Richard Russell

Sarasota Opera has been awarded a grant from the Jay K. Turner Fund of the Manatee Community Foundation to expand its education outreach activities through the Resident Artist program in Manatee County schools.

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is  November 07, 2023 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.

Giggs and Diddy are set to deliver a groundbreaking performance at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London, come Tuesday, November 7th. This collaboration brings together two titans of the hip-hop and music world for a special one-night-only event, creating a ‘not to be missed’ experience for fans.

Sarasota Opera has received a $60,000 Arts Appreciation Grant made possible through the Wiliam S. and Jean W. Scott Endowed Fund at Gulf Coast Community Foundation.

Sarasota Opera will host a Volunteer Fair at the Sarasota Opera House on Sunday, October 29 from 1 to 3 p.m. Those attending this event will be able to learn about a variety of behind-the-scenes, onstage and front-of-house volunteer opportunities, and see how they can be a part of this vital community. This event will also feature informative backstage tours of the historic Sarasota Opera House and a performance by Sarasota Opera Fall Resident Artists.

Sarasota Opera is holding an open call for supernumeraries for its 2024 Winter Opera Festival. Find out how you can be a part of the upcoming productions and showcase your talent on stage.

Sarasota Opera has announced the schedule for the DaCapo Society, a dynamic group of opera patrons between 21-40. Members of the DaCapo Society will have access to fun and exciting social events, discounted performances, and a fantastic community of like-minded individuals, while enhancing their enjoyment of Sarasota Opera performances.

The Patterson Foundation is strengthening Sarasota Opera's effort to boost earned income matching up to $50,000 in growth capital investments toward its Sarasota Opera Costume Studio. Learn more about the organization and its fundraising efforts here!

​​​​​​​Southface Institute recently named Sarasota Opera Association, Inc. as a GoodUse Sarasota recipient, providing $75,000 in funding and technical assistance to make cost-saving efficiency improvements. These resources will support Sarasota Opera's Pavilion Project, a campaign to raise funds for replacement of the failing HVAC system in its Pavilion building and to make targeted building upgrades that will increase Sarasota Opera's environmental and financial sustainability.

Following her critically acclaimed highly successful all-male productions of ‘H.M.S. Pinafore’ and ‘The Pirates of Penzance’, Sasha Regan returns to London’s Wilton’s Music Hall - the only surviving Grand Music Hall in the world - with Gilbert and Sullivan’s irresistible ‘The Mikado’.

Sasha Regan's all-male The Mikado ensemble arrives at Wilton's Music Hall this week, from Wednesday 7 June - Saturday 1 July, following their smash hits: all-male H.M.S. Pinafore and The Pirates of Penzance.

Following her critically acclaimed all-male productions of ‘H.M.S. Pinafore’ and ‘The Pirates of Penzance’, Sasha Regan is returning to Wilton’s Music Hall with Gilbert and Sullivan’s irresistible ‘The Mikado’.

Sarasota Opera has announced the lineup for the 2023 Summer Classic Movies at the Opera House. The Classic Movies at the Opera House series featuring many beloved movies will open on Friday, May 12th at 7:30 pm with 2001: A Space Odyssey. Throughout the summer and into the fall, featured movies will include films ranging from the 1930's to the 1990's. Tickets will be $12 and will go on sale starting on Wednesday, May 3. Additional movie titles are detailed below.  

Sarasota Opera  will host the finals for Schmidt Vocal Arts (SVA) second annual national Schmidt Vocal Competition at Sarasota Opera House June 2-4, 2023.

Sarasota Opera will work to strengthen its entrepreneurial capacity and increase its mission impact with earned-income strategies developed and implemented through its participation in Margin & Mission Ignition, an opportunity presented by The Patterson Foundation.  

Following their third album Spell 31 released last May and the unfortunate postponement of their American tour, Lisa-Kaindé and Naomi Diaz will finally bring their powerful new show, including a full live band, to fourteen major American cities. Ojerime and Annahstasia are joining Ibeyi on select dates.

Sarasota Opera is seeking several enthusiastic children to volunteer for a performance opportunity in Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini. The character of Madama Butterfly's son Dolore can be played by either a girl or boy and is a non-singing role. The age of Dolore calls for a three-year-old but should be played by an older child who is smaller in size: less than about 3 ½ - 4 feet tall. 

On January 12 from 6-7 pm, Sarasota Opera's Young Professionals Group, the DaCapo Society, will host a free Opera House tour.

On Saturday, January 28th, 2023 from 12:00-2:00 pm, Sarasota Opera House will be opening its doors to the community for performances, activities, backstage tours, and more.

After Covid dealt a stuttering start to the year, 2022 brought some standout shows and performances. Here are some of our critics' highlights from the past twelve months.