Kansas City's New Opera Company To Perform Bon Operatit

Established to perform intimate and unique opera performances, Opera180 is launching its 2018 season with the highly interactive production of Bon Operatit. Performing at the Squeezebox Theatre on April 27-29, this exciting event will consist of three parts including composer Lee Hoiby's Bon Appétit based on Julia Child, a cooking demonstration by a local KC chef, and Jennifer Jolley's Krispy Kremes and Butter Queens inspired by the colorful Paula Deen. The production will be sung in English. Julia Child is credited as writing the charming text for Bon Appétit as it was adapted directly from two episodes of her WGBH-TV show The French Chef. Jennifer Jolley captures Paula Deen's zany antics in the wild Krispy Kremes and Butter Queens. Tickets can be purchased at opera180.org. High resolution artists' photos can be downloaded here.

Kansas City director Fenlon Lamb will deliver her talents as stage director for this company debut production. Kelly Birch will join the production in the role of the charming Julia Child in Bon Appétit. Elizabeth Birger will join in the role of the ever surprising Paula Deen in Krispy Kremes and Butter Queens. Michael Austin and Ashley Wheat will join in the roles of Angels trying to save Paula Deen from her wicked butter decisions.

Nate Wheatley, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Opera180, stated, "We are quite excited to premiere Bon Operatit as our debut production at Opera 180. We designed this programming for intimate audiences and I think our guests will be blown away by the interactive way this production will be presented. What could be more fun than seeing an opera and getting fun food while you watch? This production goes to the heart of our vision for a new way to present opera in Kansas City. I think people will enjoy the mix of food paired with short operas that promise fun.

About the Artists

Originally from Los Angeles, mezzo soprano Kelly Birch now resides in Kansas City, having recently completed her Doctor of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance at the University of Missouri, Kansas City.? An active operatic and concert performer, Dr. Birch has sung regularly with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City since 2015 and with Musica Sacra since 2016. She performed Gustav Mahler's Resurrection Symphony under the baton of Kyle Pickett and the Topeka Symphony Orchestra in April 2016; that summer made her European debut in the role of Suzuki in Puccini's Madama Butterfly with the Varna International Opera Academy in Bulgaria. She will be going back to Varna in May 2018 to perform the title role in Maurice Ravel's L'Enfant et les Sortilèges and Mrs. Jones in Kurt Weill's Street Scene. Last year she traveled to San Diego to perform the role of Delfa in Cavalli's Giasone with Opera NEO and will be returning in July 2018 to perform the role of Rosmira in Handel's Partenope. During her time at UMKC, she performed the lead roles of Bertarido in Handel's Rodelinda, Zita in Puccini's Gianni Schicchi, and La Zia Principessa in Suor Angelica, and sang as a soloist with the UMKC Wind Ensemble, UMKC Choirs, and as a winner of the 2017 Concert & Aria Competition.

Elizabeth Birger is a soprano based out of Kansas City. She has earned performance and education degrees in both violin and voice from Wichita State University, and an education degree from The Florida State University. Elizabeth earned her doctorate in vocal performance and vocal pedagogy from the University of Mississippi. As an active performer, Elizabeth has performed both regionally and internationally in operas, recitals, oratorios, and Broadway reviews. Elizabeth began her international performance career by taking recital concert tours through Italy and South Africa. She returns as often as she can. Along with her full performance schedule, Dr. Birger maintains a full teaching schedule at several higher-level institutions in Kansas City, while freelance directing, coaching, and maintaining a private voice studio. She has been seen around the KC area performing with Lawrence Opera Theater, Musical Theater Heritage, and Sacred Arts Chorale. Elizabeth is a founding member of Trio Forte, an operatic trio, also based out of Kansas City, regularly seen performing around the KC area, and annually at WaterFire KC. Elizabeth is also a member of KC VITAs, a contemporary-classical ensemble committed to performing works of living composers. She is sought out regularly as a clinician, adjudicator and guest artist.

"Pitch-perfect and resonant," soprano [Kansas City Metropolis], Ashley Yvonne Wheat, from Bellevue, Washington, is a graduate of the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music and the University of Missouri - Kansas City. A crossover artist based out of Lenexa, Kansas, Wheat recently completed a joint apprenticeship with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City and UMKC. Wheat's professional credits include: Asheville Lyric Opera, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Winter Opera St. Louis, Southern Illinois Music Festival, Heartland Opera Theater, Musical Theater Heritage, Chestnut Fine Arts Center, Aspen Music Festival, Kansas City Repertory Theater, Sammamish Symphony, and most recently, the Kansas City Symphony. Whether on the operatic or musical theater stage, bringing a puppet to life with StoneLion Puppet Theater, teaching the next generation how to take the stage, or filming in front of the camera, Wheat has truly shaped a career capitalizing on the full breadth of her artistic talents.

