Summary:
Alicia Moriarty has been named the new Director of Production at Seattle Opera, effective June 1. Moriarty has been with the company for nearly 21 years, starting as Technical Financial Services Coordinator and rising through the ranks to Assistant Production Director. The Production Department is responsible for managing every visual and technical element of the company's productions, including sets, costumes, projections, and makeup. Moriarty is also an active musician, performing as co-principal oboe with the Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra.
Seattle Opera has named Alicia Moriarty as its new Director of Production, effective June 1. The appointment was announced by General and Artistic Director James Robinson, who praised Moriarty’s experience, leadership, and long-standing commitment to the company.
Moriarty will oversee all production activities, including stage operations, production stage management, technical administration, and the in-house Costume Shop and Wigs, Hair, and Makeup department.
“I am thrilled that Alicia has accepted the position of Seattle Opera’s new Director of Production,” said Robinson. “Alicia’s depth of experience and institutional knowledge with the company is unparalleled, and she enjoys a national reputation for being one of the brightest stars in the field. I look forward to working with her for years to come.”
Moriarty joined Seattle Opera in 2004 as Technical Financial Services Coordinator and has since held a series of increasingly senior roles. Over her nearly 21-year tenure, she has been involved in nearly every aspect of technical and production management. She was promoted to Assistant Production Director in 2019, where she led production efforts for the company’s annual Big Opera Party fundraiser and managed all third-party rentals of the Opera Center.
“It has been a privilege to work with such talented and committed colleagues at Seattle Opera for the last 21 years, and I am both honored and humbled to be stepping into this new role,” Moriarty said. “Bringing art to life on stage in Seattle is of great importance to me—I think of it as a significant responsibility to steward each production from the earliest stages of ideation to the moment when we transfer ownership of it to the audience. I am excited for the opportunity to carry forward Seattle Opera’s legacy of creating inspiring productions for our community.”
The Seattle Opera Production Department is responsible for managing every visual and technical element of its productions, including sets, costumes, projections, and makeup. The department supports both in-house builds and co-productions and also manages a full calendar of events hosted at the Opera Center. These include community programs such as the annual Open House and Big Opera Party, in addition to third-party events like concerts, art exhibitions, and private rentals. In total, Seattle Opera employs more than 800 staff, artists, artisans, technicians, and crew members each year, making it one of the largest arts employers in Washington state.
In addition to her role at Seattle Opera, Moriarty is an active musician. She performs as co-principal oboe with the Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra and enjoys visiting opera houses around the world in her spare time.
Her promotion comes at a time when Seattle Opera continues to expand its artistic reach and deepen community engagement.
