Meridian native Maryann Kyle returns for a one-night-only performance tonight in downtown Meridian.

       Kyle will star in “From Opera to Broadway,” which begins at 7 p.m. at the Temple Theatre. The show features a live orchestra and some of the most widely recognized arias ever written, along with several Broadway hits including “My Fair Lady,” “Carousel,” “Kiss Me, Kate” and “Porgy & Bess.”

       The concert is hosted by the Meridian Symphony Association and the University of Southern Mississippi Symphony Orchestra.

       In demand as one of the finest vocal coaches of belt, legit and classical vocal technique, Kyle has dedicated her professional life to guiding singers in their pursuit not only of exceptional singing, but also captivating performance – as stated in her profile on the website of the University of Southern Mississippi, where she is professor of voice and director of the Southern Opera and Music Theatre Company’s Outreach and Workshop program.

       Kyle has extensive experience teaching, coaching, and performing opera, recitals, concerts and Broadway shows. She was vocal coach for the musical “Twist” by composers Tena Clark and Gary Prim, and directed by Debbie Allen, which opened in Atlanta in 2010 at the Alliance Theatre, and opened at the Pasadena Playhouse in 2011. She is the creator of Maryann Kyle’s Command Performance Workshop, which focuses on the integration of the voice into the total actor, and the Command Performance Broadway Intensive, a young artist training program for musical theatre singing actors as a part of FestivalSouth.

       Kyle is an active performer of opera, concert and recital repertoire, and has shared the concert stage with some of world’s greatest artists, having sung the role of Micaela in “Carmen” opposite internationally known mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves; performing as a guest soloist with The Miami Festival opposite famed bass-baritone William Warfield; and singing the soprano solos in “Mendelssohn’s Elijah” opposite baritone Timothy Noble and mezzo-soprano Marietta Simpson.

       She has appeared as a soloist on the pop music stage with famed artists Patti Labelle, Patti Austin, Dionne Warwick, Ann Nesby and Vesta Williams. He one-woman-show, “Sondheim in the City,” premiered in New York City at the Laurie Beechman Theatre/West Bank Café in October 2011, and she recently performed the title role in Daniel Lincoln’s newest show, “Calixte.” 

       Upcoming projects include “The World of Maria Callas,” an original show featuring Kyle as the beautiful and tragic Callas; “Aria: A Cirque Spectacular,” a stunning cirque styled show featuring popular arias and duets from opera; and “Spellbound: Love Songs of Musical Theatre and Opera” with international crossover artist, Matt Morgan.

       Specializing in belt and legit style Broadway technique, Kyle has had success in training singers in the best and healthiest use of their voice, and in integrating the function of singing with their character and physical acting process. She maintains a studio in New York City and has worked with the NYU-Tisch, Playrights Horizons Studio, and the musical theatre apprentice program as a part of the International Performing Arts Institute, Germany experience. Her students include New York dancer Jared Grimes, Emily Hindrichs (English National Opera, Oper Frankfurt, Tanglewood, Seattle Opera), Olivia Diane Joseph (off-Broadway production of “The Wiz,” Suzi Bass Award Winner), and Alaman Diadhiou (title role in “Twist,” “America’s Child Tap Dance Prodigy, Oman…O Man!” and Jerry Lewis telethon).

       Kyle’s coaching talents are not restricted to Broadway musicals. Her students are successful in the classical realm as well, many of whom have performed leading roles with New Orleans Opera, Seattle Opera, Oper Frankfurt, English National Opera, Virginia Opera. San Francisco Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Chicago Opera Theatre and the Badisches Staatsheater Karlsruhe.

       Kyle continues to sing leading operatic roles with professional opera companies throughout the United States. She has also appeared as a soloist with many symphony orchestras in the US and beyond. She has toured extensively with John Wustman in the “Songs of Franz Schubert Recital Series.” Her main opera roles include Mimi and Musetta in Puccini’s “La Boheme,” Countess and Susannah in Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro,” Fiordiligi in Mozart’s “Cosi fan Tutte,” Violetta in “La Traviata,” Pamina in “Die Zauberflote,” Lady Billows in “Albert Herring,” Micaela in “Carmen,” the title role in Floyd’s “Susannah,” and the Evil Queen in the world-premiere of “Snow White.”

       Kyle has served as director of the Apprentice Artist program with Mississippi Opera, and vocal coach with Festival South. She also serves on the faculty of the International Performing Arts Institute, Germany, Operafestival di Roma, Italy and was a featured clinician at the Festival Musica nas Montanhas, Brazil. Last year, Kyle assume leadership of the International Belt Voice Symposium in Kiefersfelden, Germany, as a part of IPAI.

       Tickets are $20, general admission, $10 with valid student or military ID and are available at The Temple Theatre Box Office. For more information, call (601) 693-5353.