Michael Austin, baritone, hails from Lawrence, KS where he studied at the University of Kansas under the tutelage of Dr. Julia Broxholm and Dr. John Stephens, obtaining his B.M. - Vocal Performance and M.M. - Opera Performance. While studying at KU, Mr. Austin was featured in a number of roles, including Schaunard in KU's production of La Boheme, as well as Marcello and Fredrik in Opera in the Ozark's productions of La Boheme and A Little Night Music. While studying at KU, Mr. Austin was a regular member of the Lyric Opera of Kansas City's chorus, where he performed in many operas including John Brown, La Traviata, Rigoletto, Norma, Turandot, Barber of Seville, and I Capuleti e i Montecchi, among others. Mr. Austin currently resides in Lawrence, Kansas where he serves as the Graduate Coordinator for KU's School of Music.

Opera News called Fenlon Lamb "moving and convincing" and Seen and Heard International praised her "well-honed theatrical sensibility." Ms. Lamb brings these qualities of experience and perspective as an outstanding singing actress to her work as a stage director. Fenlon returned for her fifth season with Palm Beach Opera to direct Tosca. Previous seasons have included a "delightful" Don Pasquale an "opulent" La Bohème, and a "madcap" Il barbiere di Siviglia along with several critically acclaimed Young Artist productions. Last season, Fenlon directed the world premiere production of Riders of the Purple Sage for Arizona Opera. She made her directorial debut of Carmen with Dayton Opera and directed a new production of Tosca for Finger Lakes Opera. Fenlon also conceived and directed a unique operatic installation of Elvis Costello's The Juliet Letters for Lyric Opera of Kansas City with set designer Jeff Ridenour.

Recently, Ms. Lamb made her company debut at Opera Santa Barbara with a "superb" Suor Angelica/Gianni Schicchi. Other productions at opera houses across the U.S. have included Don Pasquale at the Crested Butte Music Festival, The Pearl Fishers with Dayton Opera, Die fliegende Holländer for Opera Carolina, Werther with Mobile Opera, and both Rigoletto and Lucia di Lammermoor at Arizona Opera. Fenlon is the Director of Opera and Vocal Programming for the Bar Harbor Music Festival where she has directed Carmen, L'elisir d'amore, Madama Butterfly, Il barbiere di Siviglia, Le nozze di Figaro, La Bohème, La Cenerentola, and Don Giovanni. She is currently in her third season as Director of Opera at UMKC Conservatory of Music where productions have included Cendrillon, Little Women, Die Zauberflöte, The Turn of the Screw, Suor Angelica/Gianni Schicchi, Hänsel und Gretel, a double-bill of La voix humaine and L'enfant et les Sortilèges. Fenlon is the co-creator and Artistic Director of Papermoon Opera Productions launching this summer with Hänsel und Gretel at the Bar Harbor Music Festival. This summer she also directs a new production of Carmen with Mill City Summer Opera.

Executive Chef Shanita McAfee-Bryant is the winner of Food Network's Cutthroat Kitchen and in 2012 opened Magnolia's Southern Cuisine Restaurant in Kansas City, Missouri. Shanita's passion for food started with the homemade crust she made for an apple pie at the age of 13. Just four years later with a new baby in tow she trained at The Culinary Institute at Johnson County Community College. She infuses every dish on Magnolia's menu with her extensive knowledge and creative flair. Magnolia's has been nominated for Best Small Business in Kansas City by the KC Chamber of Commerce, Best Brunch Spot by KC Magazine,Top 12 Restaurants in 2012 by KC magazine and many other honors throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area. When she is not cooking and creating Shanita enjoys spending time with her husband, five children and working on her first cookbook which will feature some of her favorite recipes. Shanita is active on most social media outlets and also blogs about her life as one of Kansas City's African American female Executive Chef.

Cheryl Hartell is a private chef and special event producer. A former restaurateur, she owned and operated the renowned Vineyards Restaurant in Historic Weston, Missouri from 1995-2008. After selling the restaurant, Cheryl has dedicated herself to raising her two daughters and donating her time to numerous community volunteer projects and organizations. Chef Cheryl keeps her culinary skills sharp with catering charitable events, private holiday parties, weddings, teaching private cooking classes and even occasionally works on KC food trucks. She earned her business degree from Missouri Western State University and has earned her sommelier certificate. With a love of travel, she is always looking for her next culinary adventure.

Principal Cast

• Julia Child: Kelly Birch
• Paula Deen: Elizabeth Birger
• TV Announcer/Angel: Michael Austin
• Kitchen Assistant/Angel: Ashley Wheat
• Friday Chef: Cheryl Hartell
• Saturday Chef: Cheryl Hartell
• Sunday Chef: Shanita McAfee-Bryant

Artistic Staff

Stage Director: Fenlon Lamb

About OPERA180: Opera180 is a 501(c)3 organization (pending IRS approval) based in Kansas City, Missouri. The mission is to introduce the art of opera to new and established audiences in fun and innovative ways. The organization also provides aspiring young opera per