Singer becomes the first transgender woman in the US to perform in a principal role on the operatic stage
- Opera singer Lucia Lucas will be the first transgender woman in the US to perform in a principal role on the operatic stage
- Lucas, 37, was cast in Mozart's 'Don Giovanni' at Tulsa Opera in Oklahoma
- She was born Lucas and transitioned to female in 2014 with the encouragement of her wife
- This will also be Lucas' first time performing on an American stage
A transgender woman will make history in the US when she becomes the first trans woman to star in a principal role on the operatic stage.
The Tulsa Opera announced its 2018-2019 season, revealing that opera singer Lucia Lucas will perform the principal role in Mozart’s ‘Don Giovanni’.
Lucas’ debut in the opera, set to open in May 2019, will mark her first time performing in the US and the first time a transgender woman has been given the title role in an opera, according to Tulsa Opera’s leadership.
Lucia Lucas will star in the title role of Mozart's 'Don Giovanni' for Tulsa Opera in Oklahoma, when the production opens in May. She will be the first transgender woman to perform a principal role in the US
Lucas' role in 'Don Gioanni' will also be her first time performing at an American theater company
Lucas, pictured above in a costume for another opera, said it's 'exciting' to be the first trans woman in the US cast in a title role
‘In one way, this is exciting. But in another way, I hope it’s not too exciting,’ she told NBC News. ‘I just want to keep doing my job in how I’ve always done it.’
She added: ‘People don’t really care about if people are gay in most of the Western world, and I hope being trans is something like that as well.’
The 37-year-old baritone singer, who was born Lucas, transitioned in 2014 at the encouragement of her wife, Ariana.
Lucas, who was born in California but moved to Germany several years ago to pursue her career, told NBC that she had been trying to land a role at an American company for the past three years. She has performed mostly in Europe.
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‘It’s important to note that I did not choose Tulsa, they chose me,’ she said. ‘I have been auditioning in the New York City audition season since 2015. It was not until the beginning of this year, 2018, that I was actually hired by an American company.’
Tobias Picker, artist director at the opera company, told Tulsa World that the upcoming season will be a testament that Tulsa Opera is dedicated to casting without regard to sexual orientation, gender or ethnicity.
The company’s CEO Greg Weber said they were struggling to find the right person to star as Don Giovanni until they found Lucas. Since announcing the cast, Weber said the company has received some criticism but they are sticking with their decision.
The 37-year-old singer, who was born Lucas, transitioned in 2014 at the encouragement of her wife
'Don Giovanni' is set to debut on May 3 and May 5 at the Tulsa Opera
‘I hope it states that there is a (theater) company and there are people who really believe it comes down to talent,’ he told NBC. ‘If you have the talent, you need to be heard, and you need to be represented.’
‘Don Giovanni’, which will run May 3 and 5, will also feature current Tulsa Opera Studio Artist Karlye Whitt as Donna Anna, Christine Taylor Prince as Zerlina, and Pamela Armstrong as Donna Elvira.
Andres Cladera, a conductor from Uruguay, will conduct the production and Tulsa Opera’s stage director Denni Sayers will direct it.
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