Harrison McEldowney

“In [The Marriage of Figaro] there is movement for the principals and ensemble onstage throughout the opera,” says the American choreographer, “and it all has to be timed to the music. This is a comedy of errors, in which everything depends on an organic sense of timing. Comedy and farce use particular posturing and gesturing to make it funny, and it’s also a period piece; everything about people’s demeanor was different from today, and that has to be apparent as well.” Earlier this year in Chicago, McEldowney received the Artistic Achievement Award in Choreography from the National Association of Dance Masters. He is a past winner of the Prince Prize and the Ruth Page, After Dark, and Choo-San Goh Awards for choreography. McEldowney has created works for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Hubbard Street 2, River North Chicago Dance Company, the Civic Ballet of Chicago, the Cerqua/Rivera Art Experience, Ballet Met, American Repertory Ballet, Louisville Ballet, and Chicago Shakespeare Theater. He choreographs for Chicago’s renowned Baton Show Lounge, and earlier this year he directed all aspects of the christening ceremony of the cruise ship Brittania in Southampton, England, attended by Queen Elizabeth II. McEldowney’s work was seen at the Barcelona Olympics’ Closing Ceremonies and Carnegie Hall’s Celebration of 125 Years of Musical Theater. McEldowney is one of only two choreographers creating original works for Chicago’s annual Dance for Life fundraiser. He recently starred in Venetia Stifler and Larry Long’s revival of Ruth Page’s ballet Billy Sunday, receiving a regional Emmy nomination for the PBS telecast.

Previously at Lyric Opera: The Marriage of Figaro (2015|16); Macbeth (2010-11).

Last updated: September 26, 2015