An experienced stage director, Moritz will direct one production per season

By Peter Alexander Feb. 20 at 6:10 p.m.

The Central City Opera has announced the appointment of the accomplished stage director Alison Moritz as their new artistic director.

Moritz was selected after a national search led by Jonathan West, on behalf of Management Consultants for the Arts and CCO’s volunteer search committee, chaired by Joshua Navarro from the CCO board of directors. The position had been open since the summer of 2023.

In a written announcement, Moritz commented “I am deeply honored to join Central City Opera as the new artistic director. My previous experiences with the company have been incredibly rewarding, and I am excited to build upon that foundation as we embark on this new chapter together.”

CCO president and CEO Scott Finlay stated, “I’m thrilled to welcome Alison Moritz to Central City Opera as our new Artistic Director! Her talent and vision align perfectly with our goals, and I couldn’t be more excited to have her on board.”

Moritz has previously appeared as stage director at CCO, including the 2019 production of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly. As AD she will oversee the company’s artistic and production staff for the upcoming 2024 Festival (June 29–Aug. 4; see the CCO Web page for more information), and will direct one production per season starting with the 2025 Festival. 

Moritz’s recent productions have been described as “enchantingly cheeky” (Washington Post), “elegantly sexy” and “raw, funny, surreal, and disarmingly human” (Opera News). She has recently directed productions for Washington National Opera, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, the Glimmerglass Festival, Opera Omaha, Ravinia, Tanglewood, Bard Music Festival, and Portland Opera. Previous engagements have been on the directing staffs at Santa Fe Opera, Seattle Opera, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Minnesota Opera, Atlanta Opera, and Wolf Trap Opera.

Moritz succeeds former AD Pamela Pantos, who was released from the position in July 2023, and Pelham (Pat) Pearce, who had been AD for 26 years when he left the post in 2022.