Vancouver's Opera Mariposa Opens Season with Terrence McNally's MASTER CLASS Tonight

Opera Mariposa, an acclaimed Vancouver company for local and emerging artists, is celebrating its fourth season with a landmark expansion. In February the organization is launching the Mariposa Theatre Wing (MTW), which will present plays and musicals with operatic elements. A fundraising campaign for the MTW is live right now on the crowdfunding platform Indiegogo, and the theatre wing will open with the Tony Award-winning play Master Class tonight, February 19, through February 28.

Opera Mariposa was founded in 2012 by multi-award-winning sopranos Jacqueline Ko and Robin Eder-Warren, and in three seasons has risen to "the forefront of Vancouver's opera scene" (The Vancouver Project). The company's reputation for accessible, high-calibre productions has gained them a devoted following, and now Ko and Eder-Warren are ready to include musicals and plays in Mariposa's repertoire.

"There are many multi-talented performers who can move effortlessly between opera and musical theatre," says Eder-Warren, who is herself a noted cross-over artist who recently garnered awards from both the Community Theatre Coalition and the Metropolitan Opera. "The opening of the Mariposa Theatre Wing will allow us to create more opportunities for Vancouver's world-class singers, while exploring great new repertoire and engaging an even wider audience."

Artistic director Ko says the support for Mariposa's expansion has been overwhelming. "We've just launched an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign to help support the Mariposa Theatre Wing, and we raised 20% of our goal in the first three days. The fact that Opera Mariposa has been able to grow year after year - and is poised for such a major expansion in only our fourth season - owes to the fantastic community support we've received. It's a wonderful testament to how much Vancouverites value the arts."

Funds from Mariposa's Indiegogo campaign will support the Mariposa Theatre Wing's launch production Master Class, wherein singers and audience members alike spend an evening with the legendary opera diva Maria Callas. Campaign contributors can claim a number of exclusive perks, including complimentary tickets, autographed posters, backstage tours and even a custom concert.

MASTER CLASS by Terrence McNally
February 19-28, 2016 (Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 2 pm)
Marpole United Church (1296 West 67th Avenue, Vancouver)
Tickets $15-$25 at the door, at operamariposa.com or from Brown Paper Tickets at 1-800-838-3006

In this Tony Award-winning play, the iconic opera diva Maria Callas is holding a master class - but soon reveals she is more interested in teaching life lessons than opera singing. This production marks the opening of the Mariposa Theatre Wing, and features an award-winning cast as well as musical highlights by Verdi, Puccini and Bellini.

PEOPLE LIKE US: a new musical theatre revue show for charity
Saturday, May 14, 2016 at 7:30 pm
Marpole United Church (1296 West 67th Ave. Vancouver)
Tickets $15-$25 at the door, at operamariposa.com or from Brown Paper Tickets at 1-800-838-3006

In this love letter to the modern musical theatre genre, multiple lives and Broadway shows intersect on a single night in New York City. This charity benefit production honours the International Awareness Day for chronic neuro-immune diseases, and a portion of every ticket sale will support the National ME/FM Action Network.

About Opera Mariposa: Opera Mariposa is a Vancouver-based company run by young artists, for young artists. They are dedicated to creating a stage for emerging talent, showcasing performers from across the Pacific Northwest in a diverse program of gala concerts, original shows and fully staged opera productions. Mariposa's benefit performances have raised over $30,000 for charity, while their commitment to making opera accessible has led them to perform at street festivals, seniors' residences, the Vancouver Public Library and more. With the opening of the Mariposa Theatre Wing, the company will expand its mission to include presenting plays and musicals. Learn more at operamariposa.com, and join the Indiegogo campaign for Mariposa's expansion at igg.me/at/mariposatheatrewing.

EDITOR'S NOTE: To schedule an interview, receive high-resolution photos or learn more about Mariposa's upcoming productions, please contact Robin Eder-Warren at operamariposa@gmail.com or 778-918-9498. Mariposa artists are also available to perform in-studio, to provide a unique angle for covering the launch of the Mariposa Theatre Wing.

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