Lyric Opera 2025-2026 Issue 9 - Madama Butterfly

27 | Lyric Opera of Chicago 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. MELANIE BACALING ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR Previously at Lyric: La Bohème (2024/25) directorial debut. At Lyric, Bacaling previously served as associate director on Fidelio (2024/25), and assistant director on Fire Shut Up in My Bones (2021/22) and The Factotum (2022/23). Bacaling is currently on the stage directing staff at the Metropolitan Opera, where she most recently assisted on David McVicar’s production of Il trovatore and Michael Mayer’s production of Aida . She is also the House Assistant Director at the Santa Fe Opera where she has worked for five summers. Recent engagements include serving as associate director for Matthew Ozawa’s production of Madama Butterfly at Pittsburgh Opera. Bacaling holds production credits with LA Opera, Detroit Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Opera Omaha, Washington Concert Opera, Aspen Opera Center, and the Sun Valley Music Festival. As a producer, Bacaling worked with Boston Lyric Opera to create WE NEED TO LISTEN , a series of conversations interrogating the racial inequities in classical music and opera. She holds a BM in Vocal Performance and BS in Psychology from the University of Evansville, as well as a Master of Music in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from the Boston Conservatory. See the film with the Lyric Opera Orchestra. lyricopera.org/marypoppins April 10 & 11 ©Disney Lyric Opera of Chicago thanks its Official Airline, United Airlines, and acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council. 2025/26 Presenting Season Sponsor