Soprano, Actress, Director, Dramaturg
A multi-faceted artist, Suzan’s career spans work in Opera, Music Theater, Theater and Concert. As a singer/actress Suzan was hailed as “Best Opera Diva” by the LA Weekly (”When Hanson opens her mouth, her characters’ hopes, fears, desires and secret thoughts come pouring out in a mellifluous rush of unbridled emotions that is amplified further by Hanson’s persuasive acting and intensity.”)
With over 100 roles performed to date, Suzan’s Operatic heroines include Cherubini’s Medea, Giovanna d’Arco, Cio-Cio San, Rosalinda, Tatiana, Pat Nixon, Floyd’s Susannah, Olympia-Antonia-Giulietta-Stella, Violetta, Magda, Lady Macbeth, Fiordiligi, Donna Anna, Countess Almaviva, Marilyn Klinghoffer, Elle (La Voix Humaine)…
Opera Companies include Arena di Verona, Arizona Opera, Carnegie Hall, Chicago Opera Theater, Edinburgh International Festival, Hong Kong Festival, Long Beach Opera, Maggio Musicale (Florence), New Israeli Opera, New York City Opera, Pittsburgh Opera Theater, Sacramento Opera, San Francisco Opera, Teatro Camões (Lisbon), Virginia Opera…
On the Music Theater and Theatrical stages Suzan has portrayed numerous diverse heroines: The iconic Maria Callas in Master Class, as well as Sharon in Master Class (National Tour opposite Faye Dunaway’s Maria), the moving Dr. Katherine Brandt (33 Variations), the exuberant, sexy and touching Maria of Charles Mee’s Wintertime, and the enigmatic, elegant Actress of Enter the Guardsman, Agnes (I Do! I Do!), Lily (The Secret Garden), Julie Jordan (Carousel), Jenny (Company)…
Theater companies: A.R.T, Denver Center Theater, Edinburgh International Festival, Hong Kong Festival…
Frequently sought for new works, Suzan has originated many roles, including Colleen (FALLUJAH- Tobin Stokes/Heather Raffo ), Eurydice (ORPHEUS X- Rinde Eckert), Hanako (SOUND OF A VOICE- Phillip Glass/ David Henry Wang), Raven 1 (WHITE RAVEN – Phillip Glass/Robert Wilson), Marie (TALE OF THE NUTCRACKER- Craig Bohmler/Daniel Helfgot), Madeline (FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER –Phillip Glass/Arthur Yorinks), Indian Maiden (COYOTE TALES- Henry Mollicone/Sheldon Harnick), Cheerleader (HYDROGEN JUKEBOX – Phillip Glass/Alan Ginsberg), Alma Mahler (DOLL- Michael Korie/Scott Frankel)…
Through numerous productions, workshops, readings and films, working with such luminaries as Faye Dunaway, Leonard Foglia, Michel Legrand, Sheldon Harnick, Robert Woodruff, and Lillian Groag, Suzan has also proven to be a skilled comedienne.
In addition to performing, Suzan also pursues work as stage director and dramaturge. Suzan has created, adapted, and translated a variety of performance pieces, including Cherubini’s Medea (Translation/Adaptation/Starred as Medea) for Long Beach Opera, North/South (Co-creator /Dramaturge/Director/Co-Star) for USC Visions and Voices, and Smoke and Mirrors; the Alchemy of Desire (Co-creator/Director/Co-star) for El Camino College Performing Arts Series.
Suzan received critical acclaim for her direction Lohengrin, Le Nozze di Figaro and for her immersive outdoor production of The Tender Land, all for Utah Festival Opera and Music Theater. For California State University, Long Beach, Suzan helmed productions of Die Fledermaus, The Cunning Little Vixen, Le Nozze di Figaro as well as numerous opera scenes showcases.
Recordings: THE TENDER LAND (Koch), COYOTE TALES (Newport Classics)…