Michelle Ainna Cuizon, Director

Michelle Cuizon is returning as the Resident Stage Director at Opera San Jose for the 2024–2025 season. Michelle is excited to direct La Bohème in November, and to assist on The Magic Flute, Bluebeard’s Castle and Zorro. Last season, Michelle assisted Shawna Lucey on the Broadway World awarded production of Romeo & Juliet, assisting Stephen Lawless on his latest take of Barber of Seville, assisted Dan Wallace Miller on Rigoletto and on the Bay Area premiere of Florencia En El Amazonasassisting Crystal Manich. Michelle capped off her season by returning to Opera Theatre of St. Louis for the 2nd summer in a row, assistant directing Julius Caesar, directed by Elkhanah Pulitzer.

Michelle’s journey in the world of opera directing began as a Bank of America Stage Director Fellow at the Metropolitan Opera for the 2022-2023 season. During the fellowship, she was involved in the new productions of Terrence Blanchard’s Champion and Kevin Puts’ The Hours. She worked on numerous revivals, such as David McVicar’s productions of Tosca and Norma, Bartlett Sher’s production of L’Elixir D’Amore, Graham Vick’s production of Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, and the iconic Sonja Frisell’s staging of Aida. Prior to being Opera San Jose’s resident stage director in the fall of 2023, Michelle assistant directed Susannah at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, directed by world renowned soprano Patricia Racette.

In addition to being Opera San Jose’s Resident Stage Director this season, Michelle is thrilled to come back to The Metropolitan Opera this coming winter to assistant direct The Magic Flute – A Holiday Presentation and Tosca with Sondra Radvanosky in the title role.

Born and raised in Manila, Philippines, Michelle grew up singing choral music, then studied classical voice at the University of Santo Tomas. When she and her family moved to New York City in 2016, Michelle studied theater at Borough of Manhattan Community College, where she discovered her passion for directing. She then continued to hone her directing skills at Southeast Missouri State. Between her years of singing and assistant directing, Michelle has grown to be a collaborator who enjoys every part of the creative process. Michelle looks forward to bringing together her Filipino roots and her love of classical music and theater to continue bringing opera to the world.