Pensacola Opera

Established	1983
Type	Performing arts
Location	75 South Tarragona Street
General and Artistic Director	Kyle Marrero
Staff	Chandra McKern Erin Kelley Sammis Geoffrey Scott Bleeker Jennifer Knisbell
Website	www.pensacolaopera.com

Pensacola Opera is the premier performing opera company of the Pensacola area. Founded in 1983, the group typically performs two or three fully-staged productions annually, each in the original language. The current artistic director is Kyle Marrero.

History

Pensacola Opera was founded in 1983 as the Pensacola Chamber Opera, the first performance of which was Mozart's Così fan tutte. The original company was comprised fully of volunteers. Throughout the next decade, the opera company expanded. It moved its offices to the Pensacola Opera Center and its productions to its current venue at the Saenger Theatre. In 2004, the Opera welcomed its first set of artists in residence, who aid in outreach events and often hold supporting roles in the annual productions.

Past performances

• 1983/84: Così fan tutte & The Pirates of Penzance
• 1984/85: Gianni Schicchi & H.M.S. Pinafore
• 1985/86: Cavalleria Rusticana & Le nozze di Figaro
• 1986/87: La traviata & Hänsel und Gretel
• 1987/88: Così fan tutte
• 1988/89: The Student Prince & La bohème
• 1989/90: The Merry Widow & Carmen
• 1990/91: Madama Butterfly & Die Fledermaus
• 1991/92: Naughty Marietta & The Pirates of Penzance
• 1992/93: Pagliacci, The Telephone & L'elisir d'amore
• 1993/94: The Gypsy Baron & Rigoletto
• 1994/95: La traviata & Il barbiere di Siviglia
• 1995/96: La bohème & Il trovatore
• 1996/97: Passion, Tosca & Lucia di Lammermoor
• 1997/98: Gala, Le nozze di Figaro & Carmen
• 1998/99: Madama Butterfly & Don Pasquale
• 1999/00: Die Fledermaus, Die Zauberflöte & Andrea Chénier
• 2000/01: Hänsel und Gretel, La bohème & La traviata
• 2001/02: Don Giovanni & Rigoletto
• 2002/03: The Merry Widow & Turandot
• 2003/04: Tosca & L'elisir d'amore
• 2004/05: Il barbiere di Siviglia, Madama Butterfly & Porgy and Bess
• 2005/06: Carmen & Lucia di Lammermoor
• 2006/07: Le nozze di Figaro & La traviata
• 2007/08: The Magic Flute & La Boheme
• 2008/09: Così fan tutte & Aïda

Current Performances

• 2009/10: The Widow's Lantern, Show Boat, Cavalleria Rusticana & Pagliacci

Leadership

Pensacola Opera is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization that is operated by a 23-member Board of Directors, the current chairman of which is Ruth Orth. The organization also employs a full-time staff, led by General and Artistic Director, Kyle Marrero.

Board of Directors

• Ruth Orth, Chairman
• Fred Carmody, Vice-Chairman
• Johnny Fayard, Treasurer
• Lisa Minshew, Secretary
• Buzz Ritchie, Immediate Past President
• Nigel Allen
• Frank Cutrone
• Evelyn Davis
• Pandora de Balthazar
• Christina Doss
• William H. Earnhart
• Mary Hoxeng
• Sydney McAbee
• Nell Potter
• Paula Ried
• Mary Riesberg
• Betty Roberts
• Ben Strong
• Gene Valentino
• Roger Webb
• Patricia Buchanan Wright

Funding

Like many performing arts organizations, Pensacola Opera receives only a portion of its budget from ticket sales and is heavily dependent on donations, sponsorships and fundraisers.

Fundraising events

• Jukebox Gala
• Operazzi Masked Ball
• Diva’s Closet Sale

Guild

The Pensacola Opera Guild is the support group of Pensacola Opera. Its more than 100 members organize fundraisers, raise awareness and assist in behind-the-scenes work at the Opera office and during performances.

External links

• PensacolaOpera.com – Official site