The Hobbit

At the Council of Elrond in Rivendell, the Hobbit Bilbo Baggins is invited to tell the story of how he came to find the One Ring. With the help of Elvish performers, he brings his adventures to life.

Bilbo’s tale begins in the peaceful hills of Hobbiton in the Shire, where life is quiet and uneventful—just the way he likes it. But everything changes when Gandalf the Wizard and 13 Dwarves arrive at his door. Led by the proud Thorin Oakenshield, the Dwarves are determined to reclaim their stolen treasure from the fearsome Dragon Smaug. Despite his doubts, Bilbo agrees to join their quest.

Their journey is full of dangers. Trolls nearly capture them, Goblins chase them through dark tunnels, and giant spiders lurk in the forest of Mirkwood. Bilbo, once timid and unsure, begins to show courage. He outwits Gollum in a game of riddles, rescues the Dwarves from trouble, and discovers a magic Ring that can make him invisible.

At last, the company reaches the Lonely Mountain. Bilbo sneaks into Smaug’s lair, stealing a golden cup and finding the Dragon’s one weak spot. When Smaug attacks Lake-town in fury, it is Bard the Bowman who brings the Dragon down.

With Smaug’s treasure unguarded, old rivalries flare up among Men, Elves, and Dwarves. Bilbo, who only wants peace, offers a priceless jewel toend the fighting. Before they can reach a truce, Goblins and Wolves descend, and a great battle begins. Thorin fights bravely but is fatally wounded; in his final moments, he makes peace with Bilbo.

The adventure over, Bilbo declines riches and returns to the Shire, forever changed by the journey that took him there and back again.

Emma Greenaway, Bilbo Baggins
Damian Alberti, Gandalf/Smaug
Nicholas Hoover, Thorin
Lola Benedict, Elrond
Ella Hawkins, Thranduil
Samara Hernandez, Azog the Great Goblin
Allison Lechner, Master of Laketown
Kayla Bence, Bard the Bowman
Brock Cannon, Gollum

Dwarves

Olive Cross, Dwalin
Michael Hacker, Balin
Anna Kate Matloff, Fili
Declan Permenter, Kili
Leah Armstrong, Ori
Mila Kremeier, Nori
Liam Street, Dori
Ingrid Benedict, Oin
Vanessa Stephens, Gloin
Elara Greenaway, Bifur
Aisley Hodges, Bofur
Zoey Wilson, Bombur

Elf-maidens

Kiera Pshigoda, Gwelulind/Thrush
Angelique Brown, Lanthirlind/Eagle
Sophia Kohut, Amarlind
Buffy Villarreal, Naurlind
Adella Carter, Lasslind/Eagle Lord
Ayanna Stewart, Gallind

Elves

Ava Garnecky, Lalaith
Isabelle Murphy, Hwiniol

Goblins

Millie Henry, Golg

Chorus

Emberly Arroyo
Kayla Bence
Brock Cannon
Gwendolyn Hass
Sanya Irlinger
Carrigan Johnson
Lucy Kohut
Allison Lechner
Siren Ledbetter
Luis Soriano

Christian Bester, Gandalf/Smaug Cover
Buffy Villareal, Bilbo Cover
Adella Carter, Thorin Cover
Ella Hawkins, Dwarf Cover
Vanessa Stephens, Elf-maiden cover
Ava Garnecky, Elf-maiden Cover
Siren Ledbetter, Elf Cover

Aaron Beck – Conductor
For Tulsa Youth Opera: Conductor: The Snow Queen; Amahl and the Night Visitors. For Tulsa Opera Signature Chorale: Dvořák Stabat Mater; Rossini Stabat Mater.

Dani Keil – Stage Director
For Tulsa Opera: Stage Director: Aïda in Concert. For Tulsa Youth Opera: Stage Director: Amahl and the Night Visitors, Pinocchio. For Tulsa Opera’s Raise Your Voice Tour: Stop! Bully!, Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Girl in the World, Sid the Serpent Who Wanted to Sing. Stage Director, Disgraced (Cape Fear Regional Theatre); Stage Director, Wit (Triad Stage).

Williams Boles – Original Scenic Designer

Randy Blair – Costume Designer
For Tulsa Opera: Costume Designer: Into the Woods; I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. Costume Designer: American Theatre Company, University of Tulsa, Westport Country Playhouse. Costumer/Instructor: Tulsa Community College Theatre Department.

Weston Wilkerson – Lighting Designer (Tulsa Opera Debut)
Lighting Designer: Ohio Light Opera, Florida Repertory Theatre, Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, Alabama Shakespeare Company, Portland Stage Company, City Theatre.

Tara Tumey – Hair & Makeup Designer
For Tulsa Opera – Assistant Hair & Makeup Designer: The Tragedy of Carmen, The Medium, Aïda in Concert, Into the Woods, Salome, Puccini and Verdi Play Ball!

Jesse Ulrich – Lecturer (Tulsa Opera Debut)
A graduate of Broken Arrow High School, the University of Oklahoma (B.A. in History), and Brandeis University (M.A. in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies), Jesse Ulrich is a passionate Tolkien scholar and lifelong admirer of the author’s work.

Lyndon Meyer – Cover Conductor & Principal Pianist
Chorus Director (Tulsa Opera); Conductor, La bohème (Heartland Opera Theatre); Staff Accompanist (Lotte Lenya Competition)

Christian Bester – Gandalf/Smaug Cover
Tom, The Face on the Barroom Floor (Tulsa Opera); Schaunard, La bohème (Pro Musica Theater); Zaremba, Polin Blut (Americke Jaro Festival); Major General, The Pirates of Penzance (Heartland Opera Theatre); Filstrup Resident Artist – Peter Strummer Artist

Jeremy Wright – Tulsa Youth Opera Assistant Director

Buddy Wilson, Head of Carpentry

Lauren McPherson, Scenic Artist

Caity Murphy, Head of Props

Robert Coughlin, Production Electrician

Justice Bigler, Production Audio

Maegan Swick, Head of Wardrobe

Lesyle Dickerson, Assistant Head of Wardrobe

Nan Luchini, Production Stage Manager

Rochelle Clark, Assistant Stage Manager

Susan Fenrich, Assistant Stage Manager

Aaron Beck, Supertitle Preparation

TBA, Supertitle Caller

Stage and Wardrobe labor provided under agreement with IATSE local 354 & IATSE local 904.

VIOLIN I

Gina Davis, Concertmaster

VIOLIN II

Sheri Scales-Neubauer*

VIOLA

Jeff Cowen*

CELLO

Kari Caldwell*

BASS

Chad Johnson*

FLUTE

Dana Higbee*

CLARINET

David Carter*

HORN

Derek Matthesen*

PERCUSSION

Roy Smith*

TIMPANI/PERCUSSION II

Jim Clanton*

PIANO

Lyndon Meyer

ORCHESTRA LIBRARIAN

Marc Facci

*Principal

The Tulsa Opera Orchestra operates under an agreement with the American Federation of Musicians local 94.