Kurt Howard Rejoins Fort Worth Opera as Production Manager/Stage Manager

Long Time Pro Returns in Dual Role as Single Ticket Sales Begin for Ambitious New Season

(Fort Worth, Texas) – Fort Worth Opera announced the return of former management team stalwart Kurt Howard to the combined role of Production Manager and Stage Manager. Howard previously served the company in this dual position ten years ago, from 2004 to 2014.

“We are thrilled that Kurt has chosen to return,” said Fort Worth Opera General & Artistic Director Angela Turner Wilson. “He was a crucial part of the team during a previous period of intense development, and he’s coming back to us with even more experience and wisdom, and a vast network of industry connections.”

Most recently, Howard served as Producing Director at Opera Omaha, a company with a reputation for world and American premieres. Prior to that experience, Howard sharpened administrative and networking skills as Managing Director and Director of Programs Services at OPERA America, the NYC-based service organization that boasts a membership of over 200 companies, 500 institutions, and 3,500 individual opera professionals. Decades previously, Howard began his career as a freelance stage manager, forging connections with production teams at Los Angeles Opera, San Diego Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Michigan Opera Theater, Detroit Opera, and Long Beach Opera, to name a few.

“These are challenging times for arts organizations, but the more we work together to share resources, the stronger we can all be,” Turner Wilson continued. “With Kurt on board, Fort Worth Opera is tapped into amazing resources, both here in the city and nationally. Kurt knows everybody. And everybody he knows respects him and is eager to work with him again.”

As Production Manager at Fort Worth Opera, Howard is directly responsible for all aspects of production planning, including creative team management, budget development, and production logistics. As Stage Manager, his hands-on oversight continues through the rehearsal and performance process.

“We pioneered this combination role back when I started at Fort Worth Opera in 2004,” said Howard of the arrangement. “The idea is that the person who's making financial decisions about the physical production should also be in the rehearsal room where those decisions impact artistic needs. It streamlines the process, and bakes in support for the artists when you don’t have to go through multiple channels to get stuff done.”

Howard has already begun production work for the ambitious 2024/25 season at Fort Worth Opera, which features two mainstage productions and the return of fully staged opera to Bass Hall. The season also offered a charming homecoming surprise for the new manager.

“The two mainstage shows this season — Little Women and Cenerentola — are two of the first shows I ever worked on for Fort Worth Opera all those years ago,” Howard said. “Starting a new season with these two pieces is like old home week for me.”

Season ticket packages for the 2024/25 season — which also features the Civic Impact productions of ¡Bienvenidos! de Frida Kahlo and Elixir of Love, Showcasing Hattie Mae Lesley Resident Artists, as well as the exciting return of the McCammon Voice Competition — have been selling for several weeks, but single ticket options for individual performances have only recently become available.

“Opera is best shared,” said Turner Wilson of the newly available option. “So many people tell us that their first opera experience came when a friend or loved one brought them along on a single ticket. So if you’re already a season ticket buyer, we hope you’ll consider bringing along that special person you think could love opera. And as a season ticket holder, you get 15% off each single ticket sale.”

For more details on the 2024-2025 season, and to browse and purchase available single tickets or remaining season ticket packages, please visit the Fort Worth Opera website at fwopera.org.

ABOUT FORT WORTH OPERA

Founded in 1946 by three visionary women — Eloise MacDonald Snyder, Betty Berry Spain, and Jeanne Axtell Walker — Fort Worth Opera is the oldest opera company in Texas, and one of the oldest opera companies in the United States. The organization has received local and national attention from critics and audiences alike for its artistic excellence, pioneering spirit, and long history of community-based cultural engagement. In addition to producing traditional repertoire with rising stars and inspirational young talents, the company is known throughout the operatic world as a champion of new American works.

With a dedication to the community both on and beyond the operatic stage, Fort Worth Opera boasts a highly successful opera education program, consisting of The Lesley Resident Artist program and the Children’s Opera Theatre, which brings opera to nearly 40,000 school children each year across the state of Texas.

Fort Worth Opera is committed to producing opera of the highest possible artistic quality and integrity; to identifying and training talented young singers; to serving as a crucible for creating new American operas; to joining forces with other arts organizations in significant collaborations; and to enriching the community by stimulating cultural curiosity and creativity in people of all ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds.

Visit fwopera.org for more information.