Looking for real-world performance experience as a singer at Mizzou? Show-Me Opera gives undergraduate and graduate students the chance to take the stage in exciting opera and musical theatre productions—right from the start.

Open by audition, Show-Me Opera brings together motivated solo singers through the Opera Workshop course. Students work closely with faculty and professional collaborators to prepare and perform a wide range of repertoire, from classic opera to contemporary musical theatre.

Each fall, the troupe presents a dynamic scenes program, featuring highlights from operas and musicals. In the spring, students perform a fully staged opera in collaboration with the University Symphony Orchestra—plus a cabaret program that lets your personality and versatility shine.

Performances take place in the beautifully restored Missouri Theatre in downtown Columbia, giving students valuable experience in a professional setting. Show-Me Opera also supports new music by premiering operas composed by MU student composers, and engages with the community through outreach performances in local schools and organizations.

Show-Me Opera is led by Professors Christina Ray and Steven Tharp, who are passionate about helping young artists grow as performers and collaborators.

Past Productions:

• The Yeomen of the Guard, 2025
• Ariodante, 2024
• A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 2023
• Le nozze di Figaro, 2022
• Falstaff 2021
• The Pirates of Penzance 2020 (performances curtailed by Covid-19)
• The Magic Flute 2019
• A Certain Madness World Premiere 2018 By: Hans Bridger Heruth
• Alcina 2018
• Our Town 2017
• Le nozze di Figaro 2016
• Hatrack World Premiere 2016 By: Trey Makler 

Top row: Left/Middle - Magic Flute 2019 | Right - Hatrack by Trey Makler - 2016 World Premiere
Middle Row: Left - Marriage of Figaro 2016 | Middle - Alcina 2018 | Right - Our Town 2017
Bottom Row: Left - Opera Scenes 2018 | Right - A Certain Madness by Hans Bridger Heruth - 2018 World Premiere