Opera Theatre Kicks Off Season With Scandal and Intrigue

Productions help Ole Miss students develop skills in acting, movement and vocal styles

Three women wearing colorful costumes and theatrical makeup sing and dance on a stage.

OXFORD, Miss. - The University of Mississippi Opera Theatre kicks off its 2025-26 season on Friday (Oct. 24) with an exploration of drama both onstage and off in "Curtains Up! Scenes of Scandal and Intrigue."

The production is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday in Nutt Auditorium. Admission is free and open to the public.

The theme for this season, "Behind the Curtain: A Season of Conflict and Chaos," takes inspiration from "Der Schauspieldirektor," or "The Impresario," by Mozart. The opera offers a witty glimpse into the behind-the-scenes life of opera, where two aspiring prima donnas engage in a playful, yet fiery, competition for center stage as the company around them struggles to maintain order.

"With the story of 'The Impresario' in mind, music director (Amanda) Johnston and I chose scenes for this fall that balance the students' musical experiences while playing on the broader theme of scandal" said Bonita Bunt, Opera Theatre director and assistant professor of music.

Three young women wearing costumes walk across a darkened stage.
Music students Emily Clements (left), Lucy Elfert and Kristina Tullgren perform in a 2024 Opera Theatre production of 'The Turn of the Screw.' The company's 2025-26 season kicks off Oct. 24 with 'Curtains Up! Scenes of Scandal and Intrigue.' Submitted photo

The opera program serves as a creative laboratory for students to develop their skills in acting, movement, languages and a variety of vocal styles.

"Being a part of the opera company allows me to challenge myself as a musician in many ways," said K. Brooke Busby, a junior music education major from Waynesboro and a graduate of the Mississippi School of the Arts. "The many diverse productions and pieces we have done have allowed me to broaden my musical knowledge and explore my skills.

"When I portrayed the role of Madam Kirsten in our production of 'The Beautiful Bridegroom,' I was challenged with this intensely beautiful yet hilarious role that called for me to be open to many new ideas. Opera Theatre has expanded my worldly view and knowledge in my musicianship and I hope to continue to immerse myself in the culture of opera."

Each Opera Theatre project is chosen to support students' artistic and academic growth, preparing them for future success on and off the stage. Lucy Elfert, a junior from Ridgeland majoring in music performance, recalled how performing in "The Turn of the Screw" as a freshman challenged her skills and helped her improve.

"I was a bit overwhelmed by some of the rhythms I hadn't seen before," Elfert said. "I had some great mentors throughout that process who helped me feel confident in myself as I performed it.

"I felt a lot of pressure with it being my first performance at Ole Miss, but the graduate students in my ensemble were nothing but supportive, which made the experience so rewarding. It inspired me to want to be a good mentor to the new opera students who come each year and welcome people with open arms because we all need it."

Three young women rehearse a scene on a stage.

Aaron Gholson (left), Amelia Samples and Lucy Elfert rehearse a scene from a 2024 Opera Theatre production in Nutt Auditorium. Photo by Hunt Mercier/ Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services

The production of "Curtains Up!" has provided challenges of a different sort for cast members, said Lemmie Queen A. Fiffer, a sophomore music education major from West.

"Preparing for our scene production this Friday and Sunday was really tough, mainly because of the tight deadline to memorize the music and having to remember the staging for each piece," said Fiffer, who also sings in the Oxford Civic Chorus. "This helps me prepare for my career in music because it shows that music doesn't have a stopping point; it's well-rounded, and that is the most important thing when it comes to being a part of different ensembles or small groups."

Fiffer also is set to appear in the Opera Theatre's spring production of Mozart's "Der Schauspieldirektor" as Buff.

The company's season includes four major staged events, plus master classes and workshops for participating students. The remaining productions are:

  • Nov. 23 – LOU Side-by-Side Concert, featuring the Lafayette-Oxford-University Symphony Orchestra, Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30 p.m., free
  • Feb. 25, 2026 – "An Evening of Arias," Nutt Auditorium, 7:30 p.m., free
  • April 24 and 26, 2026 – Mozart's "Der Schauspieldirektor," featuring the Lafayette-Oxford-University Symphony Orchestra, Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts, 7:20 p.m. April 24 and 3 p.m. April 26, $10 tickets available through the UM Box Office.

For more information about performances, click here.

Top: Music students Brooke Busby (left), Amelia Samples and Lucy Elfert perform in the spring 2025 Opera Theatre production of 'The Beautiful Bridegroom' in the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts. The company's productions are designed to challenge students and help them develop their acting, movement and vocal skills. Photo by Hunt Mercier/ Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services

By

Delaney Girard

Campus

Office, Department or Center

Published

October 21, 2025