Mill City Summer Opera

Programs: "opera & music theater - during the 2014 season, mill city summer opera presented an innovative production of puccinis classic opera tosca for 2,450 distinct audience members attending six-sold performances in july in the unique space of washburn a. Mill ruins. We also performed an opera-rock hybrid concert called guns n rosenkavalier for 700 distinct audience members attending two performances in july. Ticket prices are accessible, starting at $35. ""opera for all - mcso is committed to making opera accessible to underserved youth and and new, younger audiences. Opera youth workshops - mcso partners with the lundstrom center for performing arts to bring opera to 45 youth attending their summer program. Over four weekly 90-120 minute hands-on fun learning sessions with our opera artists, youth learn fundamentals about opera, such as its history, vocal techniques, stage fighting, and careers behind the scenes in opera. Youth attend a live opera dress rehearsal (see below) and work in small groups to create and perform their own mini-operas. Opera youth camps - to expand the youth education program to make opera accessible to under-resourced youth, mcso launched a partnership with project success, a youth organization working with students from minneapolis public schools, where over 60% of students qualify for free and reduced lunch. Mcso artists worked with 26 youth in a two-day immersive opera camp. Similar to the workshops described above, youth got to learn about the fundamental elements of opera and create their own mini-operas. The experience was made even more immersive because the camp was held during the days before the show, on site at the washburn a. Mill ruins. Youth got see the artistic teams at work, creating staging, working on costuming and lighting and practicing for the show. They got to try fun, hands on experiences like making fake blood and trying on costumes and wigs. At the end of the second day, they attended a live opera dress rehearsal (see below). Free performance - to culminate the youth opera education program, all the youth attend a live dress rehearsal, and are invited to bring their siblings and family members. Together, 250-280 people attended, most of whom had never experienced opera before. The surveys of these audience members was overwhelmingly positive, with over 90% saying they would attend opera again if given an opportunity. ""employing artists & supporting artistic growth - mcso employs 80-120 artists each summer, a season when artists are typically under- or un-employed. We give them an opportunity to try new roles, and stretch their artistic talents. Younger artists learn from more experienced opera performers in masters classes designed to support their artistic growth. "