Medically Blonde!
Please join us for an unforgettable performance as Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine proudly presents Doc Opera 2023: Medically Blonde! The Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine includes its Western Reserve Curriculum, the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College, and the Medical Scientist Training Programs. Talented students from each of these programs will be coming together to provide you with an evening of live entertainment at our local John Hay High School.
Now in its 39th year, Doc Opera is an annual fundraiser and variety show that is written, choreographed, directed, and starring students from CWRU’s health professional programs. Students and faculty from these graduate programs create a memorable night of skits, musical performances, and dances about medicine and healthcare, all for the benefit of the Student Run Health Clinic. The evening includes a 50/50 raffle and a silent auction made possible with the support of students, faculty, local businesses, and other generous donors.
Want to see more? Watch videos from previous years on our YouTube channel.
Our Mission
In keeping with CWRU’s commitment to give back to the community, Doc Opera is a fundraising event for Case Western Reserve University’s Student Run Health Clinic. At the SRHC, graduate students from the medical, nursing, physician assistant, dental and social work programs work together to provide high quality, compassionate healthcare to underserved populations within the Greater Cleveland area.
Our Doc Opera mission is to raise money so that the SRHC can continue to provide much needed healthcare services to those in our local community, regardless of their ability to pay. Due to increasing popularity and the addition of a live stream of the show, attendance in recent years has reached over one thousand guests which has allowed us to donate tens of thousands of dollars to the Student Run Health Clinic. We are incredibly grateful for the donations and support we have received from our audiences and from the wide array of local small businesses and corporate entities.
Show Details
This year’s live show is on Saturday, Dec. 16, at John Hay High School Auditorium. The silent auction begins at 6 p.m. and curtain is at 7 p.m. There will be livestream access to the show for those who cannot attend in person.
| Early Bird Ticket Prices Prior to Dec. 9* | Group |
|---|---|
| $15 | Student |
| $20 | General Admission |
| $30 | VIP |
| Regular Ticket Prices after Dec. 9 | Group |
|---|---|
| $18 | Student |
| $25 | General Admission |
| $40 |
VIP |
*ticket prices do not include transaction fees
Meet the Directors
With approximately 200 students from CWRU’s university program, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and the Medical Scientist Training Program taking part, Doc Opera requires intensive planning and teams of volunteers working throughout the year. When Doc Opera 2023: Medically Blonde! debuts Dec. 16, it will be due in part to the hard work of many student directors and their teams.
Henry Herrera
Co-Band Director (one of four)
Class of 2026
Have you volunteered for other Doc Opera shows?
I volunteered in last year’s show by playing drums, bass and auxiliary percussion.
Why did you get involved with Doc Opera?
Music is one of my biggest passions. It had been so long since I performed music with other musicians and I was so excited to get back into it, especially during medical school. I was hooked after our first rehearsal.
What is your favorite part of participating in Doc Opera?
For me, it’s seeing it all come together during tech week. For the first few months of rehearsal, band, dance, and vocals practice separately. Then during tech week we meet and practice everything together and see how the music, vocals, and dance fuse to make the show. Also, it's inspiring to perform with other talented musicians, dancers, and vocalists!
Why is it important to raise funds for the Student Run Health Clinic?
It's important so that it can keep running! It's a great way for students to make an impact in the community and help patients who might not be able to access medicine. It also allows students to sharpen their clinical skills while making an impact.
How do you balance a rigorous academic schedule and volunteering for Doc Opera?
Time management! I have to plan my days accordingly to account for the time spent preparing music, performing or directing for doc opera. Additionally, It helps that I have three amazing band co-directors so we really help each other keep things balanced. Also, I play my instruments anyway during my study breaks so I end up simultaneously preparing for Doc Opera while following my med school study schedule.
Do you participate in music, theater, dance, set design, etc. outside of Doc Opera?
Yes! I met a lot of great musicians thanks to Doc Opera last year. We wound up forming a band and jam regularly. The other band co-director, Isak, is the drummer in that band and Josh is the vocalist! Unfortunately, I left my drum set back home in New York due to the possible noise complaints it would attract. Thus, I regularly go to the Guitar Center with a few friends and practice drumming there! Music is an integral part of my everyday life so I'm always performing, practicing, or listening to something.
Matt Loria
Co-Vocal Director
Class of 2026
Have you volunteered for other Doc Opera shows?
Yes! Last year was my first year in Doc Opera. I sang in several songs and I was a song director for one.
Why did you get involved with Doc Opera?
Throughout college, I did a cappella. It was something that I missed coming into Medical School. I chose to get involved with Doc Opera to keep up with this passion of mine!
What is your favorite part of participating in Doc Opera?
The week of the show is incredibly fun. I've done musical theater my entire life and this week where we all get together and really put the show together is so rewarding. We get to see all the hard work we put in pay off and it's a blast. During this week we get to hang out with people that we may not normally interact with, which leads to a great opportunity to make new friends.
Why is it important to raise funds for the Student Run Health Clinic?
SRHC is such a fantastic opportunity! We'd love to find ways to expand it so that more people can be involved. So, hopefully, more donations can make this a reality.
