Michael Baumgarten has been the Director of Production and Resident Lighting and Video Designer for Opera Carolina since 2005. He has designed lighting, video, and scenery for over 450 productions at regional and international opera companies, including New York City Opera, Teatro del Giglio/Lucca, Florida Grand Opera, Opera Lyra Ottawa, Arizona Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Lyric Opera Kansas City, Palm Beach Opera, Toledo Opera, Michigan Opera Theater, and Manitoba Opera. He has been with the Chautauqua Opera for over 60 operas since 1995. Michael has an MFA in Design and Production from the Yale School of Drama, 1982.