Loren Meeker is a stage director whose work has been seen at leading companies across the United States, Argentina, and Singapore. She is a diverse artist with a background in dance and theatre that allows her to bring a unique vision to her work.
Recent honors and awards were plentiful in 2015. They include “Best Opera of 2015” from the Gambit Awards in New Orleans for her production of Die Fledermaus. DC Metro Theater Arts named her production of Carmen for the Washington National Opera one of the “Best Operas of 2015”. Lakmè for Rutgers University was awarded first prize in Division IV of the 2015 Opera Production Competition sponsored by the National Opera Association. Her production of Cendrillon for the Boston University Opera Institute is also currently nominated for 6 “Best Of” ArtsImpluse Theatre Awards. Categories include: Best Opera, Best University Production, Best Ensemble in an Opera, Best Student Actress, Best Costume Design, and Best Music Direction.
Other recent directing credits include La bohème (The Glimmerglass Festival, San Diego Opera), Amleto (OperaDelaware), Show Boat and Manon (The Dallas Opera), DieFledermaus (Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco Opera, New Orleans Opera), Manon Lescaut (Singapore Lyric Opera), Manon (Teatro Colón), Madama Butterfly (Opera North Carolina), Carmen and L’elisir d’amore (Finger Lakes Opera), and Cendrillon and Vinkensport, or the Finch Opera (Boston University Opera Institute). In addition to her work with standard repertoire, Loren has directed five world premieres for Houston Grand Opera (HGOco) and is looking forward to staging more new works in the near future.
Loren has been on the directing staff at some of the most prestigious opera companies in the nation including Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Diego Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Florida Grand Opera, and Central City Opera where she was the 2006 recipient of the John Moriarty Award.These opportunities have allowed her to work with many distinguished directors who have greatly influenced her career such as David McVicar and Francesca Zambello.
While in residence at Central City Opera she was able to lend her talents as a movement teacher and choreographer. Her work as a choreographer has also been seen at Glimmerglass Opera (Orpheus in the Underworld), Houston Grand Opera (Le Nozze di Figaro, Don Giovanni), and Opera Boston (La Vie Parisienne).
Loren has many exciting opportunities on the horizon. She will direct the world premiere of Jason and the Argonauts for Lyric Opera of Chicago (Lyric Unlimited) this summer, after which she will continue her collaboration with Francesca Zambello on a new production of Aida for San Francisco Opera. Loren wraps up 2016 and ushers in 2017 with her European debut by directing two productions of Candide in France: first at the Toulouse Métropole, Théâtre du Capitole and then at the Opera National de Bordeaux. Once she returns to the United States she will create new productions of Faust for New Orleans Opera and Il barbiere di Siviglia for Opera San Antonio.
Loren began her training at a young age developing skills as a dancer and gymnast. Later she combined her talents in these disciplines with her love for acting and singing. She attended Boston University where she received a BFA, summa cum laude, in Theatre Studies (focus in directing and choreography). After graduating she began to apply her diverse background to opera.