Stage Director

Set in the lush forests surrounding the Great Lakes, The Bear Who Couldn’t Fish follows Mato, a young bear embarking on his first solo adventure. Eager to catch his own fish, Mato realizes he can't remember how! As he journeys through the wilderness, Mato encounters a variety of animal friends who teach him not only about fishing but also about the delicate ecosystems of the Great Lakes region. Through these interactions, Mato learns that seeking help is a strength and that understanding the environment is key to thriving within it.​

This original opera seamlessly blends engaging storytelling with scientific education, introducing young audiences to concepts like aquatic habitats, biodiversity, and environmental stewardship. With its captivating music and meaningful message, The Bear Who Couldn’t Fish is designed to inspire curiosity and a love for both the arts and the natural world.

EPSG:4326

The Bear Who Couldn't Fish

Just in time for Valentine’s Day and the 75th anniversary of its premiere, Toledo Opera presents South Pacific. Winner of 10 Tony Awards in 1950 including Best Musical and Best Original Score, South Pacific debuts to Toledo Opera audiences in a new production brought to life by conductor J. Ernest Green and stage director James M. Norman. Based on the anecdotes of a real-life U.S. Navy commander who was stationed on a island, South Pacific follows two intercultural love stories: Nellie, a spunky nurse from Arkansas, falls in love with Emile, a French plantation owner on the island who has two children from his late Polynesian wife; at the same time, U.S. Lieutenant Cable falls for a beautiful island native named Liat. Both Americans find themselves struggling to reconcile their own cultural prejudices with their amorous feelings, all the while under the dark cloud of a war that is coming ever closer to their island paradise.

South Pacific

Valentine Theatre

Nominated for 13 Tony Awards® including “Best Musical,” and winning for “Best Original Score” and “Best Book of a Musical,” Ragtime makes its premiere to Toledo Opera audiences! Based on the novel by E.L. Doctorow, this musical tapestry depicts an African-American family, a Jewish family, and a wealthy white suburban family in turn-of-the-century New York. As they collide in pursuit of the American Dream, they discover the surprising interconnections of the human heart, the limitations of justice, and the unsettling consequences when dreams are permanently deferred. Ragtime is a powerful portrait of life at the turn-of-the-20th century, exploring America’s timeless contradictions of freedom and prejudice, wealth and poverty, hope and despair. Ragtime stars baritone Derrick Davis (Toledo Opera’s I Dream) as Coalhouse Walker, Jr., Broadway soprano Raquel Suarez Groen as Mother, and baritone Joshua Jeremiah as Tateh. J. Ernest Green returns to Toledo to conduct, as James M. Norman brings this poignant musical to life.

Stage Director

James M. Norman

Events

Upcoming events

Oct 21, 2025 - May 21, 2026

The Bear Who Couldn't Fish · Toledo Opera

Past events

Oct 21, 2025 - May 21, 2026

The Bear Who Couldn't Fish · Toledo Opera

14 - 16 Feb, 2025

South Pacific · Toledo Opera

About

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