Joshua Borths with glasses and short hair, wearing a dark sweater, smiling and sitting on a bench outside near a garden.

Joshua Borths (he/him) is a nationally recognized stage director, writer, and dramaturg. Known for his creative, emotional, and insightful productions, Borths’s work is “beautiful, even poetic.” (Opera Today) Borths has staged operas and musicals, given over five hundred public lectures, and written more than ten children's operas that have introduced young audiences to opera across the country (OperaClassroom.com). 

Recently, Borths’s critically acclaimed production of The Flying Dutchman, starring Ryan McKinny, premiered at Des Moines Metro Opera (DMMO) which “thrillingly met the substantial challenges of Wagner’s seminal work.” (Opera Today) Both his staging and character development was lauded with one reviewer noting that “in less capable hands, these characters might come across as one-dimensional, but Borths gave them depth that was refreshing but still true to Wagner’s vision.” (Little Village) Borths will return to Des Moines Metro Opera in 2026 to stage a new production of Puccini’s Tosca starring Laura Wilde in the title role.

Borths is currently the Director of Opera Theatre at James Madison University (JMU) and Company Dramaturg at DMMO. In his role as Company Dramaturg at DMMO, Borths contributed to the company’s nomination for the International Opera Awards in 2024 (Best Festival). Previously, Borths served as the Resident Scholar at Virginia Opera; the Director of Opera & Musical Theater and Professor of Music History at Capital University in Columbus, OH; and as Director of Education and Resident Stage Director at Arizona Opera.

In addition to The Flying Dutchman, Borths directed a new production of Hansel and Gretel for Opera Montana in 2025. In 2025/26, Borths returns to DMMO to direct a new production of Tosca after directing new productions of Three Decembers, La traviata, Béatrice et Bénédict, and Dialogues of the Carmelites. Additionally, upcoming speaking engagements include the Wagner Society of Scotland, Wagner Society of New York, and Triangle Wagner Society, and Wagner Society of Southern California.

Past favorites include mew productions of The Falling and the Rising and Beauty and the Beast for Des Moines Metro Opera; Rusalka, Florencia en el Amazonas, and Il barbiere di Siviglia for Arizona Opera;  Hansel and Gretel and The Tragedy of Carmen for Opera Memphis; Madama Butterfly at Pensacola Opera; La clemenza di Tito for the University of Maryland; Suor Angelica, Oklahoma!, and Der Kaiser von Atlantis for Crested Butte Music Festival; and L'elisir d'amore for Opera Las Vegas. As a stage director of musical theatre, Borths has directed Parade; Camelot; Kiss Me, Kate and The Music Man. Borths has also directed gala performances featuring Frederica von Stade and Joyce DiDonato and staged the southeastern premieres of Soldier Songs and La Hija de Rappaccini.

As an assistant director, Borths has worked with Arizona Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, Michigan Opera Theater, Des Moines Metro Opera, and the Festival della Valle d'Itria in Martina Franca, Italy. Borths’s work as an assistant director contributed to American Apollo receiving an Emmy Award nomination in 2025. Additionally, Borths has hosted podcasts; written acclaimed surtitle translations; and publicly interviewed illustrious artists including Jake Heggie, Gregory Spears, David T. Little, Jonathan Dove, Damien Geter, Thomas Mallon, and Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author Jane Smiley. He also served as the director/dramaturg for the Loving v. Virginia libretto workshop at Virginia Opera.

An active and engaging lecturer, Borths is regularly sought out by companies and opera fans alike. In addition to exponentially growing the prelude lectures at DMMO, Borths has given presentations at the Triangle Wagner Society, Wagner Society Manchester, Opera America, and more.

As an educator, Borths has taught at Shenandoah University, been a Visiting Professor at the Crane School of Music (SUNY Potsdam), directed Maryland Opera Studio, and served as a guest panelist for Opera America. He collaborated with TED Ed on its first opera resources and was featured in Opera News for his innovative approach to opera education.

Originally from Cincinnati, OH, Borths holds undergraduate degrees in Musicology and Vocal Performance with an emphasis in Opera Direction from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in Opera Production from Florida State University.

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