Goodbye, Mr. Chips

Starring OIO Alum Nathan Granner – Live onstage- November 9, 2025 at 2PM

How often do you get to meet the star of a professional film? You can get the opportunity to see a new opera that was written by Gordon Getty and which stars an OIO alum, Nathan Granner (1992,1993) in our new theater this fall. Based on the book “Goodbye, Mr. Chips” by James Hilton, this film tells the story of a teacher at Brookfield, an all-boys English boarding school to which “Chips” dedicates most of his adult life. The film chronicles Chips’ story of love, loss and learning over his decades-long tenure at Brookfield. Directed by Brian Staufenbiel, the film stars tenor Nathan Granner as Mr. Chips, soprano Marnie Breckenridge as Kathie, baritone Lester Lynch as Merrivale, and Kevin Short as Ralston and Rivers. The orchestra is conducted by Nicole Paiement. Members of The Young People’s Chorus of New York City represent the boarding school students.

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A graduate of UMKC, Nathan is having a wonderful career singing all over the US and in Russia, and in Ireland. Stemming from his early breaks at Wolf Trap, Glimmerglass Operas, and as a Metropolitan Opera National Competition winner, Granner’s career path is blessed with distinction and variety. He was a founding member of the Sony Masterworks recording group, The American Tenors, but has also been the lead artist in operas, numerous tours, concerts, and classical music-inspired art installations.

Nathan will join us on Sunday afternoon, November 9 at 2PM, to talk about the making of the opera film, his career, and whatever else he wants to talk about. With a career as interesting as his has been, he surely will be interesting!

“Goodbye, Mr. Chips,” received its world premiere—as an opera reimagined for film—on Sunday, November 14, 2021. The public screening, presented by Festival Napa Valley in partnership with the Mill Valley Film Festival in San Rafael, CA. Since then, it has been screened by Opera Philadelphia, New York City Opera, and OPERA America. This past summer, the film was screened at Des Moines Metro Opera.

The composer of this opera, Gordon Getty, has written multiple works for the voice, including four operas and many chamber and orchestral works. At 91, he is still busy revising and composing.

This film screening is the first of what we hope will be a continuing series of films about opera and its makers.

Tickets are $20 and you can get them here: https://ci.ovationtix.com/36915/production/1254551?performanceId=11707464