University of Colorado Boulder Eklund Opera’s Fall 2025 production of…

DEAD MAN WALKING

Music by Jake Heggie

Libretto by Terrence McNally

Based on the novel by Sister Helen Prejean

Carpenter & Deck Crew

Director — Leigh Holman

Music Director — Nicholas Carthy

Scenic Design — Peter Dean Beck

Costume Design — Wardrobe Witchery

Costume Coordinator — Ann Piano

Lighting Design — Jon Dunkle

Hair/Wig and Makeup Design — Jason Estrada

Props Manager — Jenn Melcher

Technical Director — Jeff Rusnak

Production Director — Ron Mueller

Fight Coordinator — Stephen Weitz

Intimacy Director — Ellie Griffin

Program Manager — Christie Conover

Production Stage Manager — Lexi Holtzer

Deck Stage Manager — Joseph Whitney

Assistant Stage Manager — Camden Hornor

Scheduler — Mae Harrell

Supertitles — Michael Chadwick

Full Program

Photos — Glenn Asakawa

Build Process

Dead Man Walking was almost entirely welded steel construction, meaning the master carpenter and myself spent most of a month in the steel shop welding all of the various walls and platforms together. There was also a lot of soft goods for this show, so we were laying out drops for the painters and then using Simalfa to secure the goods to the open steel frames. We also loaded in a full stage false deck, and multiple pieces of flying scenery on the hemp rail. As well as being my first show at the opera shop, this was my first time working opera in general, and I ran the show as deck crew.