CV/BIO

marcusashields@gmail.com

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. 

>> CURRENT / UPCOMING

VERY FERAL TODAY / PERFORMANCE INSTALLATION / DIRECTOR, PRODUCER / JUNE 2025

DON GIOVANNI / DIRECTOR / METROPOLITAN OPERA / SEPTEMBER 2025

NOTHING FOLLOWS / DIRECTOR / CATAPULT OPERA / NOVEMBER 2025

THE GRIEVING MOTHER STOOD WEEPING / A J CREATIVE - BERN SWITZERLAND / JANUARY 2026

LA PASSION DE SIMONE / DIRECTOR / CURTIS OPERA THEATRE / FEBRUARY, MARCH 2026

FALSTAFF / DIRECTOR / THE JUILLIARD SCHOOL / APRIL 2026

WORK

selected

WORK selected

“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.

“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

“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

“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

“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.

LACHI: "BAD CHOICES". MUSIC VIDEO. 4 minutes. July 2022.