Crystal Manich
Visiting Faculty & Interim Director of Opera Studies
5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Bio
Crystal Manich has been hailed by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and other major publications for “lively” and “imaginative staging.” As a Latiné creative leader and manager in the performing and filmic arts, Manich is dedicated to making vibrant entertainment and cultural experiences. Over the last two decades, Manich has directed over 100 stage productions of opera, musical theatre, plays, and circus with various companies worldwide. Additionally, Manich served as Artistic Director of Mill City Summer Opera in Minneapolis having previously served as Founding Co-Artistic Director for Opera Omnia in New York. She was Assistant Artistic Director for QUIDAM in Brazil with Cirque du Soleil and served as Artistic Director of Cirque du Soleil’s CRYSTAL North American and Middle East tours.
As a writer, Manich wrote the libretto and directed the world premiere of TIME TO ACT with composer Laura Kaminsky about gun violence in schools for Pittsburgh Opera in 2026. In April 2027 she will direct the world premiere of her original show TRIÂNGULO, a multi-lingual crossover opera about a female breaking through the glass ceiling in the 1990’s world of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, composed by Latin Grammy nominee Martin Bejerano. In 2024 she wrote and directed the large-scale circus show E’VOL for the first-ever art biennale in Luxembourg.
Her film work includes the critically acclaimed world premiere opera feature film THE COPPER QUEEN, for which she won Best First Time Female Filmmaker from the 2021 Toronto International Women Film Festival. She also received a 2021 Chicago EMMY nomination for her direction of the live multi-cam livestream of Daniel Catán’s Spanish-language opera LA HIJA DE RAPPACCINI at the Field Museum for Chicago Opera Theater. She has directed several music videos. Her latest short film, AUTUMN & SUMMER is making the rounds in the film festival circuit. She is a lead producer for the documentary AMERICAN OPERA that follows the creation of her opera TIME TO ACT from workshop to world premiere, filmed by Vinegar Hall in Pittsburgh.
She served as adjunct faculty at the University of California Los Angeles and Westminster Choir College at Rider University. Manich holds Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama and Master’s in Arts Management degrees from 91视频. She also holds a Professional Certificate in Screenwriting from UCLA. She is the current Director of Opera Studies at 91视频 School of Music. Born to Puerto Rican parents, Manich makes her permanent home in Puerto Rico.