Bringing Up The Lights

Joffrey Ballet Artistic Director Ashley Wheater discusses the process involved in putting together a production, including the yearly production of The Nutcracker. Plus, Dancer Amanda Assucena shares the process she goes through to prepare for The Nutcracker each Christmas.Bringing Up The Lights tells the behind the scenes story of the biggest theatrical productions in the US. Season Two: The Nutcracker at The Joffrey Ballet in Chicago This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bringingupthelights.substack.com

Ellie Cotey discusses the path she took to become the Costume Manager for the Joffrey Ballet and what goes into putting together costumes for The Nutcracker every Christmas. Plus, Music Director Scott Speck talks about juggling multiple projects and the role music plays in bringing the production to life.Bringing Up The Lights tells the behind the scenes story of the biggest theatrical productions in the US. Season Two: The Nutcracker at The Joffrey Ballet in Chicago This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bringingupthelights.substack.com

Greg Cameron, the President and CEO at The Joffrey Ballet reflects on how much it means to be peforming The Nutcracker again after a year off thanks to COVID. Meanwhile, for Director of Production Cody Chen, the move to a new venue has presented new challenges and opportunities.Bringing Up The Lights tells the behind the scenes story of the biggest theatrical productions in the US. Season Two: The Nutcracker at The Joffrey Ballet in Chicago This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bringingupthelights.substack.com

Sondra Radvanovsky talks about how she prepared for the role of Lady Macbeth and the long road back to the stage after the world shut down, including her own COVID diagnosis.Bringing Up The Lights is the story of the Lyric Opera of Chicago's 2021 production of Macbeth and their return to the stage after eighteen months due to the COVID pandemic. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bringingupthelights.substack.com

Suzanne Kszastowski has been a soprano in the Chorus of the Lyric Opera of Chicago since 2009. As opening night approaches, Suzanne shares her experience as a member of the chorus.Bringing Up The Lights is the story of the Lyric Opera of Chicago's 2021 production of Macbeth and their return to the stage after eighteen months due to the COVID pandemic. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bringingupthelights.substack.com

Lyric Opera of Chicago has finally reached the point where actors will actually take the stage and start working. That's where Ben Bell Bern and the Rehearsal Department come into the picture and make sure everyone is where they need to be.Bringing Up The Lights is the story of the Lyric Opera of Chicago's 2021 production of Macbeth and their return to the stage after eighteen months due to the COVID pandemic. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bringingupthelights.substack.com

Lyric Opera of Chicago has finally reached the point where actors will actually take the stage and start working. That's where Ben Bell Bern and the Rehearsal Department come into the picture and make sure everyone is where they need to be.Bringing Up The Lights is the story of the Lyric Opera of Chicago's 2021 production of Macbeth and their return to the stage after eighteen months due to the COVID pandemic. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bringingupthelights.substack.com

Michael Smallwood, Technical Director for the Lyric Opera of Chicago talked about his piece of the production puzzle and the Herculean effort involved in creating sets for a production like MacbethBringing Up The Lights is the story of the Lyric Opera of Chicago's 2021 production of Macbeth and their return to the stage after eighteen months due to the COVID pandemic. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bringingupthelights.substack.com

Verdi's Macbeth is not only Lyric Opera of Chicago's comeback from COVID, but it also marks the official start of Enrique Mazzola's tenure as Music Director. It's a position that is critical to the success of any production, especially the first live performance with an audience in a year and a half.Bringing Up The Lights is the story of the Lyric Opera of Chicago's 2021 production of Macbeth and their return to the stage after eighteen months due to the COVID pandemic. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bringingupthelights.substack.com

Now that the Lyric Opera has decided on Macbeth as their production for September 2021 and they've finished casting (and re-casted), now it's time to bring in the people who will inhabit the world of Macbeth. That's where Michael Black, the Chorus Master at Lyric Opera of Chicago comes into the process. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bringingupthelights.substack.com

Now that Lyric Opera has decided on bringing Macbeth to the stage in September 2021, it's time to figure out who will be on that stage. That's where Andreas Melinat the Vice President of Artistic Planning comes into the picture. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bringingupthelights.substack.com

Anthony Freud followed a long and winding path to become the General Director at Lyric Opera of Chicago. Planning a production at Lyric is a path that's just as long and winding, and it all starts in Anthony's office. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bringingupthelights.substack.com

Lyric Opera of Chicago's production of Macbeth in September of 2021 was years in the making, but ended up being their return to the stage following the COVID shutdown. Members of the team share what it was like to shut everything down, how they dealt with the down time and what it's like to be back on stage. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bringingupthelights.substack.com

Raising the curtain September 6th. Bringing up the Lights gives you a behind the scenes look at the people who help put together the biggest stage productions in the country. Season one follows the Lyric Opera of Chicago's production of Macbeth in September 2021 as they make their comeback following the COVID shutdown. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bringingupthelights.substack.com