I AM AN ARTIST WORKING IN THEATER AND NEW MEDIA (INTERNET VIDEO + IMAGE + AUDIO). I AM DIRECTOR THOUGH SOMETIMES PERFORM ADDITIONAL ROLES. [AUDIO ENGINEER / CINEMATOGRAPHER / PHOTOGRAPHER / PERFORMER / EDITOR / WRITER]. I PLAY A FEW INSTRUMENTS TOO. MY PRIMARY INTEREST IS IN MAKING THEATRICAL WORK BASED ON CLASSICAL MUSIC.
MY LOVE OF CLASSICAL MUSIC STARTED EARLY AND CAME FROM VISCERAL, EXUBERANT EXPERIENCES OF SOUND AND SPACE AND ENERGY DETACHED FROM INTELLECT OR UNDERSTANDING. BECAUSE OF THIS, I TRY TO MAKE THEATRICAL WORK THAT IS ROOTED IN IMAGES AND ATMOSPHERE AND THAT INVOKES A DIRECT, KINETIC RESPONSE.
REPRESENTATION USA / EUROPE: ALTMAN ARISTS
>> CURRENT / UPCOMINGFALSTAFF / THE JUILLIARD SCHOOL / APRIL 2026
REBEL REBEL / RUHRTRIENNALE FESTIVAL / 2026
THE GRIEVING MOTHER STOOD WEEPING / A J CREATIVE - JOHN HOLLOWAY - BERN SWITZERLAND / 2026
CURLEW RIVER / 300OHZ / CHICAGO / 2027
YESTERDAY I FELL APART / AJ CREATIVE - NYC / 2027
WORK
selected
WORK selected
“FALSTAFF” (2026) 120 minutes. Staged Opera. Verdi + Boito. Live performance, light, sound, costume, amplified instruments. The Juilliard School. Marcus Shields/ Frank Oliva/ Avery Reedy Reed
“LA PASSION DE SIMONE” (2026) 70 minutes. Staged Oratorio. Saariaho + Maalouf. Live performance. light, sound, space, costume, prerecorded audio, prerecorded video, sound design. Curtis institute of music. Marcus Shields/ Frank Oliva/ Amanda Gladu
“NOTHING FOLLOWS” (2025) 55 minutes. Operatic double bill. Monteverdi - Muhly. Live performance. Light, sound, space. Pre recorded audio, live speaking, musical performance. Producer: Catapult Opera. Marcus Shields, Abigail Hoke-Brady, Amanda Gladu. November 2025. Italian Academy at Columbia University.
“VERY FERAL TODAY” (2025). 70 minutes. Performance installation / staged concert. light, sound, space, pre recorded audio, live speaking, wall text. created and performend by Duo Étrange, Marcus Shields, Frank Oliva. June 2025. Marcus Shields/ Frank Oliva/ Sahara von Hattenberger/ Vanessa Croome. Gallery 311, West Chelsea Building.
“LE NOZZE DI FIGARO (2025). 190 minutes. Staged Opera, light, costume, sound created for the Curtis Institute of Music, February 2025. Marcus Shields/ Frank Oliva/ Avery Reed/ Indah Mariana. Perelman Theatre, Kimmel Center
“LA VOIX HUMAINE” (2023). Video, live performance installation. 55 minutes. Created for the Curtis Institute of Music, February 2023. Ruby Dibble/ Lisa Keller/ Marcus Shields/ Frank Oliva
“MADAMA BUTTERFLY" (2025). 165 minutes. Staged Concert. Scenography, light, costume, sound created for the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, May 2025. Marcus Shields/ Frank Oliva/ Adrian Yuen / Louis Lohraseb
“L’ENFANT” (2023). live performance. 50 minutes. Created for the Chautauqua conservatory. August 2023. process staging, community sculpture.
“THE SECRET GARDEN” (2022). live performance. 82 minute adaptation of Lucy Simon’s the secret garden. site specific for norton hall.
“UUN installation @ CPR”. (2022). Film w/ live performance. Haptics + sound design. 16 minutes. Center for Performance Research.
“LA CALISTO” (2019). Live Performance, mixed media Process Installation. 140 minutes. Liberty Exhibition Hall, Cincinnati Ohio.
“IDOMENEO” (2017). LIve Performance. 180 minutes. Patricia Corbett Theatre. Cincinnati, Ohio.
“TOSCA” (2018). Live performance. 160 minutes. Madison Theatre, NY.
“MASS” (2018). Live Performance. 100 Minutes. Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Music Hall.
“THE GLITCH” (2021) by Nico Muhly & Greg Pierce. Commissioned work. Opera film. created for Catapult Opera.
“LA VIDA BREVE" (2016) Live Performance. Created for the Cincinnati Chamber Opera.
“UPUNTILNOW” (2021). Film, live performance. 11 minutes. Commissioned by Beth Morrison Projects. Freedom NH.
