Pensacola Opera

Established	1983
Type	Performing arts
Location	75 South Tarragona Street
Artistic director	Kyle Marrero
Executive director	Sherrie Mitchell
Staff	Timothy Kennedy Athena Bonds Erin Kelley Geoffrey Bleeker
Website	www.pensacolaopera.com

Pensacola Opera is the premier performing opera company of the Pensacola area. Founded in 1983, the group typically performs two or three fully-staged productions annually, each in the original language. The current artistic director is Kyle Marrero.

History

Pensacola Opera was founded in 1983 as the Pensacola Chamber Opera, the first performance of which was Mozart's Così fan tutte.

Past performances

• 1983/84: Così fan tutte & The Pirates of Penzance
• 1984/85: Gianni Schicchi & H.M.S. Pinafore
• 1985/86: Cavalleria Rusticana & Le nozze di Figaro
• 1986/87: La traviata & Hänsel und Gretel
• 1987/88: Così fan tutte
• 1988/89: The Student Prince & La bohème
• 1989/90: The Merry Widow & Carmen
• 1990/91: Madama Butterfly & Die Fledermaus
• 1991/92: Naughty Marietta & The Pirates of Penzance
• 1992/93: Pagliacci, The Telephone & L'elisir d'amore
• 1993/94: The Gypsy Baron & Rigoletto
• 1994/95: La traviata & Il barbiere di Siviglia
• 1995/96: La bohème & Il trovatore
• 1996/97: Passion, Tosca & Lucia di Lammermoor
• 1997/98: Gala, Le nozze di Figaro & Carmen
• 1998/99: Madama Butterfly & Don Pasquale
• 1999/00: Die Fledermaus, Die Zauberflöte & Andrea Chénier
• 2000/01: Hänsel und Gretel, La bohème & La traviata
• 2001/02: Don Giovanni & Rigoletto
• 2002/03: The Merry Widow & Turandot
• 2003/04: Tosca & L'elisir d'amore
• 2004/05: Il barbiere di Siviglia, Madama Butterfly & Porgy and Bess
• 2005/06: Carmen & Lucia di Lammermoor
• 2006/07: Le nozze di Figaro & La traviata

Leadership

Pensacola Opera is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization that is operated by a 23-member Board of Directors, the current chairman of which is Buzz Ritchie. The organization also employs a full-time staff, including an executive director position, currently held by Sherrie Mitchell.

Board of Directors

• Buzz Ritchie, Chairman
• Ruth Orth, Vice-Chairman
• Malcolm Ballinger, Co-Treasurer
• Curt Morse, Co-Treasurer
• Lisa Minshew, Secretary
• Patricia Buchanan-Wright, Immediate Past President
• Nigel Allen
• Vicki Baroco
• Fred Carmody
• Donna Clark
• Frank Cutrone
• Evelyn Davis
• Pandora de Balthazar
• Peter Delevett
• Christina Doss
• Ken Ford
• Mary Hoxeng
• Perry Lord
• Sydney McAbee
• Bill McBride
• Nell Potter
• Ghada Pribble
• Michael Riesberg
• Betty Roberts
• Greg Sexton
• Celeste Southard
• Roger Webb

Funding

Like many performing arts organizations, Pensacola Opera receives only a portion of its budget from ticket sales and is heavily dependent on donations, sponsorships and fundraisers.

Fundraising events

• Fall Fashion Show
• Operazzi "Glitz at the Ritz" Ball
• Jukebox Gala
• Diva’s Closet Sale
• Star Spangled Dinner

Guild

The Pensacola Opera Guild is the support group of Pensacola Opera. Its more than 100 members organize fundraisers, raise awareness, and assist in behind-the-scenes work at the Opera office and during performances.

External links

• PensacolaOpera.com – Official site