Walker Lewis
director
Walker Lewis’ moving and visually stunning productions are increasingly in demand across the USA and abroad. Known for his fresh approach to the classics and for creating thrilling world premieres, his recent productions of THE APPRENTICE SCENES at Santa Fe Opera, THE THREEPENNY OPERA at Amarillo Opera, THE COMPANION at American Opera Projects/American Modern Ensemble, TAMAR DA TIMNA and IL CAMPANELLO with Garden State Opera, LA CLEMENZA DI TITO with dell’Arte Opera Ensemble and RADAMISTO and THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO with Manhattan Opera Studio have garnered significant critical acclaim.
Walker was hailed by The New York Times for his “imaginative staging” of Monteverdi’s IL BALLO DELLE INGRATE at Poisson Rouge, featured in The New Yorker and streamed live worldwide. WATER MUSIC, his collaboration with The Vertical Player Repertory, featured condensations of THE TALES OF HOFFMANN, IL TABARRO and A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE. He also staged a hit cabaret evening of songs by Sondheim featuring selections from INTO THE WOODS, SWEENEY TODD and ANYONE CAN WHISTLE.
Other projects include THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE with Amarillo Opera and an opera double bill with American Modern Ensemble: THE WHOLE TRUTHby Robert Paterson and Pulitzer Prize winner Mark Campbell and THE CASKOF AMONTILLADO by Stewart Copeland (drummer of the Police). In Boston, Walker’s hit production of Schutz’s CHRISTMAS ORATORIO was restaged with Musica Nuova and THE WECKMANN PROJECT. This was Walker’s fourth collaboration with the celebrated early music ensemble following IT’SCOMPLICATED, a Baroque pastiche.
Walker won the Tobin Director-Designer Showcase grant from Opera America for his concept of THE RISE AND FALL OF THE CITY OF MAHAGONNY. He also worked with Andrei Serban on Verdi’s OTELLO at the Paris Opera, starring Renee Fleming and Alexander Antonenko. Walker is passionate about creating new and innovative works and has developed several recent new pieces with composers Nizan Leibovich, Robert Paterson, and Francesco Santelli. Recent world premieres include GODS AND GODDESSES (Matt Van Brink), MOMO (Colin McGrath), MONSTERLAND (Rami Vamos/Greg Pierce) and THE GOOSEFLESH NITECLUB CIRCUS (Zach Layton). Earning his MFA at Columbia University, he trained with Andrei Serban, Anne Bogart, Kristin Linklater, Peter Brook and Robert Wilson. Walker is a regular contributor to the Indie Opera Podcast at indieopera.com where he engages with composers, librettists and other artists from the opera world.
