First Place: National Opera Association Production Competition, Division III

Gregory Spears’ Paul’s Case is based on a novel by acclaimed author Willa Cather which follows the story of Paul, a young, misunderstood man living in Pittsburgh at the turn of the 20th century. When faced with the reality that he must get a “real” job and abandon his dream of living and working amongst artists, he steals money from his father’s cash box and runs away on a three-day bender to New York City. At the conclusion of the opera he steps in front of a train.

Three female characters follow him on this journey, notably played by the same actresses as his disapproving schoolteachers. They carry the brunt of the action in the opera, acting as the opera singers Paul idolizes, the maids which pamper him at the Waldorf Astoria hotel, and the train sirens in the final scene.

Carolina Sullivan portrays “Drawing Teacher”, “Opera Soprano”, “Maid” in the 2023 production by Miami University Opera Theatre.