Dallas Opera to Launch New Season with Host of Opening Night Events

DALLAS, July 27, 2015 - It's the biggest night of the year as The Dallas Operapresents FIRST NIGHT-the extraordinary kick-off of the 2015-2016 "SEEKING THE HUMAN ELEMENT" Season.

The evening, which celebrates the eagerly anticipated new season, is chaired by Ellen and Don Winspear with Honorary Chairs Mrs. Micki Rawlings and The Honorable Michael S. Rawlings, with Presenting Sponsor Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management.

The excitement begins with a red carpet entrance featuring "mannequin" models in original opera interpretations outside the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House on Friday, October 30, 2015 at 5:30 p.m. The Pre-Performance Dinner, a lovely tented event in nearby Sammons Park, starts at 6:00 p.m. and is chaired by Anne and Steven Stodghill and catered by gourmet guru Wolfgang Puck.

The Dallas Opera's world premiere production of Great Scott by Jake Heggie and Terrence McNally, the Linda and Mitch Hart Season Opening Night Performance, begins at 8:00 p.m. in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House.

Following the opera, the exhilarating events continue with the FIRST NIGHTAfter Party with the cast, Friday, October 30, 11:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Party-goers will be dancing and dining through the evening to finish the night with a bang!

The Winspear Opera house is located at 2403 Flora Street, Dallas, TX, 75201.

"We are thrilled to be hosting the opening of FIRST SIGHT/FIRST NIGHT. This is such a momentous season for The Dallas Opera. Don and I are delighted to be a part of it!" raved Chair Ellen Winspear.

"Opening night for The Dallas Opera has always been the pinnacle evening for the company. With three world premieres this year, including a new opera by famed composer Jake Heggie and librettist Terrence McNally, this season's opening night celebrates a truly world-class season," added Chair Don Winspear.

"This will certainly be a memorable evening as this year's FIRST NIGHT includes what promises to be a phenomenal world premiere. Jake Heggie's Great Scott features superstar singers of today, a production 'dream team,' the incredible Dallas Opera Orchestra led by renowned conductor Patrick Summers, the acclaimed Dallas Opera Chorus and innovative sets and costumes-all coming together to create a night of magic! Add to that the events surrounding the premiere, and anticipating the entire season to come, it will be a wonderful FIRST NIGHT to remember!" explains Keith Cerny, The Dallas Opera's CEO and General Director.

The opening night festivities will also include the custom, opera-themed styles by Elizabeth Anyaa, Michael Faircloth, Geoffrey Henning, Khahn Nguyen and Edo Popken revealed at FIRST SIGHT Fashion Show. The designs will be modeled alongside the "red carpet entrance" to the Winspear Opera House.

The Pre-Performance Dinner is Friday, October 30, from 6:00-7:30 p.m. The black-tie fete will be adorned by creative collaborators Jeffrey Horn and Larry Leathers, sure to delight patrons with a scintillating setting. A savory selection of gourmet delights inspired by Great Scott, will be prepared by Wolfgang Puck. Tables for the dinner range from $25,000 to $7,500 with individual tickets available. All dinner tickets include After Party tickets. Please visit www.dallasopera.org/firstnight to purchase tickets.

"Guests attending FIRST NIGHT will experience a most exquisite 'Friday Night Lights!' Couture gowns on the grid-iron, cheerleaders, mums, fabulous dinner and a world premiere in a world-class opera house! The After Party is sure to be a hit as guests dance the night away and nosh on stadium food with a gastronomic twist!" exclaimed Jeffrey Horn, Event Architect for FIRST NIGHT, and CEO of Triad Event Solutions.

The Linda and Mitch Hart Season Opening Night Performance of Great Scott, opens on the evening of Friday, October 30 at 8:00 p.m. in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House.

Great Scott, an opera with tremendous heart, marks Mr. Heggie and Mr. McNally's first major collaboration since Dead Man Walking (2000), which was hailed as a "masterpiece" by the San Francisco Chronicle. One of theater's most prominent playwrights, Mr. McNally has won multiple Tony and Drama Desk Awards, and an Emmy Award. In McNally's original story and libretto, international opera star Arden Scott returns to her hometown to try to save the struggling opera company that launched her to fame and fortune.

In his first TDO appearance since the world premiere of Moby-Dick, the distinguished Patrick Summers will conduct the world premiere, Broadway legend and Tony Award-winner Jack O'Brien will stage the production, and Tony and Olivier Award-winner Bob Crowley will design the production. Lighting Design is by Brian MacDevittwith video projections by Elaine J. McCarthy.

Grammy Award winning superstar mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, portrays the role of Arden Scott. She leads a brilliant all-star cast that includes soprano Ailyn Pérez, as Tatyana Bakst, and the legendary Frederica von Stade as Mrs. Edward "Winnie" Flato, the founder and chief benefactor of the American Opera Company. In the role of architect Sid Taylor, the man from Arden Scott's past who might not be content to remain there, is opera heart-throb Nathan Gunn.

Performances will continue on November 1(m), 4, 7 & 15(m), 2015 in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House. All evening performances besides the Opening Night of the Season will begin promptly at 7:30 PM. Sunday matinees begin at 2:00 PM. A free, pre-performance lecture ("The Joy and Ronald Mankoff Pre-Opera Talks") will be conducted one hour prior to curtain at most performances.

The festivities continue at the After Party immediately following the opera back at Sammons Park. Patrons can dance and dine the night away alongside Great Scottcast members who will join the party. DJ Lucy Wrubel will keep the crowd groovin' and entertained spinning fun tunes while Wolfgang Puck Sweet & Savory will offer a sumptuous breakfast bar, delicious desserts, coffee and specialty cocktails.

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