The Springer Opera House Unveils 150th Anniversary Season Line Up

The Springer Opera House held a virtual season announcement on Monday, May 3, to unveil the upcoming shows for the 2021-22 season. The Springer's season announcement is usually an in-person event extended to Springer season ticket holders and donors as a way to show appreciation for their support. However, due to Covid restrictions, the event was held virtually on the Springer's website and Facebook page.

The program began with acknowledgments by producing artistic director Paul Pierce. Pierce thanked the Springer board and staff for their dedication, agility, and innovative work and recognized Springer sponsors and donors for their generosity and support - all of which made it possible for the Springer to stay afloat during the tumultuous year of Covid-19 shutdowns and in-person event restrictions.

Pierce then presented a new star on the Springer Walk of Fame presented in honor of Newt Aaron, who served as project manager on the Springer's 1998 $12 million renovation and played an integral role in the preservation of the theatre ever since. A gracious Aaron spoke about the bonds he formed with Springer staff and others connected to the renovation project that spanned two years. He claims he experienced "project depression" after work was complete and jumped at the chance to join the Springer board.

"My work with the Springer Opera House and everyone connected to it have been some of the greatest blessings of my life," said Aaron.

Aaron's star commemorates the appearance of actor, playwright, and screenwriter Ruth Gordon who performed the popular comedy, The First Year on the Springer stage in 1923. Gordon had an illustrious career on the screen and stage spanning 76 years. Her achievements include an Academy Award for her performance in Rosemary's Baby, an Emmy Award for her role in Taxi, and the prestigious Women in Film Crystal Award for expanding the role of women in the entertainment industry.

The Springer has commissioned rising American playwright, Natalia Temesgen, to write two shows that illuminate the lives of black American heroes in the upcoming season. Ace: The Eugene Bullard Story, the extraordinary life story of a virtually unknown American hero and Columbus native whose achievements include being the world's first black fighter pilot during World War I and winning the French Croix de Guerre at the Battle of Verdun. First produced by the Springer in 2016 as part of the Studio II Series in the McClure Theatre, the show will return with an expanded production on the Springer's main stage. Another of Temegen's plays will be the world premiere of Look Forward: The Ruby Bridges Story. The play tells the true story of an extraordinary 6-year-old who helped shape history when she became the first black American sent to first grade in an all-white school, changing America forever.

Temesgen is a Columbus native and former Springer Theatre Academy student. She received her undergraduate degree in English from Princeton University and her MFA at the prestigious NYU Tisch School of the Arts. She was recently a staff writer for the Netflix series Dear White People and is currently a story editor on HBO's Julia.

The event culminated with the presentation of the upcoming shows in the 2021-22 season. The Mainstage Series presented in Emily Woodruff Hall includes Shrek the Musical (September 24 - October 10), The Wizard of Oz (Dec. 2 - 19), Ace: The Eugene Bullard Story (Jan. 20 - 30), The Color Purple (February 25 - March 6), and Steel Magnolias (April 29 - May 15).

The Studio II Series is presented in McClure Theatre and consists of Evil Dead, the Musical (Oct. 21 - 31), A Tuna Christmas (Dec. 16 - 23), and Walkin' the Line: A Johnny Cash Tribute (March 18 - April 3).

The Springer Children's series presented in McClure Theatre includes Winnie the Pooh (Jul. 9 - 25), James and the Giant Peach (Nov. 12 - 21), and Look Forward: The Ruby Bridges Story (Feb. 18 - 27).

The Springer Theatre for the Very Young Series features X-Marks the Spot (Oct. 2 - 10) presented in the Actor's Arena at the Springer, A Superhero for All Seasons (Jan. 15 - 23) presented in partnership with Columbus State University's Coca Cola Space Science Center and taking place in their planetarium. The final show of the series is April Showers (April 23 - May 1) presented at the Columbus Botanical Gardens. The Theater for Very Young Series focuses on interactive and creative opportunities for kids 0 to 5 years old and their caregivers to connect through the Arts.

The Season Announcement featured performances of "Travel Song" from Shrek the Musical by Michael Stiggers and Andy Harvey, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" from The Wizard of Oz by Mariela Olivio, and "The Color Purple" from The Color Purple by Jameelah Leandra, Marcus Hopkins-Turner, Rendell Debose, Ishmael Harris McKinstry, Nakiya Peterkin, Brea Walker, and Jordan Battle. The entire program can be viewed at springeroperahouse.org.

Season tickets are now on sale through the Springer's Box Office. Single tickets will go on sale on July 20, 2021. For more information, visit springeroperahouse.org or call the box office at 706-327-3688.

The Springer plans to return indoors for the upcoming season employing safety measures such as reduced capacities, distanced seating between parties, mask-wearing, and a more rigorous cleaning schedule that includes electro-static disinfectant foggers, and ultra-violet devices installed in the air handlers that kill viruses and bacteria. The full safety mitigation plan can be viewed on the Springer's website, springeroperahouse.org.

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