Joshua Borths

Joshua Borths is a stage director, writer, educator, and administrator with over twelve years of experience in the opera industry. He has directed numerous professional productions, given over five hundred public lectures, and written more than eight children's operas that have introduced hundreds of thousands of young audiences to opera across the country. 

 

Originally from Cincinnati, OH, Borths is currently the Director of Opera Theatre at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA and the Company Dramaturg at Des Moines Metro Opera. Borths comes to Virginia after having served as the Resident Scholar at Virginia Opera, Director of Opera & Musical Theater and Professor of Music History at Capital University in Columbus, OH, and as Director of Education at Arizona Opera.

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At Virginia Opera, Borths gave popular opera previews and curated numerous educational experiences. At Capital University, Borths produced and managed all of the opera and musical theatre programming while also serving as the Professor of Music History. Additionally, he created a joint Resident Artist Program with Opera Columbus creating innovative programming for both institutions. With Arizona Opera, Borths more than doubled the reach and scope of department through innovative programming and cultural engagement. By the end of his tenure, the Department of Education reached 70,000 people annually. 

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Known for his thoughtful and imaginative productions, Borths most recently directed an “uproariously funny new production” (Arizona Daily Star) of The Barber of Seville for Arizona Opera and a “beautiful, even poetic” (Opera Today) new production of The Falling and the Rising for Des Moines Metro Opera for the 2023/2024 opera season. Upcoming productions include Hansel and Gretel for Opera Montana and The Flying Dutchman at Des Moines Metro Opera, starring Ryan McKinney.
 
Past favorite productions include Rusalka, Florencia en el Amazonas, Hansel and Gretel, The Tragedy of Carmen, Madama Butterfly, La clemenza di Tito, Suor Angelica, Dido & Aeneas, and L'elisir d'amore. As a stage director of musical theatre, Borths has directed Parade; Camelot; Kiss Me, Kate; and The Music Man, among others. Borths has also directed gala performances featuring Frederica von Stade and Joyce DiDonato and staged the southeastern premieres of Soldier Songs and La Hija de Rappaccini. 

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Additionally, Borths has hosted podcasts, written acclaimed surtitle translations of popular operas, and interviewed illustrious artists including Jake Heggie, Gregory Spears, David T. Little, Jonathan Dove, writer Thomas Mallon, and Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author Jane Smiley. 

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As an educator, Borths has taught at the University of Richmond, Shenandoah University, been a Visiting Professor at the Crane School of Music (SUNY Potsdam), directed Maryland Opera Studio, and was a guest panelist at the Opera America Conference. He collaborated with TED Ed on their first opera resources and was featured in Opera News for his innovative approach to opera education.