Ben Robinson is the General Director of Anchorage Opera and the Managing Director of Lyric Fest (Philadelphia).
He works as a director, librettist, educator, and arts administrator. As a stage and film director, he is best known for his “inspired” and “engaging storytelling” in diverse works ranging from the Baroque to modern.

He directed a film production of Gianni Schicchi for Opera Ithaca in 2020, which Opera Magazine heralded as the “deftest use… of Covid-era technology as part of modern operatic reality” and received widespread international acclaim.
He was announced as a 2021 recipient of the Ewing Arts Award, which celebrates the diversity and excellence of artists in the Monadnock region of New Hampshire. In February 2023, his 2022 “moving, visually daring” (Opera News) Julia Child-inspired Hansel and Gretel film joined the Opera Philadelphia Channel and was subsequently streamed at a series of outdoor events for the company in September 2023.

Directing highlights include Nabucco for the inaugural Opera Ithaca Festival, L’elisir d’amore for Anchorage Opera, a cruise ship setting of L’Italiana in Algeri for St. Petersburg Opera (nomination for Best Director, Theatre Tampa Bay), The Pirates of Penzance for Ithaca College, a soap-opera inspired conceptual production of Così fan tutte for Cedar Rapids Opera, Ariodante and Hänsel und Gretel for Temple University, Orpheus in the Underworld for Opera Ithaca and Raylynmor Opera, a suburban American Le nozze di Figaro (Opera Ithaca), a reimagined double blind production of The Medium (Amarillo Opera), a fashion-world inspired La Cenerentola (Raylynmor Opera), a new chamber production of Suor Angelica (West Texas A&M University), and the world premiere of Sally Lamb McCune’s We Wear the Sea Like a Coat (Opera Ithaca/Ithaca College).

Projects for the 2024-2025 season include directing Così fan tutte for Opera Ithaca, Mozart in the Museum (his newly developed adaptation of The Impresario) and Madama Butterfly for Anchorage Opera, Cendrillon (Massenet) for Cedar Rapids Opera, and L’Italiana in Algeri for Opera in the Heights.

To contact Ben CLICK HERE

Kaylee Wagle is the Director of Operations at Anchorage Opera and a multifaceted musician, known for her vibrant stage presence and her extensive involvement in music and opera. With a foundational background in instrumental music, she mastered piano, flute, piccolo, and alto saxophone from a young age, though her true passion has always been singing. Her vocal talent, recognized early as she sang before she could speak, led her to pursue a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Oklahoma, graduating in 2011.

As a performer, she has taken on numerous roles in both Musical Theater and Opera, showcasing her versatility across a broad repertoire. Notable performances include Maria in West Side Story, Laurie in Oklahoma, Sandy in Grease, Mrs. Grose in Britten’s Turn of the Screw, and Annio in Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito. Her engagements with OU Opera Theater included appearances in Delibes’ Lakmé and Orff’s Carmina Burana, and she was a featured soloist in Schubert’s Mass in G.

Relocating to Alaska in 2014, she expanded her opera experience with Anchorage Opera, performing in choruses for The Magic Flute and Carmen and as a soloist in The Messiah in 2015. Beyond the spotlight, she excels behind the scenes, applying her skills in music and administration to enhance operational efficiencies and production quality.

Her off-stage accolades from peers describe her as “kickass and brilliant,” a testament to her dynamic impact both as a performer and as an administrator. Her personal musical highlight is performing Landslide by Stevie Nicks, accompanied by her father on guitar—a cherished collaboration that allows her to express her vocal power unreservedly.

To contact Kaylee CLICK HERE

Helen Irene Muller, is celebrated for her deep roots and dynamic contributions to the Alaskan performing arts scene. Born and raised in Anchorage, Helen’s journey took her to New York City where she honed her skills in some of the most esteemed theatrical environments before the pandemic brought her back to her home state.

Her Broadway credentials are highlighted by her work on A Soldier’s Play, complemented by an extensive Off-Broadway and regional portfolio that includes productions like Happy Days at the Mark Taper Forum, Theatre for a New Audience, and Yale Repertory Theatre. Helen’s diverse experience also spans significant projects such as the Sundance Institute Theatre Labs, both domestically and internationally, and engaging local productions with Midnight Sun Theatre at Anchorage Community Theatre and Little Women with Perseverance Theatre.

Helen is deeply appreciative of the opportunity to contribute to Alaska’s vibrant cultural landscape, bringing professional experience and a passion for the arts back to her community.

To contact Helen CLICK HERE