about us - Fallen Chandelier Productions and Albany Lyric Opera

What makes FaCha different from all of the other studios/theater companies in our area is that all of our teachers are NYS certified music teachers, have Film and English degrees, are specialists in Media and Design and are Special Ed teachers to help our students with disabilities. Combined, we have 100 years of experience with all ages of students. Our goal is to make our students independent music readers, increase their self esteem, replace phones with faces during rehearsals and become kinder human beings. We do not just teach songs which you can do on your own, we teach you how to read music. You will not read about any of our staff members being on Broadway - but what you WILL see are seasoned veterans teachers of the Arts that accept ALL CHILDREN regardless of their disability. We also offer private vocal study where are students are achieving perfect scores at NYSSMA - and that includes All State!

There is no singing without acting. If you are just standing in one spot while you are singing, then we've got some work to do! When you sing, you are telling a story, so expect to have your songs choreographed while you learn them. It's hard work! You will feel really at home with our students. We do not tolerate any kind of bullying. This is a place where we support each other. We just dont meet on the stage - we get together for ice cream, movies and other events. We are especially partial to water guns!

When we take our students to the city to work with Broadway directors and cast members, we are still shocked to find out that many Broadway cast members have to hire a music director to teach them their music! We want all of our students to be independent by the time they are in tenth or eleventh grade. And if you look at our pictures, you will see us with the cast of Be More Chill on Broadway. with George Salazar and also with the cast of Hadestown. We visit NYC about four to five times a year to study with Broadway casts and staff at the Metropolitan Opera House. Our most recent visits included Hamilton (and a workshop with the cast), Wicked and Hadestown. We are about education - that is what we do! We have some great people on our staff, especially our sound engineer. We work with a state of the art sound system and lights - because there is nothing worse than not being seen and heard. Need to change the key is a song? Done! Need to take out an instrumental solo? Done. It is always about making the student sound the best that they can - as long as they put in the work at home.

In addition to being a music educator and administrator for 46 years, Ms. DelSignore is also a NYSSMA ALL STATE Adjudicator. You can also participate in our recitals throughout the year to show progression as an individual, as long as you do the work at home.

The most important part of your lesson and/or rehearsal is the time BETWEEN them. The work you do at home is a direct correlation as to how far you will progress. We are really serious about making you the best you can be!

Introducing Albany Lyric Opera!

Albany Lyric Opera
An initiative of Fallen Chandelier Productions

Fallen Chandelier Productions is proud to introduce Albany Lyric Opera, a new company dedicated to bringing opera to the heart of the Capital Region. For too long, singers and audiences in our area have had to travel to experience live opera or find serious training in the art form. Albany Lyric Opera was created to change that, building a home for opera right here in Albany where young singers can train, adult artists can perform, and our whole community can fall in love with this extraordinary art form.

Our Goals

Albany Lyric Opera is built on a simple belief: opera belongs to everyone. Our goals are to:

• Give young singers ages 8–18 a place to discover opera, develop their voices, and perform in fully realized productions alongside experienced artists.

• Create meaningful performance opportunities for adult singers in the Capital Region, so local talent can grow and shine close to home.

• Offer workshops in Albany that open the doors of opera to singers, students, and curious newcomers alike.

• Make opera accessible and welcoming to audiences of all ages and backgrounds, especially those experiencing it for the first time.

• Grow a lasting opera tradition in the Capital Region that our community can be proud of for years to come.

Our Inaugural Season: La Bohème

We are thrilled to announce that Albany Lyric Opera will launch with Puccini’s La Bohème this June! A story of young artists, friendship, and love in Paris, La Bohème is one of the most beloved operas ever written and the perfect way to begin our journey together.

Our Leadership

Albany Lyric Opera is led by Executive Director Francesca DelSignore, founder of Fallen Chandelier Productions and a music educator with 47 years of experience; Artistic Director Shauna Siver of SLS Studios, whose opera-focused teaching has already inspired many of our young singers; Director Alexandra Hannafin; and Producer Alysia Plaza.

And the one-line version:

Albany Lyric Opera is led by Executive Director Francesca DelSignore, Artistic Director Shauna Siver, Director Alexandra Hannafin, and Producer Alysia Plaza.

Stay Tuned!

There’s so much more on the way, including an exciting new home for the company that we can’t wait to share. Watch this space for announcements on auditions, workshops, and performance dates.

Questions, or want to be the first to hear our news? Contact us at fachastage@gmail.com or (518) 526-4263.

