Marcus Shields is a stage director and generative artist whose work explores opera and classical music as material for new theatrical forms. Rooted in a deep listening practice, his productions often blur the line between interpretation and invention—foregrounding atmosphere, energy, and perception to create visceral, image-driven performance experiences.

His directorial work spans major opera houses, experimental venues, and interdisciplinary collaborations. He has created original projects and staged opera productions for institutions including the Curtis Institute of Music, Beth Morrison Projects, Cincinnati Chamber Opera, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Opera, the Juilliard School, Wolf Trap Opera, and the Merola Opera Program. His stagings of Le Nozze di Figaro, La Voix Humaine, Tosca, L’enfant et les sortilèges, La Calisto, La Vida Breve, and Idomeneo reflect a wide-ranging interpretive practice that integrates video, sculpture, live performance, and multimedia installation.

At the Metropolitan Opera, Shields has served as a staff stage director since 2019 and has collaborated closely on new productions with directors such as Ivo van Hove, Simon Stone, Mary Zimmerman, and David McVicar, as well as composers including Jeanine Tesori, John Adams, and Matthew Aucoin.

Upcoming directorial projects include Madama Butterfly for the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, Very Feral Today with Duo Étrange, Don Giovanni at the Metropolitan Opera, a new double bill for Catapult Opera, La Passion de Simone by Kaija Saariaho at the Curtis Institute of Music, and a world premiere opera by David Hertzberg (The Wake World, The Rose Elf) for the Rochester Philharmonic.

In addition to directing, Shields has co-founded several creative companies—including AlexanderJane Creative, UpUntilNow Collective, and OSSIA Productions—and served as Executive Director of Catapult Opera from 2018 to 2021. During his tenure, he launched the Accelerate Competition and commissioned The Glitch, a new opera by Nico Muhly and Greg Pierce.

He has taught directing and performance at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, the Chautauqua Institute, and Des Moines Metro Opera. A former directing fellow at Merola Opera and Wolf Trap Opera, he continues to mentor early-career directors through workshops and institutional partnerships.

Originally trained as a vocalist and musician, Shields also works in video, photography, and installation. Across mediums, his approach emphasizes form, process, and the evolving ways classical material can be engaged through contemporary design and performance practices.