Today we’d like to introduce you to Morgan Middleton

Hi Morgan, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.

My name is Morgan Middleton and I am a multi-disciplinary artist and the founder and creative director of Morganacity, an arts production company based in Chicago. I started as a classical singer performing on the stages of the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Opera Theater, and Santa Fe Opera, and received my degrees from the University of Southern California and New England Conservatory. I had written and produced a one-woman show while completing my master’s degree which opened the doors of my creativity. However, it was the time during the pandemic when I started writing everything that came to my mind. Another thing that moved me onto the path where I am today was being accepted as a fellow in the 2020-2022 cohort with Turn the Spotlight. My fabulous mentor, Jamie Barton, and numerous other women on the team took the time to learn what I wanted to do and find ways to support me. It was then and in conjunction with everything else I had going on, that I decided to create my own company. At that point, I had to choose whether to stay in classical music or pivot to another career that would still allow me to be in the artistic scene, but give me more stability. I found a job in marketing and also founded my own company Morganacity. Morganacity is an arts production company that began as a way to house all of my ideas. Now the company focuses on writing, producing, and directing various projects within the short film, television, literature, and theater sectors. We are still a very small company, but my goal is for Morganacity to be known for quality projects and captivating storylines that push the envelope, particularly for people of color. Our ideas must be unique and deliver on story and character. I want Morganacity to not only be committed to forging a path of representation, but also creating something that will motivate, inspire, and change the entertainment landscape.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

My creative path has not always been an easy road. In the beginning it was hard for others to comprehend and believe in my vision. I also needed more financial resources in order to start funding my ideas and turn concepts into tangible works. Finding success was not easy. Achievement in one area was the product of overcoming multiple hurdles. Even now, there are still struggles. Struggles finding the right talent, getting ideas in front of the right people, and finding balance in life. There are struggles in each phase of one’s creative life, but part of making it as an artist is to capitalize on the success when you can.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?

Morganacity is a creative venture dedicated to pushing the boundaries of storytelling through various means. In our series The Stories of Us, we merge the worlds of opera and film. In our graphic concept novel, we aim to use this book as a way to pitch to animation studios how representation and strong character storylines can create uniqueness, authenticity, and groundedness. Our mission is to use artistry as a bridge between past and contemporary narratives, and to create powerful, emotional experiences that resonate with audiences. We specialize in developing original projects that often spotlight underrepresented voices and challenge conventional storytelling norms.

In our first film in The Stories of Us, which debuts to public platforms on October 24th, what sets us apart is our ability to blend high art, like opera, with innovative mediums, giving it fresh life and relevance. We strive to create work that is both thought-provoking and accessible, using vulnerability and authentic human experiences as a core inspiration.

I’m most proud of the way we’ve managed to cross genres and mediums, from classical music short films to comic books, plays and pilots, while staying true to a unique artistic vision. Morganacity’s projects aren’t just about entertainment; they’re about creating dialogue, expanding perspectives, and helping new ideas take flight.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?

I think luck has played a huge role, however, I would not usually attribute an event as luck until further down the road. There’s been a lot of background work behind “good luck”, so I don’t know that I can say there’s no human influence in luck. I guess the same could be said about “bad luck”. I feel like I also have prepped for bad luck, though not intentionally. And yes, encountering bad luck sucks, but it can open doors. It’s about the right perspective. For instance, I considered it bad luck — and a career ender — when I didn’t get into my preferred master’s program. As it turned out, however, it was the best situation that could have happened as what occurred at the program and the entrepreneurial resources it offered launched my creative career and set the groundwork for Morganacity and all of its artistic pursuits. What was bad luck was actually good luck.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.morganacity.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morganacity_/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@morganacity1523