How do you balance a rigorous academic schedule and volunteering for Doc Opera?
Honestly, it can be challenging at times! But music has always been a wonderful stress outlet. Doc Opera is just that, a time and place to step away and reenergize!
Do you participate in music, theater, dance, set design, etc. outside of Doc Opera?
My roommates and I will sing and play music together! But nothing formal.
Emily Peng
Finance Director
Class of 2026
Have you volunteered for other Doc Opera shows? If yes, explain previous roles.
Yes, I was a dancer last year
Why did you get involved with Doc Opera?
The arts have always been a huge part of my life. I grew up playing the violin and participating in orchestras, and I loved meeting new people through all the groups I was in. My favorite memories involved playing at Carnegie Hall, Disneyland parks, and Knott's Berry Farm. I could always rely on the arts for stress relief, and coming into medical school, I knew I had to find an outlet to maintain my mental health. I decided to dance last year (I wasn't able to bring my violin here) and I've loved my experience!
What is your favorite part of participating in Doc Opera?
My favorite part is seeing all the numbers finally come together leading up to the show. The dancers, singers, and band all practice separately, and it's fun (and chaotic) trying to bring all of these elements together. I also love bonding with the other dancers during weekly rehearsals and moving my body after a long day of studying.
Why is it important to raise funds for the Student Run Health Clinic?
Many underserved communities rely on the Student Run Health Clinic for accessible care, and it's important that we are able to supply the necessary resources. On the flip side, the Student Run Health Clinic gives medical, dental, nursing, PA and social work students the opportunity to work as a team, something we don't really get to do especially during pre-clinical years.
How do you balance a rigorous academic schedule and volunteering for Doc Opera?
Since I dance, I view Doc Opera as going to the gym, so I build it into my routine. I try to get a lot of my academic work done during the day, then I have dance rehearsal at night. As the finance director, a lot of my work involves emailing and design, so I try to incorporate my tasks throughout the day whenever I have downtime.
Do you participate in music, theater, dance, set design, etc. outside of Doc Opera?
I love traveling and filming a bunch of videos. During my limited free time, I like to make and edit travel vlogs of my past trips!
Maia Van Buskirk
Tech Director
Class of 2026
Have you volunteered for other Doc Opera shows?
Yes, last year I was a song director for the “Cup Song”, and worked essentially as the stage manager and in other tech roles, such as building the set and setting up the livestream
Why did you get involved with Doc Opera?
I've been involved with theater since I was five years old, thanks to my Dad. My first role that I truly remember is being Zuzu in It's A Wonderful Life at six years old. I continued to do theater throughout elementary school, middle school and in high school transitioned behind the scenes working the fly rail for the yearly school musical. I also was a camp counselor for the youth theater camp in my town for many years. So I always am looking for opportunities to return to the stage, either on or off. I remember hearing about Doc Opera during my interview and immediately knew if I ended up at CWRU, I would end up in Doc Opera.
What is your favorite part of participating in Doc Opera?
I love the chaos of tech week and seeing the show come together. The late nights, everyone sitting in the empty auditorium, watching their friends perform shows, hearing the laughter of bits finally coming together, it's an experience like no other. Running around backstage, troubleshooting everything, it's the kind of energy I thrive on.
Why is it important to raise funds for the Student Run Health Clinic?
Any and all opportunities for free medical services deserve community support.
How do you balance a rigorous academic schedule and volunteering for Doc Opera?
It takes effort, and some weeks are definitely harder than others. I think to take on this task requires a passion for putting on a performance. I'm a big fan of to-do lists, so my life is very much just checking off things when I can. As tech director, most of what I do will come to fruition in the week leading into the show but this year I've tried to expand the role to involve more preplanning and increase the overall production value.
Do you participate in music, theater, dance, set design, etc. outside of Doc Opera?
Theater has been a mainstay in my life for 20 years and has been a great way to connect to others in the community, as well as my father who took me to my first audition and have key memories of running lines with me in the waiting room. I can still see him filling out the form for me to audition for Zuzu because I liked the way he would put dashes in his Z's. People are always surprised when they see me on stage because I'm a very introverted person and not many would think I would love the heat of the spotlights, but to me acting is so freeing because you can escape yourself every time you step onto the stage. In college, my school did not have a very flushed-out theater program but we did have a dancefest every semester that I participated in to get my fill of the spotlight.
Joshua Wiener
Production Director
Class of 2026
Have you volunteered for other Doc Opera shows?
Yes, last year I was a singer in three songs and song director for one song.
Why did you get involved with Doc Opera?
I studied theater in college and had done theater throughout college and high school. I thought I wouldn't be able to access that again, but Doc Opera has given me an opportunity to continue on with something I truly love—plus, it's all for an important cause.
What is your favorite part of participating in Doc Opera?
The people. Working with everyone involved in the show has been incredible, and really has made my med school experience better.
Why is it important to raise funds for the Student Run Health Clinic?
Providing healthcare and access for the greater Cleveland area is an incredibly worthwhile goal, and by raising funds for the SRHC, we can directly contribute to that effort.
How do you balance a rigorous academic schedule and volunteering for Doc Opera?
With very careful planning, and with the support of the people around you.