Jack Beeson (July 15, 1921 June 6, 2010) was an American composer. He was known particularly for his operas, the best known of which are Lizzie Borden, Hello
in the title role, followed by Handel's Giulio Cesare with Sills, who would later succeed him as head of the company, as Cleopatra. Other seasons included the professional premieres of such important American operas as Robert Ward's Pulitzer Prize-winning The Crucible and Jack Beeson's Lizzie Borden.