Set Designer

Step into a world of gossip and intrigue in The Old Maid and the Thief by Gian Carlo Menotti, the visionary founder of Spoleto Festival USA. Produced by Spoleto, this comedic one-act — composed in 1939 as a radio opera and never before performed at the Festival — is reimagined as a live radio broadcast—complete with onstage Foley sound effects, object manipulation, and the thrill of storytelling in real time. Set in the golden age of radio, the singers become both performers and sound artists, crafting the opera’s world before our eyes and ears. Campy, inventive, and delightfully mischievous, this brand-new staging celebrates Menotti’s wit and theatrical flair in a vibrant homecoming to the Spoleto stage.

EPSG:4326

The Old Maid and the Thief

Dock Street Theatre

The Lyric Opera of Chicago 2026/27 Season kicks off with a thrilling fable of deceit and retribution. Under the baton of Music Director Enrique Mazzola, sharp humor, high drama, and an exquisite score intertwine in the story of a charismatic seducer whose unrepentant lustfulness brings about a most spectacular demise.

Singing with a voice that can “shake the heavens” (Opera Today), bass-baritone and Lyric veteran Christian Van Horn stars as one of opera’s most infamous anti-heroes, crowning a stellar cast. 

Don Giovanni

Lyric Opera House

Hailed as “the perfect musical comedy,” this brassy musical inspired by the short stories of Damon Runyon follows its cast of ne’er-do-wells from the seedy, shadowy side of New York City to the sweltering streets of Havana and back as they look to win big — on their gambling wagers and in love alike — and find a different kind of redemption along the way.

Experience the splendor of Frank Loesser’s classic Broadway score, featuring beloved numbers "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat," "I've Never Been in Love Before," "Luck Be a Lady," and the famed title song, performed by an all-star cast and the lush sound of the Lyric Opera Orchestra.

Set Designer

Walt Spangler

Events

Upcoming events

Oct 10 - Nov 1, 2026

Don Giovanni · Lyric Opera of Chicago

4 - 20 Jun, 2027

Guys & Dolls · Lyric Opera of Chicago

Past events

22 - 29 May, 2025

The Old Maid and the Thief · Spoleto Festival USA

About

Walt Spangler hasn't added a bio