Richardson’s The Living Opera postpones 2009-2010 season

by PegNews wire

Michael Collier, Chairman of the Board of The Living Opera, the Richardson-based community opera company, today announced the postponement of their 2009 season to 2010. (Editor's note: The Living Opera's season was to have started on July 17 with The Yellow Rose of Texas at the Eisemann Center for Performing Arts. Other productions included Gilbert & Sullivan: LIVE! On Stage!, Madame Butterfly, and Beauty and the Beast.)

"As opera-lovers throughout the U.S. know, the recession has already made 2009 a difficult season for opera companies, and many companies of long-standing have closed their doors. The Living Opera has not been spared. After a series of fundraising events the Board regretfully decided at its meeting on May 19 that there were insufficient funds to mount our 2009 season as planned, and we have therefore deferred our season until 2010. Our Executive Director, Adam Adolfo, has also been released from his contractual obligations with us.

We know that many supporters will be disappointed, but this year will give us the opportunity to regroup and reinvigorate ourselves, and create a reserve of funds that will underwrite our production costs for the 2010 season. The Company will honor 2009 season tickets for the 2010 season, and plan to hold a special concert this year to recognize and show appreciation to its season ticket holders.

Source: The Living Opera

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There is an error in the wording. The Living Opera always has been a "professional" opera company employing professional singers and orchestra. It is not a "community" opera company.

brandong7539 Anonymous

6 months ago
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brandong7539, aside from the parenthetical note, this was a press release directly from The Living Opera, so they referred to themselves as a community opera company, not us.

Alex Bentley Staff

6 months ago
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Ooooh- the dreaded "community" vs. "professional" schism.

I don't know how it happens, but around here "community means crap." There are some "community" houses (theater/ballet/opera) elsewhere that are the places that pay with real production budgets and are the lines you want on your resume.

So brandong7539, the only way to differentiate them is by quality - not title. If the artistic director's *"unbelievably brilliant daughter"*<font size="1">TM</font> is in everything (even male lead roles of Seussical and Rent Jr.) or it's yet another "World Premiere" of a playwright you've never heard of except on their donors list.... they may still call themselves "PROFESSIONAL" ::shudder::

--- then recoil in horror at the cheesiness. Not at the name.

"Bob's Truly Completely Professional Repertory Vaudeville and Spaghetti Emporium Theatre" vs "Bay Area Community Stage" ?? <font size="1">(I know where I'm going)</font>

Decide based on quality.... not name. You reacted strongly because TLO's quality has always been stellar (sadly, a rep they intend to preserve by hiatus rather than floundering) and you fell for the "Community means crap" trick. There's no Certification Program for performing arts like there is with car mechanics.

And support them with money and time. One thing "community" usually means is that they rely on help from volunteers.