The Camden Opera House has announced a new management team is in place, led by Opera House Manager Dave Morrison.

“We are very excited to start this new chapter, of providing the very best of music, dance, theater, film and conferences to the Midcoast,”  said Morrison, in a news release.

Morrison, who started at the opera house in 2006, has most recently been the technical director. 

Originally from Boston, he played in rock bands in Boston and New York City, and has worked at the Harvard Law School, Hard Rock Café, and Hudson River Museum before moving to Maine, where he became a familiar face in the Maine poetry scene.

Juniper Purinton is the Opera House Technical Director. Before returning to Maine she was the general manager of the Taos Center for the Arts in New Mexico.  Juniper brings expertise in sound, theater lighting, and film/video to the COH (and is a skilled welder).

Karina Shorten manages Promotions and Box Office.  Karina arrived at the Opera House from a background in operatic stage management and has worked for opera companies across the country including Boston Lyric Opera, Ashlawn Opera Festival in Virginia, and as far afield and the Scottish National Opera.

While in Scotland she earned a master’s of science in social anthropology and African studies.

Morrison said: “We are lucky to have wonderful event managers, techs, an energetic Opera House Committee, great volunteers, and the staff of the town of Camden to help us.  Most of all we’re grateful to all the folks who support this beautiful venue by attending shows, and renting the space for their event.”

The Camden Opera House is an 1894 Victorian theater owned by the town of Camden, and is both a rental and producing venue.

Last year, the Opera House hosted 22 films, 15 concerts, 12 days of conferences/lectures, 15 days of dance programming, 6 days of school programming, the annual Town Meeting, a memorial service, 7 misc. events (magic, comedy, Beatles tribute, non-profit fundraiser, Pecha Kucha), and 49 days of rehearsals/set-up, and welcomed approximately 27,500 patrons.  In other spaces in the building the COH supported 313 town and committee meetings.

“This is your opera house,” says Morrison, “We look forward to seeing you at the show.”