Opera Saratoga Announces Casts for 2026 Festival Season, Celebrating 65 Years

Saratoga Springs, NY (Feb. 9) — Opera Saratoga has announced casting for its 2026 festival season, marking the company’s 65th anniversary with a diverse slate of opera, musical theatre, new works, and community-centered programming. Performances will take place primarily at Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs, New York.

Many performers throughout the season are members of Opera Saratoga’s Festival Artist Program, the second oldest Young Artist Program in the nation, which provides professional training and performance opportunities for emerging singers.

The season opens with “Happy End” by Kurt Weill, Bertolt Brecht, and Elisabeth Hauptmann, presented in collaboration with The Glimmerglass, Seagle Festival, and Finger Lak es Opera May 28 and 30. The production is directed by Mary Birnbaum and conducted by Robert Ainsley, dramaturgy by Kelley O’Rourke and features Ana Karneža and Gregory Feldmann, with additional casting to be announced.

Donizetti’s “The Elixir of Love (L’elisir d’amore)” will be presented June 21-27, directed by John Giampietro and conducted by Nicolò Sbuelz. The cast includes Shelèn Hughes Camacho (Adina), Wonjin Choi (Nemorino), Dasol Lee (Dulcamara), Joseph Parrish (Belcore), and Fantine Douilly (Gianetta). The chorus will be comprised of Festival Artists Sarah Rachel Bacani, Maya McGuire, Christopher Kirby Saunders, Kayla Sconiers, Joshua Thomas, Minghang Wang, and Adam Wells.

Opera Saratoga will also present a fully staged production of “My Fair Lady,” with music by Frederick Loewe and book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, running June 20-28. Directed by Mary Birnbaum, with choreography by Julia Eichten, and music direction by Adam Nielsen, the cast features Christine Taylor Price (Eliza Doolittle) and Bill Army (Henry Higgins), alongside Sadie Spivey, Maiya Williams, Nathan Romportl, Nazrin Azlan Alymann, Daniel Esteban Lugo, and Jack O’Leary.

New work development continues with workshop performances of “Drift,” by composer Alyssa Weinberg and librettist J. Mae Barizo, June 21 and 26. The workshop is directed by Caili Quan and conducted by Christopher Allen.

Concerts will include “Something Wonderful: Rodgers and Hammerstein at the Mansion,” programmed by Laurie Rogers, an audience favorite with buffet lunch or dinner May 31; weekly Wednesday Portrait Concerts at Saratoga Arts May 20, 27, June 3, and 10, where artists share the music that inspires them; Opera Saratoga’s Gala June 4; and the Capital Region Composers Concert June 27, featuring the music of composers from the Capital Region and a roster of local singers.

In addition, Opera Saratoga’s beloved family show remixes music for the mainstage and offers kids a free interactive and fun encounter with music theatre. Don’t wait to book your tickets for 11 a.m. June 21 and 23.

Affinity nights include Pride Night June 24, 40 and under night June 25, as well as Opera Saratoga’s alumni weekend June 26-28. Check Opera Saratoga’s website for pre- and post-show events.

Reflecting on the season, Artistic and General Director Mary Birnbaum said, “As we celebrate our 65th anniversary, this season reflects what Opera Saratoga has always stood for — bold programming, deep community connection, and an unwavering belief in the power of storytelling through music. From beloved classics to new voices, these artists embody the future of our art form.”

Birnbaum added, “This season brings together emerging and established artists in works that invite joy, reflection, and discovery. It’s a celebration not only of our history, but of where we’re going next.”

Single tickets and subscriptions for the 2026 festival season are available by visiting atuph.org or by calling the Box Office at Proctors (518) 346-6204. More information is available at operasaratoga.org.

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This production of My Fair Lady is licensed by Music Theatre International.

About Opera Saratoga

Lake George Opera, now Opera Saratoga, began with a production of “Die Fledermaus” at the Diamond Point Theatre July 5, 1962, playing to an audience of 230 people. The company now calls Saratoga Springs home and performs for more than 25,000 people annually. To date, the company has performed 90 different fully staged works by 52 different composers, including 33 works by American composers and 10 premiere productions. Throughout its history, the company’s continued success has been shaped by visionary leaders, talented artists, and critically acclaimed productions.

General and Artistic Director Mary Birnbaum has focused on revitalizing Opera Saratoga’s programs, bringing children’s opera to over 30 schools and venues in the region, and expanding Songs by Heart, a therapeutic music program for seniors afflicted with Alzheimer’s or dementia as well as moving the opera to Universal Preservation Hall in downtown Saratoga Springs. Birnbaum’s efforts have emphasized accessibility through free programming, work with local artists, and the inclusion of works by living composers and continuing the tradition of producing musicals. In 2024, the company commissioned its first full-length opera from an all-female team, “Drift.”

Support for Opera Saratoga’s season comes from the New York State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, Opera America, Touba Family Foundation, Stewarts Dake Family Foundation, and many individual donors.