Alan E. Hicks
Stage Director Alan E. Hicks has spent the past 20 years in professional opera and theater, first as a singer, then a teacher, finally turning his attention to stage direction. His work has been described as “imaginatively directed,” “absolutely brilliant” and “real magic.” He has created new productions for companies and universities throughout the United States and in Europe, and has served on the production staffs of Central City Opera, Chautauqua Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Green Mountain Opera Festival, Michigan Opera Theatre, Seattle Opera, Tulsa Opera and New York City Opera. In 2014, he was appointed Director of the Emerging Artist Program at Green Mountain Opera Festival directing the Emerging Artist Program production of The rape of Lucretia. For 2015–2016, in addition to Ariadne auf Naxos, Alan will direct L’elisir d’amore for Opera Santa Barbara, Albert Herring for Shenandoah Conservatory and will join the production staff of Lyric Opera of Chicago. Last season, Alan created and directed a semi-staged production of The Turn of the Screw for the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra which the Pioneer Press noted was “… not only suitably creepy, it was brilliantly done.”
From 2002 until 2006, Alan served on the faculties of the internationally acclaimed Actors Studio Drama School and American Academy of Dramatic Arts, both in New York City. His former students have performed on Broadway, in national and international tours, on all major television networks and in major motion pictures. He has taught master classes throughout the United States and has served as interim Director of Opera Workshop at Sam Houston State University and interim director of the Martha-Ellen Tye Opera Theatre at the University of Iowa.
In addition to directing and teaching activities, Alan authored a book entitled Singer and Actor: Acting Technique and the Operatic Performer (Amadeus Press), and has penned several articles on subjects ranging from acting study to auditioning. His most recent article appeared in Classical Singer (magazine) in the summer of 2014.
A native of Mississippi, Alan holds degrees in education, vocal performance and opera directing from Mississippi State University, Rice University and The University of Texas at Austin (respectively). Alan is a member of Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) and the National Opera Association.
