Craftsman's Guild members donate stagecraft skills in the areas of wardrobe, makeup/wigs, concessions, and parties. Commissions Opera Omaha is known for commissioning a number of modern American works: Eric Hermannson's Soul, based on a short story by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Willa Cather. The work was performed in 1998 under the direction of then-Music Director Hal France. The opera was composed by Libby Larsen with a libretto by Chas Rader-Shieber. Wakonda's Dream in 2003, a work that had its premiere in 2007 and was inspired by events that took place in Nebraska in the late 19th century, including the trial of Ponca Chief Standing Bear. Anthony Davis (composer) composed the opera, with the libretto written by Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Yusef Komunyakaa. Rhoda Levine served as director. Blizzard Voices in 2008, based on a work by Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Ted Kooser, who also served as the work's librettist. Pulitzer Prize–winning musician Paul Moravec composed the work, which was performed under the direction of then-Opera Omaha Music Director Stewart Robertson. The company, along with the New Jersey State Opera, the Rochester Opera and the Celebrity Series of Boston commissioned the 1997 work Many Moons, which is based on the children's book of the same name. World and U.S. Premieres Opera Omaha is internationally known for its productions of world and U.S. premieres of a number of classical and modern works: 1988: The company staged the U.S. premiere of the 1730 George Frideric Handel work, Partenope, under music director John DeMain and stage director Stephen Wadsworth. 1988: The company staged the U.S. premiere of the 1967 Udo Zimmermann piece, Weiße Rose (opera), under music director John DeMain and stage director Stephen Wadsworth. 1990: The company staged the U.S. premiere of the 1924 Nicolae Bretan work, Golem (opera), under stage director and the opera's associate artistic director Keith Warner. The production was designed by John Pascoe. 1990: The company staged the U.S. premiere of the 1841 Gaetano Donizetti melodrama, Maria Padilla. The production was considered a breakout performance of then-young soprano Renee Fleming. John Pascoe was director and designer of the U.S. premiere in Omaha. 1992: The company staged the U.S. premiere of the 1819 Gioachino Rossini work, Ermione, with stage director Jonathan Miller. 1992: The company staged the world premiere of "Autumn Valentine: Dorothy Parker's General Review of the Sex Situation." The New York Times called it "an unclassifiable collaboration by Angelina Reaux and