Described as “clownish perfection” (Jonathan Warman,

DramaqueenNYC) and “highly entertaining throughout”

(Logan Martell, Operawire) for his creation of Sandrino in

the uncovered Salieri opera La Cifra with dell’Arte Opera

Ensemble, Jay Lucas Chacon is a singer / actor from the

world of opera embarking on the journey toward Broadway.   

​

This fall, Jay will make his Philadelphia debut as Pish Tush in The Mikado
at Philadelphia Fringe Fest,. Recent performances in the 2024 season saw
Jay in an industry reading of John Wolfsons This Senseless Killing as
Italian hit man Arturo at AMT Theater with Break A Leg Productions as
well as Neil in Andi Kolodny's A Shave and a Haircut with New York
Theater Summerfest. In March, Jay stepped in last minute for the
production of Bumpy Johnson: Harlem by Dwayne Fulton as New York
mob boss Lucky Luciano with Trilogy AOC, featuring veteran Hollywood
actor Danny Glover. This lead to a return performance with the company
for their production of Papa Doc by composer Dorothy Rudd.  In the fall of
2022, Jay made his off-Broadway debut with Write Act Repertory in Markus
Ferraro’ XIMER, a techno-rock musical about stopping violence toward the 
LGBTQ community at American Theatre of Actors. This was followed by an off-Broadway reading of Eric Sirota's new musical A Good Day, a musical about dealing with Alzheimer's, at Actors Temple in the role of Paul. ​

​

Since returning to live performing post-pandemic, Jay made his debut with On Site Opera as Betto di Signa in Gianni Schicchi. He was also seen as Jim in Peter Ektrom's Gift of the Magi with Queens Opera Theatre and covered Silvio in New Camerata Opera's production of Cav+Pag. Jay also performed with Write Act Repertory in a concert of Sirota's A Good Day singing music of the character Sam.

​

Other musical theater works Jay has performed are La Farranucci creating the role of Richard at the BMS Playhouse and as the Inkeeper/Governor in Man of La Mancha with Cedar Rapids Opera.

​

Breaking into the film world, Jay worked as an extra in the Spanish language short film Sin Fondo with Ripple Effect Artists, which premiered at The Alamo Drafthouse in Brooklyn, NY.  Jay played the Inkeeper in a film version of Sirota's Frankenstein with Write Act Repertory and portrayed the role of Duc du Durfort in Whitney George’s Julie with CamarataWorks.

​

During the pandemic, Jay founded ViOp Productions, a virtual performing company producing works and opportunities through virtual medium, creating opera on film, filmed concerts, and online recitals. He produced and performed with tenor John Riesen in a duet recital Crossing Paths, Rodolfo in a socially distanced film version of La bohème Act 3 by Leoncavallo, The Spirit of Christmas; a holiday special, as Anatoly in The CHESS Project, and produced/directed/sang in The Strong Ones, a music video series of operatic and musical theater works focusing on mental and emotional health. Jay also conceived and produced An American's Journey; a monodrama of Aaron Copland’ Old American Songs, directed a film of Mascagni’ Zanetto, and a recital of African American music featuring soprano Stephanie Ball on location in Washington DC. 

​

In his 16 years as a professional opera singer, Jay has performed a wide array of roles throughout NYC, regionally, and internationally. Regionally/Internationally, Jay has performed with St. Petersburg Opera in Florida, Long Island Opera Company, Teatro Lirico d'Europa in Wilkes Barre PA, Austin Opera, Union Avenue Opera in St. Louis, the Amadeus Opernensemble in Salzburg, Austria, L'Institut Canadien d'Art Vocal in Montreal, and L’opéra du Perigord in France.

​

In the NYC area, Jay has performed with Bronx Opera, New Camerata Opera, Apotheosis Opera, dell’Arte Opera Ensemble, Center for Contemporary Opera, Garamercy Opera, and City Lyric Opera. Jay has most frequently interpreted the title role in The Marriage of Figaro and has played the character of Figaro in The Barber of Seville. He has performed the role of Schaunard in Puccini’s La bohème and Rodolfo in Leoncavallo’s version of La bohème. One of Jay’s biggest accomplishments was creating the role of Sandrino in Salieri’s uncovered opera La cifra at La Mama. Other roles Jay has performed in the operatic repertoire have been the title role of Gianni Schicchi, the Count in Capriccio, Sam in Trouble in Tahiti, Alfio in Cavallaria Rusticana, Dr. Falke in Die Fledermaus, and Guglielmo in Così fan tutte.

​

Jay has worked as a teaching artist with Bronx Opera and The Leadership Program in the greater NYC area. Jay is also a frequent performer of children’s operas having worked with New Camerata Opera' outreach, Camerata Piccola, as well as Prelude Opera and sang Papageno in The Magic Flute with Childrens Philharmonia. Jay has studied voice with Dr. Glenn Bennett, Met tenor William Lewis and Alexandra LoBianco as well as Meisner technique with Matthew Corozine.