Daniel Ellis, academic professional in opera and musical theatre, receives lifetime achievement award from Hendrix College

Daniel Ellis receiving the Hendrix Odyssey Award on September 26, 2024. Photos by Nelson Chenault.

Hendrix College presented five alumni with the Odyssey Medal at a private ceremony and luncheon on Thursday, September 26, 2024, including Daniel Ellis, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences academic professional in opera and musical theatre for the Hugh Hodgson School of Music and the UGA department of theatre and film studie. He and the other recipients were honored with a reception that evening in the Great Hall of the Clinton Presidential Center.

The Odyssey Medal is presented to alumni whose life achievements exemplify the ideals of the Hendrix Odyssey Program. Medalists are selected by the Hendrix Board of Trustees for their accomplishments in one of the six Odyssey categories: Artistic Creativity, Global Awareness, Professional and Leadership Development, Research, Service to the World, or Special Projects.

About Daniel Ellis, Hendrix College Graduating Class of ’96 – Hendrix Odyssey Medal: Artistic Creativity

International opera and theatre director Daniel Ellis is an Arkansas native who has been directing opera, theatre, and film professionally since his graduation from Hendrix College in 1996. While at Hendrix, he participated in the Hendrix-in-London study abroad program, and was a member of the Hendrix Choir and the Hendrix Players, graduating with a degree in psychology and earning the first declared minor in theatre from the College.

After working professionally in Arkansas theatres, Ellis moved to New York City and earned his MFA in Directing at The Actor’s Studio (now New School) in 2002. He is a recipient of the 2021 OPERA America’s Robert L. B. Tobin Director-Designer Prize for his production of Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore, which was produced as a part of Minnesota Opera’s 2023-2024 season.

Ellis made his European debut in 2016, directing the third revival of Barrie Kosky and Suzanne Andrade’s production of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte at the Komische Oper in Berlin. He also directed the European debut of Sir David McVicar’s production of Wozzeck at the Grand Théâtre de Genève, Switzerland (2017) and the Finnish National Opera (2019). He has directed more than 10 world premieres, including the off-Broadway production of Frank Gagliano’s comedy, Dancing with Joy. Daniel conceived and directed the premiere of Stay Tuned, featuring the vocal ensemble Five by Design; it was performed with more than 40 symphony orchestras and performing arts centers through the United States and Canada during its five-year tour.

He has worked for Lyric Opera of Chicago, Dallas Opera, Opera Philadelphia, Portland Opera, Palm Beach Opera, Mill City Opera, San Diego Opera, and Minnesota Opera alongside world-renowned directors including Sir David McVicar, Sir Graham Vick, Michael Cavanagh, Fenlon Lamb, Thaddeus Strassberger, Kevin Newbury, Renaud Doucet, Joel Ivany, Sam Helfrich and David Lefkowich. Ellis is an associate member of the Stage Director and Choreographers Society, and a member of American Guild of Musical Artists. He is the Academic Professional of Opera/Musical Theatre between the Hugh Hodgson School of Music and the Department of Theatre and Film Studies at University of Georgia at Athens.