Document text
Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend January 18, 2006 Rogue Opera cancels shows By JOHN DARLING for the Mail Tribune Hit with low ticket sales for the staging of two little-known Gilbert and Sullivan operas, Rogue Opera has taken the unusual step of canceling its productions slated for the first two weekends in February. The company had good sales — but still lost money — in the past two seasons with Gilbert and Sullivan’s "H.M.S. Pinafore" and "The Pirates of Penzance" but fell flat with sales of less than a third of normal when it offered two one-act Gilbert and Sullivan operas, "Trial by Jury" and "The Zoo," said Rogue Opera Artistic Director David MacKenzie. Rogue Opera is "absolutely doing OK" financially, said board President Lorrie Hall, and will survey the community on what type of productions it would support in the future. It also will go into retreat to brainstorm strategies that could include "smaller productions in alternative settings," said MacKenzie. Ticket-holders will get refunds, as well as free passes to Rogue Opera’s "All Mozart" Voices from the Valley opera scenes concert in May, according to a news release. Rogue Opera had planned to stage Gilbert and Sullivan’s "The Mikado," but went to the riskier, less familiar operettas, said MacKenzie, when it learned the Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater in Medford had already contracted "The Mikado" for April in a performance by the prestigious Carl Rosa Opera Company of London. Advertisement "It was a miscommunication with the Craterian and it’s not their fault. They had the opportunity to bring in this international company and we obviously couldn’t do it at the same time," said MacKenzie. "We thought there would be more awareness about ‘The Trial’ here, because it’s known in the opera world as the best of all Gilbert and Sullivan works, but the lack of name recognition hurt us." The Craterian had negotiated unsuccessfully to bring the Rosa production here in the 2004-05 season, but did contract for it about a year and a half ago for the current season, said Craterian Executive Director Stephen McCandless. "They (Rogue Opera) wanted to dissuade us, but we contracted a long time ago (with Rosa)," McCandless said. "It was a very unique opportunity to have this world-renowned company here. "We’re very excited and we’re also very sorry for the hardship they (Rogue Opera) are in. It’s not in our best interest to see them or any arts organization struggle, because they’re vital to the cultural richness of the Rogue Valley." Rogue Opera for 29 years has staged productions locally, as well as bringing live, interactive "Opera in the Schools" programs to elementary- and middle-school students in Southern Oregon and Northern California. It also provides youth mentoring, which offers voice training and acting instruction for high school and college students. "The good news is that the main stage (opera productions) is a small part of what we do. Schools are the biggest," said Hall, adding that stage productions are the most expensive of the company’s missions — and, for highly trained opera singers, "our wages are very low." Virtually all opera companies are in debt and realize less than half their income from ticket sales, she added, as opera is loved and supported by about 1 percent of the population. Rogue Opera’s debt is less than 10 percent of its budget, Hall said. "It’s a tough art form, a tough sell for Americans," she said. Rogue Opera has only canceled a production one other time — another Gilbert and Sullivan operetta five years ago — and that was a "severe blow" to the company at the time, said MacKenzie. "It’s a significant loss this time, but we have a contingency plan for this and a contingency fund to cover it and we’re in sound health," he added. As the opera industry adapts to a faster-paced, 21st century audience, it’s strategizing ways to bring "high-quality opera in innovative, less expensive ways," said MacKenzie, mentioning that the later work of Stephen Sondheim, such as "Sweeney Todd," might fit the company’s new vision. "This has been a powerful learning experience, that we can’t throw all our eggs in one basket. It’s made us look carefully at what we do," said MacKenzie. "A lot of companies are going to concert productions, with no sets and minimal staging. There’s a feeling in a lot of companies that the dialog and drama are the most important thing, so $20,000 or $30,000 spent on sets is not realistic. A lot can be done with suggestive sets, rather than full-blown scenery." Added MacKenzie, "It’s not fun, but after the initial shock has worn off about cancellation, something I’ve never done in my life, we’re going back to the drawing board and relate to the public in a very direct way about what they want to see." John Darling is a freelance writer living in Ashland. E-mail him at [email protected]. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Computer Security Discount Hotel Reservations Casinos Canada dvd-r Generic Viagra Myspace Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Student Loans Sudoku Online Advertisement s Advertisement