Capitol City Opera to Present THE MERRY WIDOW and More, Fall 2014; Spring Auditions Set for 5/3

Atlanta, GA -- Capitol City Opera Company, one of the only opera companies in the Southeast to champion local singers, will present a fully staged production of Franz Lehár's The Merry Widow on Friday, September 5 at 8 p.m., Saturday, September 6 at 8 p.m., and Sunday, September 7 at 3 p.m. at Oglethorpe University's Conant Performing Arts Center.

Tickets for The Merry Widow will be available at ccityopera.org beginning July 21. The three performances of the three-act operetta will be the final fully staged production of the Company's 30th anniversary season which opened in March with the company premiere of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. The season also includes monthly Dinner and a Diva performances at Petite Auberge and Sugo restaurants and a July 26 fundraiser, On the Light Side.

Auditions for The Merry Widow, Dinner and a Diva performances and On the Light Side will be held on Saturday, May 3 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, May 4 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Spiritual Living Center of Atlanta. Advance audition appointments are required as is a $10 audition fee. For further audition information and registration, visit ccityopera.org/singers.

UPCOMING CAPITOL CITY OPERA EVENTS

(in chronological order)

Spring Auditions

Audition Dates and Times

Saturday, May 3, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Saturday, May 4, 2 - 6 p.m.

Location: Spiritual Living Center of Atlanta, 1730 Northeast Expressway, Atlanta, GA 30329 (between Clairmont and North Druid Hills Road on the Southbound I-85 Access Road)

Audition Information: Advance audition appointments are required and can be made at ccityopera.org/singers. Auditioning singers should prepare two pieces, one in English and one in a foreign language. Each audition will last 10 minutes. An accompanist will be provided or singers may bring their own accompanist, if preferred. There is a $10 audition fee due at the time of the audition.

On the light side

Event Date and Time

Saturday, July 26, 8 p.m.

Location: Church of the Atonement, 4945 High Point Road NE, Sandy Springs, GA 30342

Tickets will be available at ccityopera.org in the early summer.

Description: Featuring the music of celebrated American songwriter Cole Porter, On the Light Side is a fundraiser with a silent auction and door prizes. Attendees are invited to bring their own "indoor picnic" dinners, including adult libations, to experience beautiful music in the comfort of the air-conditioned indoors.

The Merry Widow

Music by Franz Lehár

Libretto by Viktor León and Leo Stein

Performance Dates and Times

Friday, September 5, 8 p.m.

Saturday, September 6, 8 p.m.

Sunday, September 7, 3 p.m. (matinee)

Location: Conant Performing Arts Center, Oglethorpe University, 4484 Peachtree Road NE Atlanta, GA 30319

Tickets: Adult General Admission: $40; Seniors (60 or older), Students or Military with ID: $30. Tickets will be available at ccityopera.org beginning July 21.

Cast & Creative Team to be announced at a later date.

Description: In this light-hearted operetta, not widely performed in the United States, a prince from a small kingdom courts a wealthy widow to keep her money in the country. Hijinks ensue, money is won and lost, but in the end, the pair of lovers is wiser and happier. This story is a perfect mix of fun and slightly bittersweet romance.

DINNER & A dIVA

Event Dates, Times & Locations

All events at 6:30 p.m. with the program beginning at 7 p.m.

Tuesday, April 15 - Three Tenors

Petite Auberge - Toco Hills, 2935 North Druid Hills, Atlanta, GA 30329

Tuesday, April 22 - Three Tenors

Sugo, 10305 Medlock Bridge Road, Johns Creek, GA 30097

Tuesday, May 20 - Opera Villains

Petite Auberge - Toco Hills, 2935 North Druid Hills, Atlanta, GA 30329

Tuesday, June 17 - Madame Butterfly

Petite Auberge - Toco Hills, 2935 North Druid Hills, Atlanta, GA 30329

Thursday, June 19 - Madame Butterfly

Sugo, 10305 Medlock Bridge Road, Johns Creek, GA 30097

Tuesday, July 15 - French Night

Petite Auberge - Toco Hills, 2935 North Druid Hills, Atlanta, GA 30329

Tuesday, August 19 - La traviata

Petite Auberge - Toco Hills, 2935 North Druid Hills, Atlanta, GA 30329

Thursday, August 21 - La traviata

Sugo, 10305 Medlock Bridge Road, Johns Creek, GA 30097

Tuesday, September 16 - Merry Mozart

Petite Auberge - Toco Hills, 2935 North Druid Hills, Atlanta, GA 30329

Thursday, October 16 - German Night

Sugo, 10305 Medlock Bridge Road, Johns Creek, GA 30097

Tuesday, October 21 - German Night

Petite Auberge - Toco Hills, 2935 North Druid Hills, Atlanta, GA 30329

Tuesday, November 18 - La bohème

Petite Auberge - Toco Hills, 2935 North Druid Hills, Atlanta, GA 30329

Thursday, December 11 - Madrigals Boar's Head Feast

Sugo, 10305 Medlock Bridge Road, Johns Creek, GA 30097

Tuesday, December 16 - Madrigals Boar's Head Feast

Petite Auberge - Toco Hills, 2935 North Druid Hills, Atlanta, GA 30329

Thursday, December 18 (tentative) - Madrigals Boar's Head Feast

Petite Auberge - Toco Hills, 2935 North Druid Hills, Atlanta, GA 30329

Ticket Information: Reservations are required. Contact the restaurants for pricing. Petite Auberge - 404-634-6268. Sugo - 770-817-8000.

Description: Performed monthly at Petite Auberge in Toco Hills and every other month at Sugo in Johns Creek, Dinner and a Diva performances feature local singers performing highlights from a variety of operatic repertoire. Wonderful courses of food and wine complement the evening's musical performances.

ABOUT CAPITOL CITY OPERA: Capitol City Opera Company was founded by Donna Angel in 1983 to provide Atlanta-area classically trained singers theopportunity to learn and perform complete opera roles, and to continue to develop their post-graduate vocal and acting skills on aprofessional level. Since its inception, the Company has flourished as the only opera company in the Southeast that primarilyhelps local singers and artists establish their careers. Under the artistic direction of Michael Nutter, Capitol City Opera Company presents high-quality, innovative, and exciting productions throughout the year.

Capitol City Opera Company, a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization, has created many recurring programs that benefit all ages anddemographics of the general public and has toured throughout the United States, and also Italy. Currently, the Company performstwo fully staged productions per year, a monthly restaurant series (Dinner and a Diva), a vocal competition, touring Madrigals,touring gala singers, a summer pops concert (On the Light Side), and an astonishing 100+ performances solely for children everyyear.

Each year, Capitol City Opera Company engages an average of 60 singers and reaches approximately 40,000 people through itsvarious programs. Find out more about the Company's past performances. The Company strives to make opera available to allsegments of the population including the disadvantaged and makes a concerted effort to help everyone understand and appreciate opera.

To post a comment, you must register and login.