Arizona Opera Expands Horizons with Innovative and Community Oriented “Beyond Downtown” Program
Performances Will Take Place in More Intimate and Non-Traditional Settings,
Making Opera More Accessible Than Ever Before
PHOENIX AND TUCSON, Ariz. (October 7, 2024) — Arizona Opera is unveiling a bold initiative this month designed to introduce opera to new audiences by bringing live performances to unexpected venues across the state.
Taking place in both the fall and spring, Arizona Opera’s new “Beyond Downtown” program will reach beyond the walls of the theaters in which the company typically performs in the Phoenix and Tucson metros, with performances beginning on October 25 in Phoenix and October 30 in Tucson.
Joseph Specter, President and General Director of Arizona Opera, said “With Beyond Downtown, we’re excited to bring opera closer to more Arizona communities. By stepping outside our traditional theaters, we’re creating opportunities for people across Arizona to experience opera in new, approachable, and engaging settings. Our hope is that this initiative will foster new connections with our broader community and allow more people to discover the beauty and emotion that opera can bring to everyday life.”
Members of the media are invited to book interviews with Arizona Opera leadership and artists. Additionally, opportunities are available to feature live performances by Arizona Opera singers at your station or event.
This initiative kicks off with two distinct operatic works starting in late October, then continues in the coming months with a pop-up performance program and an immersive performance of a Mozart classic scheduled for spring. The first two programs are:
THE TELL-TALE HEART
Music and libretto by Gregg Kallor
The Tell-Tale Heart by Gregg Kallor is a chilling one-act opera inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s classic tale. As the narrator descends into madness, immerse yourself in this psychological horror, enhanced by a spine-tingling score and eerie atmosphere. An optional, pre-show experience will feature a captivating, dramatic reading of the story, and a complimentary themed drink.
October 25, 2024 at 8 PM — Arizona Opera Center (Phoenix)
October 26, 2024 at 8 PM — Arizona Opera Center (Phoenix)
October 30, 2024 at 8 PM — Cabaret Theater at Temple of Music and Art (Tucson)
Performed in English with English and Spanish supertitles.
THE COYOTES & THE RABBITS - A Bilingual Children's Opera
Music & Lyrics by Héctor Armienta
Commissioned by The Music Theater Collective
The Coyotes & The Rabbits by Héctor Armienta is a one-act bilingual opera inspired by a Mexican Folk tale. Join the Chiquita Banana Sisters in a whimsical adventure where mischief meets life lessons! When Scrawny Coyote discovers that reading is just as important as hunting, he gets tangled up in the sisters' playful tricks against his cousin, Loco Coyote. This whimsical opera, blending important life lessons with humor, is produced in collaboration with the San Jose-based Ópera Cultura.
October 27, 2024 at 2 PM — The Virginia G. Piper Theater at Mesa Arts Center
November 2, 2024 at 1 PM — Steele Auditorium at the Heard Museum
November 9, 2024 at 5:30 and 6:30 PM — Children's Museum Tucson
Performed in English and Spanish with English and Spanish supertitles.
Future “Beyond Downtown” performances, with locations and dates TBA, are:
OPERA SHOTS
The final entry for “Beyond Downtown” fall is Opera Shots, in partnership with Chandler Opera Company. Through Opera Shots, performers bring opera to unexpected venues such as bars, restaurants, and retail spaces courtesy of lively pop-up performances for all to enjoy.
THE SECRET GARDENER
Music and Libretto by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
A story full of mistaken identities, love triangles, and madness, The Secret Gardener brings Mozart’s rarely performed opera, La finta giardiniera, to life in an immersive outdoor setting. This charming tale will offer audiences a unique experience where the natural environment becomes a compelling part of the storytelling, and is presented in partnership with the production’s originator, New York City-based On Site Opera.
Performed in English with English and Spanish supertitles
For a complete schedule, ticket information, and details on locations, visit azopera.org.
“Beyond Downtown” is part of the McDougall Arizona Opera RED Series. Productions made possible, in part, through generous support from Susan Esco Chandler, Michael and Beth Kasser, and Lewis Roca.
ABOUT ARIZONA OPERA
Arizona Opera connects and inspires communities through artistically vibrant programs and productions that combine music, storytelling, and the human voice, creating inclusive, culturally relevant, and impactful experiences, while ensuring the financial sustainability of opera in our state. Since its inaugural year in 1971 as the Tucson Opera Company, Arizona Opera has produced more than 200 staged operas and concerts. The company's artistic history is rich with a blend of traditional works from the canon, as well as compelling works from the 20th and 21st centuries, and an array of high-impact educational and community engagement programs. For more information visit azopera.org.