Lyric Opera 2025-2026 Issue 8 - Salome

27 | Lyric Opera of Chicago 59 STUDIO VIDEO DESIGNERS Lyric debut 59 Studio, based in London and New York, conceives, directs, designs, and delivers large- scale story-driven artworks, stage shows, events, and immersive experiences. Recent design for theatre and events includes: Ragtime (Lincoln Center), The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay (Metropolitan Opera), Stranger Things: The First Shadow (West End/Broadway, Tony and Olivier Awards), Aida (Metropolitan Opera), Camelot (Vivian Beaumont Theatre, Lincoln Center), Pictures From Home (Broadway), Flying Over Sunset and Intimate Apparel (Lincoln Center Theater), The Last Ship (Northern Stage/ UK tour/US tour), Oslo (Lincoln Center/National Theatre/Harold Pinter Theatre), Wonder.land (Manchester International Festival/ National Theatre), An American in Paris (Broadway/London/US tour), Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Broadway), The Forbidden Zone (Salzburg Festival/Schaubühne Berlin), Les Misérables (world tour), War Horse (NT/Worldwide tours), and the London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony. Highlights as video designers for opera include The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs (Santa Fe Opera), and Marnie , Two Boys , Doctor Atomic , Satyagraha , and The Pearl Fishers (Metropolitan Opera/ENO). ANDREW GEORGE ORIGINAL CHOREOGRAPHER Previously at Lyric: Six works since 2007/08, most recently Don Carlos and Macbeth (both 2022/23). Born in Wales and trained at the Laban Centre, George’s work has been seen at the Royal Ballet and Opera in Andrea Chénier (also Barcelona), Les Troyens and Adriana Lecouvreur (also La Scala, Metropolitan Opera, Barcelona, Vienna, Paris), and Salome . For the English National Opera, he choreographed Agrippina (also Barcelona), The Turn of the Screw , The Handmaid’s Tale , and Die Walküre . At Lyric, he previously choreographed Wozzeck (2015/16), Rusalka (2013/14), Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (2012/13), and Giulio Cesare (2007/08). His work has been seen at the Metropolitan Opera ( Agrippina, Cavalleria rusticana/Pagliacci, Anna Bolena, Giulio Cesare , and Don Giovanni ); Santa Fe Opera and Scottish Opera ( Falstaff ); and Glyndebourne ( The Abduction from the Seraglio, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Giulio Cesare (also Lille), and Carmen (also Copenhagen and Dallas). In addition to numerous productions for Scottish Opera, Welsh National Opera, and Opera North, his work has been seen in Paris at the Châtelet ( A Little Night Music ) and the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées ( Ariodante, Semele, L’incoronazione di Poppea ); and at La Scala ( Tannhäuser ). EMILY PIERCY REVIVAL CHOREOGRAPHER Lyric debut Recent engagements for the choreographer include La traviata (Glyndebourne), Salome (Royal Ballet and Opera), Carmen (Glyndebourne, Royal Danish Opera, Opera Vest, Norway), Privates on Parade (Michael Grandage Company), and The Thrill of Lov e (New Vic). As a dancer and actor, she has performed in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Parsifal, Giulio Cesare , and Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Glyndebourne), Moving in Time (New Adventures/ TEA Films), La Bohème and Agrippina (English National Opera), Nutcracker! (New Adventures, Sadler’s Wells Theatre), Play Without Words (New Adventures, National Theatre UK), Car Man (New Adventures, Old Vic), Cinderella and Swan Lake (New Adventures, Piccadilly Theatre, Los Angeles, Broadway), Swan Lake (BBC/NVC film), and Die Zauberflöte (film). JOHN METZNER WIG & MAKEUP DESIGNER The versatile designer first joined the staff of Lyric for the 2022/23 Season. He has previously collaborated with Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Lookingglass Theatre, and Court Theatre. He served for nine years as Head of Wig and Makeup for Webster University’s Conservatory of Theatre Arts, and designed hair and makeup for more than 50 performances at The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. Other regional credits include work at The Muny, Great River Shakespeare Festival, and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, where he designed for The Pirates of Penzance , among many other productions. His advanced training includes wig styling at the Wig Room Training Academy and London School of Wig Making. John Metzner is supported by The Marlys A. Beider Wigmaster and Makeup Designer Endowed Chair. JORDAN LEE BRAUN ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR Since 2016, Braun has worked on more than two dozen productions at Lyric as either an Associate Director, Assistant Director, Stage Manager, or Director for Lyric Unlimited. She has collaborated with directors Richard Jones, Sir David Pountney, Sir David McVicar, Sir Graham Vick, Francesca Zambello, Arin Arbus, Barrie Kosky, Bart Sher, Jonathan Miller, and many more. Recently, Braun has directed Madama Butterfly at the Canadian Opera Company and Houston Grand Opera. Braun has also worked with the Washington National Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Opera Colorado, Wolf Trap Opera, The Atlanta Opera, Florentine Opera, Opera Omaha, Opera Grand Rapids, Charlottesville Opera, Fort Worth Opera, Sarasota Opera, Toledo Opera, and Opera Carolina.