The Ballad of Baby Doe at Oklahoma City University

’The Ballad of Baby Doe” to Open OCU Opera Season Nov. 15-17

Oklahoma City University’s Opera and Music Theater Company presents the American opera The Ballad of Baby Doe, an American rags-to-riches-to-rags story inspired by true events, Nov. 15-17.

The work, based on the real-life tale of a 19th-century Colorado miner and his wives, will feature a 39-piece orchestra, under the direction of Prof. an McDaniel, and a cast of 44. 

The Ballad of Baby Doe was commissioned and premiered by Colorado’s Central City Opera, with a score by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Douglas Moore. The work debuted at New York City Opera in 1958 with Beverly Sills in the title role.

Director Dr. David Herendeen attributes the opera’s continued popularity to its "tuneful score, American themes and true and tawdry love triangle.”

Performances are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets ($15-30) from www.okcu.edu/tickets or 405.208.5227. 

Herendeen will present a free director's talk 30 minutes before curtain.

The production features Celine Sullivan as choreographer and Karen Coe Miller as intimacy choreographer. Original costumes were designed by Natalie Jacobson, with lighting by Jackson Maner, scenic design by Jason Foreman, and sound design by Jacob Henry. 

OCU’s season continues in 2025 with the Go-Go’s jukebox musical Head Over Heels (Feb. 14-16), the mainstage opera twin bill Strawberry Fields and Gianni Schicchi (Feb. 21-23), and the season-finale musical: Cole Porter’s Anything Goes (April 11-13).

The Bass School of Music is home to the Oklahoma Opera & Music Theater Company, the nation’s oldest campus-based troupe now celebrating its 73rd consecutive season. OCU has been honored with 11 National Opera Association production awards, and selected multiple times by Playbill for its “Big Ten” honor roll of top schools educating Broadway performers. For details, visit www.okcu.edu/music.

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THE CAST: Featuring Audrey Logan and Isabella Ruano as Baby Doe; Paige Calvert as Sarah; Jessica Livdahl as Mary; Avery Benjamin as Kate; Kaytlyn Eagleton as Augusta; Maureen Morrisey as Mama McCourt; Alexa Roemer as Emily; Emma Johnston as Effie; Rylee Polk as Meg; Gabrielle Duso as Samantha; Joshua Cominsky and Logan Dooley as Horace Tabor; Zane Brolin as William Jennings Bryan; Aleksander Lipinski as Sam; Parker Ellsworth as Bushy; Niko Theriault as Barney; Giancarlo Holland as Jacob; Presley Harrington, Tim Troilo, Valentino Martone and Nick Montgomery as The Dandies; James Pendergast as Chester A. Arthur; Brady McComas as Father Chapelle / Old Silver Miner; Caleb Cox as Albert; Madeline Belcher as Elizabeth / Newsboy I; Haylie Hayne Orr as Silver Dollar; Elisa Mato and Ellie Viana as Dance Hall Girls; Garrison Mack as Mr. McCourt; Aiden Bartholomew as McCourt son; and Amelia NeSmith and Abbie Mitchell as McCourt daughters. 

The Chorus includes sopranos Avery Benjamin, Paige Calvert, Jessica Livdahl, Elisa Mato, Rylee Polk, Ellie Viana and Abbie Mitchell; mezzos Madeline Belcher, Gabrielle Duso, Emma Johnston, Amelia NeSmith, Rachel Parsons, Alexa Roemer and Alayna Watkins; tenors Cameron Brown, Parker Ellsworth, Presley Harrington, Aleksander Lipinski, Garrison Mack, Brady McComas, James Pendergast, Reid Taylor and Tim Troilo; and baritones/basses Aiden Bartholomew, Caleb Cox, Giancarlo Holland, Valentino Martone, Andrew Massey, Nick Montgomery, Blake Narcisian and Niko Theriault.

THE ORCHESTRA: Violin I: Sydney McLeary, Sarina Paolini, Andrew White, Emily Kent, Kynlee Cook, Addison Winesburg; Violin II: Grace Cavett, Grant Dominick, Weston Tweddell, McKenzie Lofgren, Isabella Maria Mertins, Madilynn Hinson; Viola: Patrick Acosta, Dubal Vargas, Florence Thompson, Eylin Rocha; Cello: Nelson Conley, Sam Smith, Jaidan Ursich, Adrian Smith; Bass: Nathan Hobbs, Michael Scott; Flute/Piccolo: Emma Ganoa, Jenny Nguyen; Oboe: Lauren Vaca; Clarinet: Julia Kahman, Cristian Celis; Bassoon: Lince Ruiz; Horn: Michael Pulliam, Jacob Fleury; Trumpet: Gabe Carter, Wayne Hoover; Trombone: Benjamin Rihner, Brandon Lowe; Tuba: Dalton Williams; Timpani: Noah Keifer; Percussion: Olivia Steele; Piano/Celesta: Jay Teamer; Harp: Ryan Batt. 

THE CREATIVE TEAM

Director: David Herendeen 

Music Director: Jan McDaniel

Associate Music Director/Choral Master: Joe Fitzgerald

Intimacy Choreographer: Karen Coe Miller

Dance Contact Choreographer: Celine Sullivan

Scenic Designer: Jason Foreman

Head Carpenter: Memphis Ridge

Lighting Designer: Jackson Maner

Lighting Design Mentor: Annalise Caudle

Sound Design Mentor: Jacob Henry

Costume Designer: Natalie Jacobson

Costume Mentor: Alyssa Coututier-Herndon

Properties Supervisor: Dixie Huckabay

Properties Artisan: Ares Smith

Scenic Charge Artist: Kristy Benson

Scenic Technicians: Gabriel Holliday, Gabe Meckling

Student Vocal Coach: Jay Teamer 

Assistant Music Director/Orchestra Manager: Katie Crim 

Assistant Music Director: Jacob Campos

Stage Manager: Lauren Whyte

Stage Manager Mentor: Shannon Richey 

House Manager Ava Musgraves 

Performance Administrator: Malori Martin

Authors

• Douglas Moore
• John Latouche