Samuel Oberholtzer - Stage Director

He has said that his discovery of opera while a high school student in Baltimore, Maryland, began one of the great “love affairs” of his life--one that has stood the “test of time.” His vocation has been as an English instructor, but his avocation has always been in the arts. Most of his spare time has been devoted to theater and opera—as performer and director. He has performed with and been stage director for many groups in the Harrisburg area. His principal interest –opera- was most in evidence when he was artistic director and stage director for the Harrisburg Civic Opera Company, which included thirteen major productions as well as galas. He was also stage director for three productions of Amahl and the Night Visitors at Trinity Lutheran Church.

During the past five years he has directed productions of Manon, The Medium and the Telephone, Carmen, Patience, L’Amico Fritz, and Turandot Otello is his third directorial assignment with Center Stage Opera, having previously directed Hansel and Gretel and a concert performance of Norma.

His principal regret is that he will probably never have the opportunity to direct a Wagner opera (yes, he is a Wagnerite) because smaller opera companies cannot manage the forces necessary to successfully mount one of the Master’s operas!