; Pong, Turandot, Florida Grand Opera; Uncle Percy (cover), This House (World Premiere), Opera Theater of St. Louis 

 

Stage Director (Concert)/ Assistant Director (Master Class)

Gabrielle Giacomo

Recently: Assistant Director, The Silent Serenade, Mannes Opera, Mannes School of Music at The New School; Assistant Director, The Rake’s ProgressThe Glimmerglass Festival; Assistant Director, Candide, Curtis Opera Theatre 

Scenic Designer

Lawrence E. Moten III

Previously at CCOScenic Designer, The Knock (2025) 

Recently: Scenic Designer, Treemonisha, Washington National Opera; Merry Wives, Shakespeare Theatre Company, DC; Henry 6, The Old Globe; Chicken & Biscuits, Circle in the Square Theatre; Cosí fan Tutte, Wolf Trap Opera; This Little Light of Mine (World Premiere)Santa Fe Opera; Covenant (World Premiere), Roundabout Theatre Company; Bullrusher, McCarter Theatre; Faust, Wolf Trap Opera; Blues for an Alabama Sky, Guthrie Theatre    

Resident Lighting Designer

Abigail Hoke-Brady

Previously at CCO: Lighting Designer, The Barber of Seville (2025), The Knock (2025), Once Upon a Mattress (2025), The Pirates of Penzance (2024), The Girl of the Golden West (2024), Street Scene (2024), Romeo & Juliet (2023), Kiss Me, Kate (2023), Othello (2023)  

 

Recently: Lighting Designer, A Doll’s House, Two River Theater; Little Miss Perfect, The Olney Theater; Intelligence, Virginia Opera; La traviata, San Diego Opera; Tosca, Pittsburgh Opera; Pagliacci, Seattle Opera; Roméo et Juliette, Toledo Opera; Don Pasquale, Opera Omaha

Sound Designer

E. Martin Gimenez

Recently: Audio Engineer, Pagliacci, Pacific Opera Project; Spanish Dracula, LA Opera; Sound Designer, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet StreetChautauqua Opera Company 

Costume Designer

Elena Flores

Recently: Costume Designer, Cinderella: A Salsa Fairytale, South Coast Repertory Theatre; The Cunning Little Vixen, USC Thornton School of Musicनेहा & NEELArtists at Play & Latino Theater Company 

Resident Wig and Makeup Designer

Candace Leyland

Previously at CCO: Wig and Makeup Designer, The Barber of Seville (2025), The Knock (2025), Once Upon a Mattress (2025); Wig and Makeup Assistant, The Pirates of Penzance (2024), The Girl of the Golden West (2024), Street Scene (2024), Madama Butterfly (2019), Billy Budd (2019 

Recently: Wig & Makeup Designer, The Marriage of Figaro, Opera Omaha; Wigs, Hair and Make-Up Designer, La traviata, Opera Columbus; Wig Designer, The Rocky Horror Show, The Carnegie; Assistant Wig & Makeup Designer, Madama Butterfly, Pittsburgh Opera; Don Giovanni, Opera Omaha

Prop Supervisor

Caitlyn Murphy

RecentlyProp Supervisor, Marcel on the Train, Classic Stage Company; Prop Design, Room 1214, 59E59 Theatres, NYC; Stargazers, Page 73 Productions, NYC 

Costume Shop Manager and Supervisor

Alexandra Dill

Previously at CCO: Stitcher / Dresser, The Rape of Lucretia (2008), West Side Story (2008), Susannah (2008) 

Recently: Soft Goods Supervisor, The Boys, Prime Video; Red One, Prime Video; Vought Rising, Prime Video 
 

Assistant Lighting Designer

McKenna Ebert

Previously at CCO: Assistant Lighting Designer, The Barber of Seville (2025), The Knock (2025), Once Upon a Mattress (2025); Lighting Designer, CCO in Concert (2025) 

Recently: Lighting Designer, The Precipice, Irondale, NYC; Assistant Lighting Designer, A Guide for the Homesick, DR2 Theatre, Off-Broadway; Left on Tenth, Broadway; The Who’s Tommy, Broadway & Goodman Theatre, Chicago; Peter Pan, National Tour

Stage Manager / Assistant Stage Manager

Allison Ann Bailey

Recently: Assistant Stage Manager, I & You: The Musical, Olney Theatre Center; The Crucible, Washington National Opera; Little Miss Perfect, Olney Theatre Center 

Assistant Stage Manager

Olivia Darling

Previously at CCO: Stage Management Intern, Dido and Aeneas (2021), Rigoletto (2021) 

Recently: Calling Stage Manager, The Barber of Seville, Charleston Opera Theatre; Assistant Stage Manager, The Little Prince, The Dallas Opera; La traviata, Opera Colorado 

Assistant Stage Manager

Lucy Guillemette

Previously at CCO: Assistant Stage Manager, The Barber of Seville (2025), The Knock (2025) 

Recently: Assistant Stage Manager, La bohéme, Opera Colorado; Madama Butterfly, Kentucky Opera; Sweeney Todd, Utah Opera; Rigoletto, Opera San Antonio; Pagliacci, Opera San Antonio; The Pirates of Penzance, Opera San Antonio; Madama Butterfly, Opera San Antonio; Ernani, Sarasota Opera; Fidelio, Heartbeat Opera 

Assistant Stage Manager

Lorna Stephens

Recently: Assistant Stage Manager, The Tales of Hoffmann, The Florentine Opera; Don Giovanni, The Florentine Opera; The Flying Dutchman, Des Moines Metro Opera 

Contact our Box Office for more information at 303-292-6700 or [email protected].

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Explore the Season

Performance Location

Central City Opera House
124 Eureka St.
Central City, CO 80427

Book (playwright)

Terrence McNally

SPOKEN In

English
(English supertitles)

Run Time

Approx. 2 hours and 15 minutes, including a 20 minute intermission