Nathan Gunn

About Nathan

Nathan Gunn is widely acclaimed for his diverse performing career bridging the genres of opera, musical theatre, and recital. As a performer, Gunn is respected as an artist, musician, and singing actor. He has performed many of opera and musical theater’s greatest roles on the world’s most prestigious stages. Gunn has also been seen and heard on television, radio, video, and live simulcast performances, including the first ever Met in HD broadcast (The Magic Flute), in which he sang “Papageno”, one of his signature roles. In addition to “Papageno”, Gunn has reinterpreted classic roles such as “Billy Budd”, “Figaro”, and “Don Giovann”, garnering many awards, including the Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording (Billy Budd) and the Metropolitan Opera’s first ever Beverly Sills Award. Additionally, Gunn has been widely acclaimed for his ability to crossover into musical theater, including performances with the New York Philharmonic in Carousel and Camelot, as well as a televised celebration of Stephen Sondheim’s 80th birthday.

Gunn has championed dozens of new songs, operas, and sung theater in a multitude of venues. He recently debuted his one-man autobiographical show produced and written by Hershey Felder, entitled Flying Solo, which has been lauded as a “riveting autobiographical musical [that] is a stunner both with its touching, relatable, family-centric narrative and Gunn’s entertaining, charismatic performing style (Broadway World review).” Nathan and Julie Gunn created their production company, Shot in the Dark, to produce and perform cabaret shows which entertain the public while giving young artists and hometown celebrities a platform to showcase their talents.

Gunn is a professor and Swandlund Chair at the University of Illinois where he is co-director of Lyric Theatre @ Illinois. He developed and founded the first ever Bachelor of Musical Arts in Lyric Theatre curriculum in the nation. In addition to life as a performer, educator, and arts advocate, Gunn is an avid patron of the arts. He and his family reside in Champaign, Illinois.