ARIZONA OPERA KICKS OFF 55TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON WITH SCALIA/GINSBURG
Derrick Wang’s witty and moving opera about the unlikely friendship between Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsburg opens Arizona Opera’s milestone season.
PHOENIX / TUCSON (September 11, 2026) — Arizona Opera will launch its 55th anniversary season with Derrick Wang’s Scalia/Ginsburg, a sharp, funny and unexpectedly moving opera inspired by the remarkable friendship between Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Performances will be presented September 26 and 27 at the Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix and October 3 and 4 at the Leo Rich Theater in Tucson. The Phoenix opening-night performance on September 26 will also feature a special 55th anniversary opening celebration, kicking off a season-long commemoration of Arizona Opera’s more than five decades of bringing extraordinary artists, music and storytelling to audiences throughout the state.
For 55 years, Arizona Opera has built a rich artistic history that combines beloved works from the operatic canon with compelling contemporary productions, while expanding educational and community engagement programs throughout Arizona. The company began in 1971 as the Tucson Opera Company and has since produced more than 200 staged operas and concerts.
“Opening our 55th anniversary season with Scalia/Ginsburg feels especially meaningful because this opera speaks so beautifully to what we believe opera can do,” said Brian DeMaris, General Director of Arizona Opera. “It is a story about two people who could disagree and still find friendship, curiosity and humanity in one another. After 55 years, that is still at the heart of what Arizona Opera is about — bringing people together through shared experiences. We are excited to celebrate this milestone with the audiences, artists, volunteers, staff and supporters who have made Arizona Opera what it is today.”
Set in the chambers of the U.S. Supreme Court, Scalia/Ginsburg transforms the world of constitutional law into a comedic, high-stakes operatic battle where legal arguments, music and wit collide.
The opera explores the real-life friendship between Justices Scalia and Ginsburg, who frequently found themselves on opposite sides of landmark cases but developed a deep and enduring personal bond. Their shared love of opera, fine dining and travel provided common ground beyond their ideological differences.
Wang's work incorporates legal citations, excerpts from landmark Supreme Court opinions and references to the operatic canon, creating a work that is both intellectually playful and deeply human. At its core is a celebration of civility, intellectual curiosity and the possibility of connection across profound differences — summed up in the opera's central idea: “We are different, we are one.”
Arizona Opera’s production features Rachel Policar as Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Benjamin Werley as Justice Antonin Scalia and Jesús Vicente Murillo as the Commentator.
Originally from Arizona and a graduate of Arizona State University’s opera and music theatre program, Rachel Policar makes her Arizona Opera debut in one of her signature roles. She has previously portrayed Ginsburg in productions with Utah Festival, Anchorage Opera, Pacific Opera Project and Penn Square Opera, and recently appeared in Forbidden Broadway with The Phoenix Theatre Company.
Benjamin Werley, a Pittsburgh native praised by Opera News for his “gleaming, flexible tenor,” makes his Arizona Opera debut as Scalia. His career includes performances with San Diego Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Anchorage Opera, Dayton Opera and numerous other leading companies.
Bass-baritone Jesús Vicente Murillo portrays the Commentator. A multidisciplinary artist whose work encompasses opera, musical theater, concerts and art song, Murillo made his Metropolitan Opera debut in 2022 and has subsequently appeared with companies including Portland Opera, Nashville Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and Opera San Jose.
The production is directed by Cara Consilvio, a director and producer whose work spans opera, theater and film. Consilvio has directed numerous contemporary works and world premieres and previously staged Scalia/Ginsburg for Chautauqua Opera, Opera Carolina and Opera Grand Rapids.
Brian DeMaris will conduct the Arizona Opera production. In addition to his role leading Arizona Opera, DeMaris has conducted productions with companies across the country and has extensive experience developing and presenting new opera and contemporary works.
PERFORMANCE DETAILS
Scalia/Ginsburg
Music and Libretto by Derrick Wang
| Phoenix Herberger Theater Center Saturday, Sep 26, 2026 — 7:30 PM Sunday, Sep 27, 2026 — 2 PM |
Tucson Leo Rich Theater Saturday, Oct 3, 2026 — 7:30 PM Sunday, Oct 4, 2026 — 2 PM |
| Estimated running time: 1 hour, no intermission Language: Performed in English with English and Spanish supertitles Rating: PG-13 |
The 2026/27 Season is designed not only to celebrate Arizona Opera's history, but also to look toward its future.
