A River Runs Through It: Opera Montana is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Norman Maclean’s beloved elegy to family and fly fishing in Montana with a new opera by Zach Redler

A River Runs Through It: Michael Kuhn & Schyler Vargas (who play brother Paul & Norman in Zach Redler’s new opera) on the Yellowstone River, August 2025 (Photo: Charlotte Mae Ellison)

Norman Maclean’s novel A River Runs Through Itis a semi-autobiographical account of his relationship with his brother Paul and their upbringing in early 20th century Montana where “there was no clear line between religion and fly-fishing.” First published in 1976, it is recognized as one of the definitive American stories of the twentieth century and a classic depiction of the American West. The story is perhaps best known through Robert Redford’s Academy Award-winning 1992 film adaptation starring Brad Pitt, Craig Sheffer, and Tom Skerritt.

Now, in celebration of the book’s 50th anniversary in 2026, Opera Montana is presenting the premiere of an operatic adaptation. Commissioned from composer Zach Redler with a libretto by Matt Foss and Kelley Rourke, A River Runs Through It premieres in September 2026 at the Ellen Theater in Bozeman, with additional October performances in Missoula, where some of the story is set. Opera Montana’s artistic director Michael Sakir conducts with stage direction by Foss, scenic and video design by Kristin Ellert, and lighting design by Stephen Sakowski. Montana PBS will film the world premiere performances for a future broadcast. 

A special preview performance and workshop will take place on 20 May, 2026, at National Sawdust Theatre in Brooklyn, NY. A collaboration between National Sawdust, Seagle Festival, and Opera Montana, this performance will feature John Maclean, the son of A River Runs Through It’s author Norman Maclean, reading passages from the novella paired with the corresponding musical pieces from the opera.  

The opera will feature an instrumental ensemble of 24 and a cast of seven including Schyler Vargas, Michael Kuhn, Christine Taylor Price, Ryan Bryce Johnson, Megan Marino, Phyllis Pancella, and David Pittsinger 

“For me, at its core, A River Runs Through It is an opera about family, faith, and the beauty we all share,” said composer Zach Redler. “The music is composed with the intention of being incredibly accessible for a variety of audiences. Bluegrass, country, jazz, honky-tonk, Copeland, Maslanka, and others served as inspiration to create both the breadth and romantic nature of the Montana land- and river-scape as well as the intimacy of a marital feud and the boisterousness of a tin-roofed backwoods bar.”

Zach Redler is a composer whose work moves between musical theatre and opera. He spent fifteen years working on the music teams of musicals on Broadway, regionally, and globally. His opera The Falling and the Rising has had over 20 productions across the USA. As a musicologist, Redler’s research on and publications of Marcel Tyberg’s music has culminated in multiple premieres and recordings. [Tyberg (1893-1944) was an Austrian composer born into a musical family in Vienna, and who died in Auschwitz-Birkenau/]

Founded in 1979, Opera Montana is Montana’s first professional opera company. From its early days presenting one grand opera per year, Opera Montana has grown to present two operas and one musical theatre production each season and a statewide school tour featuring Indigenous artists and music. The Opera Montana Veterans Chorus brings local veterans together through music. Its free ticket program “Opera for All” is intended to make professional performances financially accessible for the community.

Its 2025-26 season includes Pauline Viardot’s Cinderella, Tosca and a music theatre piece based on E.L. Doctorow’s book Ragtime. 

Further details from the Opera Montana website.