Jake Heggie's If I Were You: Maryland Opera Studio

College of Arts and Humanities | Maryland Opera Studio | School of Music | The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center Saturday, April 18, 2026 - April 26, 2026 Kay Theatre

About the Event

J. Bradley Baker, conductor
Corinne Hayes, director
Jake Heggie, composer
Gene Scheer, librettist

Based on a novel by Julien Green, Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s If I Were You is a Faustian story that explores themes of love, power and gender roles in a modern setting. In the wake of a near-fatal car accident, the aimless young writer Fabian begins to reassess his life. After an unexpected encounter with his college crush, Fabian makes a deal with an enigmatic, shape-shifting demon, Brittomara, who gives him the power to move his soul from person to person for as long as he likes. Everything comes with a price, however: if he ever returns to his own body, his soul will be Brittomara’s to collect. On his precarious journey to win the heart of his beloved, he leaves a trail of despair and hollow shells. In the end, will he choose to live forever as someone else or die for love as himself?

About the Maryland Opera Studio

The Maryland Opera Studio is dedicated to the future of opera. Preparing the next generation of great singers and offering performances ranging from classic repertoire to provocative new works, it is building contemporary audiences for opera and advancing the art form to sustain those audiences

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Cost

Regular: $30

A $5 booking fee applies to online and phone purchases.

Students & Youth: $10

Event Dates

Saturday, April 18, 2026 - April 26, 2026

Saturday, Apr 18, 2026 7:30 pm

04/18/26 19:30:00 04/18/26 21:30:00 America/New_York Jake Heggie's If I Were You: Maryland Opera Studio
About the Event
J. Bradley Baker, conductor
Corinne Hayes, director
Jake Heggie, composer
Gene Scheer, librettist
Based on a novel by Julien Green, Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s If I Were You is a Faustian story that explores themes of love, power and gender roles in a modern setting. In the wake of a near-fatal car accident, the aimless young writer Fabian begins to reassess his life. After an unexpected encounter with his college crush, Fabian makes a deal with an enigmatic, shape-shifting demon, Brittomara, who gives him the power to move his soul from person to person for as long as he likes. Everything comes with a price, however: if he ever returns to his own body, his soul will be Brittomara’s to collect. On his precarious journey to win the heart of his beloved, he leaves a trail of despair and hollow shells. In the end, will he choose to live forever as someone else or die for love as himself?
About the Maryland Opera Studio
The Maryland Opera Studio is dedicated to the future of opera. Preparing the next generation of great singers and offering performances ranging from classic repertoire to provocative new works, it is building contemporary audiences for opera and advancing the art form to sustain those audiences
Kay Theatre false
Wednesday, Apr 22, 2026 7:30 pm

04/22/26 19:30:00 04/22/26 21:30:00 America/New_York Jake Heggie's If I Were You: Maryland Opera Studio
About the Event
J. Bradley Baker, conductor
Corinne Hayes, director
Jake Heggie, composer
Gene Scheer, librettist
Based on a novel by Julien Green, Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s If I Were You is a Faustian story that explores themes of love, power and gender roles in a modern setting. In the wake of a near-fatal car accident, the aimless young writer Fabian begins to reassess his life. After an unexpected encounter with his college crush, Fabian makes a deal with an enigmatic, shape-shifting demon, Brittomara, who gives him the power to move his soul from person to person for as long as he likes. Everything comes with a price, however: if he ever returns to his own body, his soul will be Brittomara’s to collect. On his precarious journey to win the heart of his beloved, he leaves a trail of despair and hollow shells. In the end, will he choose to live forever as someone else or die for love as himself?
About the Maryland Opera Studio
The Maryland Opera Studio is dedicated to the future of opera. Preparing the next generation of great singers and offering performances ranging from classic repertoire to provocative new works, it is building contemporary audiences for opera and advancing the art form to sustain those audiences
Kay Theatre false
Friday, Apr 24, 2026 7:30 pm

04/24/26 19:30:00 04/24/26 21:30:00 America/New_York Jake Heggie's If I Were You: Maryland Opera Studio
About the Event
J. Bradley Baker, conductor
Corinne Hayes, director
Jake Heggie, composer
Gene Scheer, librettist
Based on a novel by Julien Green, Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s If I Were You is a Faustian story that explores themes of love, power and gender roles in a modern setting. In the wake of a near-fatal car accident, the aimless young writer Fabian begins to reassess his life. After an unexpected encounter with his college crush, Fabian makes a deal with an enigmatic, shape-shifting demon, Brittomara, who gives him the power to move his soul from person to person for as long as he likes. Everything comes with a price, however: if he ever returns to his own body, his soul will be Brittomara’s to collect. On his precarious journey to win the heart of his beloved, he leaves a trail of despair and hollow shells. In the end, will he choose to live forever as someone else or die for love as himself?
About the Maryland Opera Studio
The Maryland Opera Studio is dedicated to the future of opera. Preparing the next generation of great singers and offering performances ranging from classic repertoire to provocative new works, it is building contemporary audiences for opera and advancing the art form to sustain those audiences
Kay Theatre false
Sunday, Apr 26, 2026 3:00 pm

04/26/26 15:00:00 04/26/26 17:00:00 America/New_York Jake Heggie's If I Were You: Maryland Opera Studio
About the Event
J. Bradley Baker, conductor
Corinne Hayes, director
Jake Heggie, composer
Gene Scheer, librettist
Based on a novel by Julien Green, Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s If I Were You is a Faustian story that explores themes of love, power and gender roles in a modern setting. In the wake of a near-fatal car accident, the aimless young writer Fabian begins to reassess his life. After an unexpected encounter with his college crush, Fabian makes a deal with an enigmatic, shape-shifting demon, Brittomara, who gives him the power to move his soul from person to person for as long as he likes. Everything comes with a price, however: if he ever returns to his own body, his soul will be Brittomara’s to collect. On his precarious journey to win the heart of his beloved, he leaves a trail of despair and hollow shells. In the end, will he choose to live forever as someone else or die for love as himself?
About the Maryland Opera Studio
The Maryland Opera Studio is dedicated to the future of opera. Preparing the next generation of great singers and offering performances ranging from classic repertoire to provocative new works, it is building contemporary audiences for opera and advancing the art form to sustain those audiences
Kay Theatre false

The Maryland Opera Studio performs on stage.

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Jake Heggie's If I Were You: Maryland Opera Studio