Create
Opera Tampa, Straz Center look cautiously to the future
Optimism is in the air at Opera Tampa, where the 25th anniversary season was cut short by coronavirus fears. The company, which is home-based at the David A. Straz Center, has just announced a new season of performances – and even though it doesn’t begin until next January, they’re still referring to it as the 2020-2021 season.
The classic Gilbert and Sullivan operetta The Pirates of Penzance, which was to be mounted last month but never officially made it to the stage, starts things off with performances Jan. 22-24.
“This wonderful production, sidelined by the Covid-19 crisis, will now make its Opera Tampa premiere just in time for Gasparilla 2021 with most of the principal artists and creative team intact,” Straz Center President and Opera Tampa General Director Judy Lisi said in a news release.
Next is Verdi’s Il Trovatore (March 12 and 14), which Lisi said will feature most of the performers and production team thrown out of work by the forced cancellation of Aida this spring). Il Trovatore will be followed by Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, April 23-25.
Meanwhile, the Straz Center has officially extended its Covid-19 closure period through May 31. Still on the books: A Lincoln Center Theater production of My Fair Lady (June 2-7) and the Disney version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, featuring an all-teen cast (June 25 and 26).
In St. Petersburg, the Palladium Theater remains officially closed until June 6 and 7, the scheduled dates for the St. Petersburg Ballet’s annual spring concert. The A&G Dance Company’s June 7 performance at the Mahaffey Theater is also still a go … for now.
Everyone involved continues to watch, and wait.
A spokesman for St. Petersburg Opera Company said Friday that the organization will announce its 15th season, set to begin in October, shortly. Executive and artistic director Mark Sforzini said last week on The Catalyst Sessions that he’s hopeful St. Pete Opera’s Pops Spectacular at the Palladium, scheduled for July 4 weekend, can still be performed.
