MOLINE, ILLINOIS (April 24, 2026) — The Black Box Theatre and Opera Quad Cities present the area premiere of Master Class by Terrence McNally.
The two-act play was inspired by the real-life master classes conducted by renowned opera singer Maria Callas. The play débuted in 1995 and has been celebrated for its insightful portrayal of Callas, who is depicted as both a brilliant artist and a deeply flawed individual. Callas conducted twenty-three two-hour opera master classes at the Juilliard School of Music in New York from October 1971 to March 1972. She had not sung in public for six years, and her voice was not the great instrument it once had been. Doing the master classes was a way of overcoming her terror of performing by incorporating singing as part of her teaching.
There were twenty-five students in the master class and a paying audience. Callas did not allow applause from the audience, saying on one occasion (captured in the play), “None of that. We are here to work.”
Playing Maria Callas is Shelley Cooper, who is very familiar with the character of Callas. Ms Cooper is an award-winning solo artist for her own play on Callas titled La Divina. Completing the cast are Sarah Lounsberry as First Soprano, Brent Behrens as Tenor, Maddy Baez as Second Soprano, Michael Turczynski as Stagehand, and Michelle Crouch as Accompanist.
Co-producer Ron May is also serving as the play’s director, along with Lora Adams as Co-producer/costume and set designer, Alexander Richardson as Light and Sound Design, and Erin Elizabeth Ann Gehn stage manager.
This is the second time that The Black Box and Opera Quad Cities have partnered presenting smaller productions that highlight opera in an intimate setting. The show runs May 15, 16, 21, 22, and 23 at 7:30PM and May 17 and 24 at 2PM. Tickets are $25 and are available at theblackboxtheatre.com.