Following Scalia/Ginsburg, the company will present Xavier Montsalvatge's Spanish-language family opera El Gato con Botas (Puss in Boots), Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance, and Verdi's La Traviata. The season also marks the return of the Marion Roose Pullin Studio to a full season-long program, along with the launch of a new Studio Series and New Works Festival.
Throughout the anniversary season, Arizona Opera will also highlight the people who have shaped its history — including artists, educators, volunteers, staff, donors and audiences — while continuing to expand its presence in both Phoenix and Tucson and create new opportunities for people throughout Arizona to experience opera.
“A 55th anniversary is a chance to celebrate where we've been, but even more importantly, where we're going,” DeMaris said. “This season is about momentum — welcoming new audiences, creating opportunities for emerging artists, strengthening our partnerships and continuing to tell stories that matter. We couldn't imagine a better way to begin that celebration than with Scalia/Ginsburg."
AUDIENCE OPPORTUNITIES
Arizona Opera will offer audiences several opportunities to engage more deeply with Scalia/Ginsburg and its themes of friendship, civility, disagreement and connection.An Evening with Derrick Wang is free to attend, please reserve your seat at AZOPERA.ORG. Additionally, all pre-show talks, post-show discussions and the opening-night celebration are free to attend for patrons with a ticket to that day's performance.
An Evening with Derrick Wang - composer and librettist of Scalia/Ginsburg
Join us as Arizona Opera presents composer Derrick Wang in lecture at Holsclaw Hall at the University of Arizona. Wang will preview excerpts, along with soprano Yunah Lee, from his opera Fearless, which tells the story of trailblazing World War II aviator, Hazel Ying Lee. He will also speak about his hit opera Scalia/Ginsburg, with excerpts presented by members of the Marion Roose Pullin Arizona Opera Studio.
- Tucson: September 24 from 6 - 7 PM - Holsclaw Hall at the University of Arizona (N Olive Road, Tucson, AZ 85719) - Free to attend (reserve your seat at AZOPERA.ORG)
Pre-Show Talks — 30 minutes before each performance
Audiences can arrive early for an in-depth introduction to the opera and its themes.
- Phoenix: September 26 at 6:30 PM and September 27 at 1 PM — presented by composer and librettist Derrick Wang
- Tucson: October 3 at 6:30 PM and October 4 at 1 PM — presented by Brian DeMaris, General Director of Arizona Opera
Post-Show Talks
Stay after the performance for an informal conversation with Arizona Opera leadership and members of the production team.
- Phoenix: September 27 following the performance — with Brian DeMaris and select cast and crew members
- Tucson: October 3 and 4 following the performances — with Brian DeMaris and select cast and crew members
55th Anniversary Season Opening Night Celebration
Following the September 26 performance in Phoenix, Arizona Opera will officially kick off its 55th Anniversary Season with a special opening-night celebration in the Herberger Theater's outdoor garden area. The celebration offers audiences an opportunity to gather with Arizona Opera artists, leadership and fellow patrons as the company begins its yearlong anniversary celebration.
All of these special events are free with a ticket to the corresponding day's performance.
About ARIZONA OPERA
Arizona Opera connects and inspires communities through artistically vibrant programs and productions that combine music, storytelling, and the human voice, creating inclusive, culturally relevant, and impactful experiences, while ensuring the financial sustainability of opera in our state. Since its inaugural year in 1971 as the Tucson Opera Company, Arizona Opera has produced more than 200 staged operas and concerts. The company's artistic history is rich with a blend of traditional works from the canon, as well as compelling works from the 20th and 21st centuries, and an array of high-impact educational and community engagement programs. For more information visit azopera.org.
INTERVIEWS AVAILABLE
Members of the cast and creative team are available for interviews in advance of the performances. Interview opportunities include Brian DeMaris, director Cara Consilvio, Rachel Policar, Benjamin Werley and Jesús Vicente Murillo. Topics can include the unusual intersection of opera, law and contemporary American culture; the real-life friendship between Scalia and Ginsburg; the process of portraying such recognizable public figures; and why the opera's message of civility and respect remains relevant today.
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