OPERA OMAHA ANNOUNCES STAFFING CHANGES

Aug 28, 2024

Company names Shannon Walenta as Chief Operating Officer and Lara Marsh as Director of Production

Opera Omaha’s current Managing Director, Shannon Walenta, will now assume the role of Chief Operating Officer.
Walenta returned to the Opera Omaha staff in August 2016 following eight years as the Managing Director of the Bluebarn Theatre. With over two decades of arts leadership experience, her areas of expertise include long range and strategic planning, organizational structure, process development, capital campaign development and grant writing. Previously, she served on the staff of Opera Omaha for ten years, including five years as Director of Artistic Administration, and held production and administrative positions at Houston Grand Opera and Chautauqua Opera. As an independent Arts Administrator, Ms. Walenta successfully coordinated projects for Omaha Performing Arts, the Omaha Symphony, and KANEKO. She holds degrees in music performance from California State University, Northridge and the University of Houston, and has completed professional development courses with National Arts Strategies, The Fund Raising School through the University of Indiana Center on Philanthropy and the TEAM Executive Leadership Program.

Opera Omaha is also thrilled to announce Lara Marsh as the new Director of Production.
Ms. Marsh is a very active Omaha area theatre practitioner with her Master of Arts in Theatre Direction from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Her work as a director has been seen in multiple local and regional organizations. Previously, Ms. Marsh was the Director of Production for Nebraska Shakespeare, the tour coordinator for the Nebraska Theatre Caravan, and the production manager for the Aksarben Ball, as well as the Great Plains Theatre Conference. She is also the Artistic Director for the Omaha Fringe Festival

Both Ms. Walenta and Ms. Marsh will assume their new roles as the company moves into their 24/25 Season.

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