What We Offer

Locations

Reviews

From a Mom with a child with social anxiety - “This program has been a life saver for us. Ms. DelSignore has taken my daughter from being in a very lonely place at school to now one that is filled with friends. Her school work has improved incredibly, she participates in classes, can talk to her friends and teachers now and I just get so emotional thinking about what this program has done for her. Many other community theaters have not even given our daughter a second thought, but this program sees the potential in EVERY child” Name withheld

FaCha has been a life saving place for my daughter. I cannot even begin to tell you what these Directors go through to make EVERY SINGLE CHILD shine like the top of the Chrysler building. They refuse to accept mediocrity in children and somehow - manage to see what we as parents don’t even see in our own children. I know there are so many community theaters in the 518 but this one outshines all the others. You can’t match the love these teachers have for these kids. And let me close with, I am pretty sure they do this on their own time. All of the ticket sales goes towards the next performance. How many times will you see that in your lifetime? Signed, Extremely Grateful Parents

Look - cheerleading, basketball, ice hockey, dance classes - these things are expensive and so time consuming on the family and the kids. Sports teach kids a lot of things, but FaCha is way at the top of the list. This is a safe, welcoming place for any child. They do not tolerate bullying, being unkind or excluding any child. These Directors are tough, firm , fair, respectful and love the heck out of these kids. Right now FaCha is a well kept secret and I am kind of glad it is - I want my kids to be a part of this for as long as possible.

I don’t normally take the time to write about anything so this is my first New Year’s resolution. My child has been involved in two productions here, and I have to admit that the first time I felt lost. I thought the level of performance was totally over my child’s ability and we were headed for a total nervous breakdown. But, it was me who didn’t understand what kids are capable of. I felt so embarrassed. Not only was my child in a production that could give park Playhouse a run for their money, his school work improved and his confidence soared. I agree with the parent above saying this is the best secret in Albany. If you want your children involved in a QUALITY production better than you could ever dreamed of - these Directors are who you want your kids to be with. They even have a tech wizard from RPI doing their sound. It is top shelf all around. This group is where you want your kids to be. Signed, a forever grateful parent

Contact Us

If you have any questions, or want to sit in on a rehearsal, reach out to us! We would love to hear from you. 

 We just don’t perform together - we hang together! Private movie showings, trips to NYC, water fights - its a great way to get to know each other!

Introducing Albany Lyric Opera

Fallen Chandelier Productions is thrilled to announce Albany Lyric Opera, our brand-new opera initiative bringing the art form to singers and audiences across the Capital Region. Opera has been hard to find in our area for far too long, and we’re here to change that.

Albany Lyric Opera will offer training and performance opportunities for young singers ages 8–18, performances for adult artists, and workshops right here in Albany. Whether you’re a young voice discovering opera for the first time or an experienced singer looking for a place to perform, there will be a place for you.

We’re launching our inaugural season with Puccini’s beloved La Bohème this June! And there’s more on the way, including an exciting new home for the company that we can’t wait to share. Stay tuned for announcements on auditions, workshops, and performance dates!

Questions or want to be the first to know? Reach us at fachastage@gmail.com or (518) 526-4263.

Why Opera in the Capital Region?

For too long, experiencing opera has meant leaving home. Families in our area who want their children to see or study opera usually have to travel, often all the way to New York City, putting it out of reach for many. Albany Lyric Opera brings opera home, so that every child and every family, not just those who can afford the trip, can hear it, sing it, and fall in love with it.

Opera also gives young singers something our region has been missing: a place to train and perform in classical style. Musical theater opportunities are plentiful, but serious opera training close to home is rare. Opera builds the vocal technique, breath support, language skills, and musicianship that serve singers in every style, and it gives students preparing for college music programs and NYSSMA real experience on a real stage.

The Capital Region is also home to many talented adult singers with few places to perform near home. Albany Lyric Opera gives them a stage, keeps their artistry in our community, and lets young singers learn side by side with experienced performers.

Most of all, we believe opera is for everyone. Its stories are about love, loss, friendship, and the struggle to follow your dreams, experiences we all share. Our first production, La Bohème, tells the story of young, struggling artists trying to make their way in the world, a story that speaks to audiences of every age.

Albany Lyric Opera is a natural next step for Fallen Chandelier Productions. We have seen what happens when students of every background and ability are given a real stage: they achieve more than they ever thought possible. Now we’re bringing that same spirit to opera, and we can’t wait to share it with you.